20 February 2013
The Iona Craft Room
While working on Iona, I was moved from the kitchen into the craft room for two months. It was really interesting working on the outside for a little while. The kitchen was more behind the curtain kind of work, whereas the craft room and programme team got you mixing with the guests a lot more...
Every day I put on my craft room apron and entered into that space with the task of helping people create. Something completely new to me after years of taking art classes and doing my own work. Turning things inside out was a challenge.
While working there, one of the main things I heard was, "Oh, I'm not creative."
And why did they think this? Because someone, somewhere in the past had told them. Someone else's opinion had formed an inaccurate picture of who they were and as a result they'd missed out on years of artistic expression.
I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design (so I'm technically qualified to call myself an artist) and even I have periods when I think I'm not talented. Artists can be critical, but deep down I know it's not true because I've been creating art for as long as I can remember. I'm lucky though, growing up I never had anyone tell me I wasn't creative. Being part of an artistic family helps...but support for my interests helped even more. As a kid I tried anything artsy that struck my fancy because I never had any reason to think I wouldn't be able to.
Words are so important. They can stay with a person for years, shaping their decisions and their self confidence.
I feel so lucky to have been a part of the Iona Craft room. I got to witness light shining out of people's eyes after they'd finished the painting they never thought they could do or the collage they were amazed they'd created. The excitement was so beautiful.
Sometimes they'd follow up their triumph by saying, "Oh well, it's just a bit of fun," or "But I'm no artist," and I'd reply, "Of course you are! Look at what you just created!"
Everyone is an artist and I hope some of those people left the island finally believing that.
XO