The Courant Issue 1 Winter 2011

The Courant ARTLINK’S HOSPITAL NEWSLETTER & WHAT’S ON GUIDE

participate

January—MARCH 2012

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Royal infirmary

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st john’s

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western general

Page 9 Together Each hospital is a diverse community made up of people with wide-ranging occupations and hobbies. Our aim at Artlink is to find ways to involve staff, patients, volunteers and visitors in the arts. We want to enrich the experience of the hospital so we place artists in each site, and staff and patients identify – in a very imaginative way – how they can work together.

Learn

Welcome to The Courant, Artlink’s new-look newsletter.

Here you’ll find information about Artlink’s varied programme of workshops, projects, events and exhibitions at the Western General, Royal Infirmary and St. John’s Hospitals.

Since 1987 we’ve been learning about each hospital communityfinding out what interests people and coming up with new ways to involve them.

Create At the Royal Infirmary, staff and patient doodles are being made into murals as well as ornamentation for uniforms and pyjamas.

Craft workshops at the Western General focus on making quirky things for particular departments, and at St. John’s patient artworks are being imaginatively adapted to change spaces within the hospital.

Participate Would you like to adapt your working space, make something for your office, ward or department? In The Courant you’ll find out more about the things that are happening in your hospital, and how you can get involved.

Please read on...

What is a ‘courant’?

Courant is an old name for ‘newspaper’. Did you know that Edinburgh had its very own Edinburgh Courant in the 18th Century? We like the name so much that we’re renaming our newsletter after it.

Read our Mirror...

We’ve done something similar at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital with The Morningside Mirror, a newspaper published in the hospital from the 1840s to 1970s.

For an edition of The *new* Morningside Mirror please contact Artlink on 0131 229 3555 or email us at info@ artlinkedinburgh.co.uk

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Doodling

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at the ROYAL INFIRMARy

We are always looking for imaginative ways to involve people in the arts – from painting workshops in the Medicine for the Elderly wards, to an 80 strong woman choir in the Hospital’s main mall.

We base everything we do on the interests of staff and patients at the Royal Infirmary and over the years that has led to some very interesting projects and events. The more we learn, the more creative the projects become, hence our recent interest in staff and patient doodling.

Over the past year artist Jonathan Owen has been working with staff and patients at the Royal Infirmary to turn their doodles into artworks.

In such a busy hospital, time is limited but there’s always a minute for a quick doodle so Jonathan has been working with these small sketches turning them into murals and ornamentation for uniforms and pyjamas.

Whether it’s big, bold paintings that brighten up a hallway, or subtler, portable artworks that blend into daily life at the hospital, the starting point is the same – pencil, paper and a quick moment to doodle.

Jonathan is looking for more inspired doodles so there’s still time for you to get involved.

Read on...

01: Aileen Benson in front of her doodle mural 02: Aileen’s original drawing 03: Exhibiting all the doodles (All other doodles are anonymous)

what’s on at The royal infirmary

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continued...

Meeting the team:

Kirsty & Sharon Kirsty Macdonald is Artlink’s Gallery and Events Coordinator. She works alongside Artlink artists to develop a programme of exhibitions that complement the workshops and activities taking place in each hospital.

Sharon Caldwell is Ward Manager on Ward 203 at the Royal Infirmary. Ward 203 specializes in acute medical assessment for older people.

Both Kirsty and Sharon have been involved in Jonathan’s project: Sharon and some of her colleagues have contributed drawings to the ‘doodle box’, and Kirsty has been working alongside Jonathan to make an exhibition with the results.

Here’s what they’ve had to say about their involvement:

Sharon: We asked

Jonathan to try to bring some brightness and colour into our ward so he encouraged the staff and patients to provide

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what’s on at The royal infirmary

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drawings and doodles. This itself caused great debate on the ward! I think the vast majority of my staff doodle – it’s very relaxing and we’ve been talking about what the doodles mean (a bit like what your dreams tell you). It was very interesting to hear about Jonathan’s ideas and to hear his interpretation of our ideas.

Kirsty: For the Staff Doodles exhibition Jonathan and I made a selection of the drawings that had been collected and we chose to present some in their original form while others were enlarged, repeated and extended to take on a new life on the gallery walls. We also included a ‘doodle box’ in the gallery to collect new

doodles for us to work with later. We were delighted to get over 100 submissions from nurses, doctors, domestic staff, patients and visitors. One doodle has been transformed into a mural in the staff room of the Medicine for the Elderly ward 203. Jonathan chose a fantastically colourful drawing by a member of staff called Aileen Benson.

All seem to agree that the bright and cheerful colours of the mural are a welcome change to the usual magnolia walls!

Sharon: Move over

Banksy and make way for Benson! Aileen has brought friends and family to see her doodle. She is very excited.

04: Anonymous staff doodle from Ward 202 05: Mural in the phone alcove outside Ward 202 06: Kirsty Macdonald, Artlink’s Gallery and Events Coordinator

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ROYAL INFIRMARY PARTICIPATE LISTINGS January–March 2012

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Opportunities:

Exhibitions:

Events:

We are always looking for talented people to entertain patients so if you are a professional or amateur musician and would like to play in the hospital then get in touch.

Until 7th Jan Come along to the Pelican Gallery before 7th January for your chance to see this display of old music hall and theatre posters from the archives of the Scottish Music Hall & Variety Theatre Society. Inspired by conversations with staff and patients from Medicine of the Elderly wards, we have sourced a collection of memorable posters and programme covers from a selection of Edinburgh and Glasgow venues from the 1920’s to the present day.

Jan–March From January through to March we will be organising a series of reminiscence workshops around childhood memories. We can visit your ward with one of these reminiscence and handling boxes from the Museum of Childhood:-

Are you musical?

Would you like your doodle turned into an artwork?

The Variety Show

Do you remember…?

Street Games:

Do you remember how to use a diabolo, whip and peerie or gird and cleek? Have a go at these games and bring back old memories.

Schooldays:

The best days of your life?

Remember your schooldays with a slate and pencil, tawse, dipping pen and copy book.

For a limited time only Jonathan will be turning your *new* doodles into a wall painting, or charms for your favourite pair of Crocs! Can you think of a space that would benefit from a new mural? Do you like to doodle? Do you have a pair of Crocs that need adorning? Contact us with your doodle designs and/ or suggest a location for a mural.

Sports and hobbies:

What hobbies did you have as a child? Did you sew samplers, collect scraps or cigarette cards? We can provide examples that will bring back old memories.

Children’s Games

18 Jan–30 March This exhibition will take a fond look at games past and present from the perspective of Royal Infirmary staff and patients.

Do you have any games that you would like to tell us about?

It could be games that you played as a child, or games that you play now. You could have a story from your childhood that you would like to tell us, or maybe some old photos to share with us? Whatever it is, we would like to hear from you.

Let these images take you back to your youth and the days of playing peevers and skipping in the school playground, kicking a football in your street and playing plainy-clappy with a bouncy ball...

One, two, three aleerie I saw Wallace Beery Sittin’ on his bumbaleerie Eatin’ chocolate biscuits

Children’s games remembered through song

Jan–March Bruce Davies singersongwriter, will play songs from your childhood.

Numbers such as ‘You Cannae Throw Yer Granny from a Bus’ and ‘Ally Bally Bee’ will resonate around the mall and on selected wards.

look out for:

Patient Information Centre

The Patient Information Centre at the Royal Infirmary is open Mon–Fri from 9am–5pm for patients, relatives, carers, the public and staff, and our support is free of charge.

To find out more about how to make use of this new service drop in or contact us on...

T: 0131 242 7660 or E: patientinfo@luht.scot. nhs.uk

Edinburgh Community Food: Fruit & Veg Stall Edinburgh Community Food continues to support the Health Promoting Health Service. The new outlet at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is now open every Wednesday from 8a.m–3p.m.

Other outlets can be found in the Oncology Department at the Western General Hospital (Mon and Thurs), Royal Edinburgh Hospital (Tues) and Lauriston Building– Lauriston Place (Wed).

The outlets sell fresh fruit, vegetables and other groceries to staff and patients. Edinburgh Community Food - good for Edinburgh, good for you.

T: 0131 467 7326 E: admin@edinburgh communityfood.org.uk

Get in touch with Artlink by calling Vanessa on 0131 229 3555 or emailing info@ artlinkedinburgh.co.uk for more information on any of the PARTICIPATE listings.

If you would like a concert or event on your ward then get in touch.

what’s on at The royal infirmary

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Sensitively changing

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at ST. JOHN’S

We’ve put on races and walks and various sports competitions at St. John’s, we’ve had craft weeks and talks and concerts, you name it. These events have always been well attended, but in recent months we decided that we would slow down our approach, and work with people who needed us to spend time with them. We are doing this by helping them to make something which would change the look of their department, supporting people to make their mark on their ward or working space.

As a result, artist Frances Priest has been working one-to-one with patients in some of the quieter, more sensitive areas of the hospital. Taking the time to get to know individuals and finding out more about their pastimes is informing Frances’ current projects. She is interested in making and handcrafting things together and the conversations that arise from these shared activities, looking at the ways in which people lose themselves in an interest and use it as a way of coping with particular situations.

Frances: From February

to May 2011 I visited the Macmillan Centre at St. John’s regularly and began to work with people by chatting to them about their interests. We talked about people’s jobs and spoke about our childhoods and the games we used to play. From this we worked together to create patterns and drawings based on our conversations: Rab and his beautiful award winning garden; Keith and his memories of working as a chef; Richard’s designs for gilded patterns from his work as a book binder.

The Macmillan Centre asked if we could help

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transform one of their spaces by creating screens to give a sense of privacy to what is currently a very open area used for patient and staff meetings. The patterns that came about through my workshops are being incorporated into the overall design of the screens. They should be ready to install in the coming months and we’ll have a small unveiling event so keep an eye out for it.

I am now beginning to work in Psychiatric OT and Psychology departments, looking at ways to change and personalise some of the spaces, including a meeting room and a fitness gym. I want to continue working with the idea of motif and patterns, working with patients and staff to create individual designs that we can then use and repeat in different and unexpected ways around the departments. It will be interesting to see where and how these might pop up.

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07: Frances Priest in the studio

Show

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08: Frances working with patterns made at St. John’s

in the Open Show

09: Motifs based on hobbies and professions 10: Sketching out a plan for the screen

St. John’s also hosts Artlink’s annual Open Show.

It is, and has always been, a popular exhibition.

Staff and patients from across Lothian have the opportunity to show their artwork in an exhibition which tours from hospital to hospital. We have been doing these shows for many years now and we are always impressed by the sheer quantity and quality of the artwork submitted.

11: Linda working on her design 12–14: Rab, Richard and Janet’s motifs

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Ann Thompson, Medical Secretary in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at St. John’s is a regular contributor to the Open Show. She works with oil on canvas painting figurative subject matter.

“I look forward to taking part in the exhibitions – it gives me a reason to finish a painting. And it’s good to see my work on display – I also enjoy the feedback that comes from that.”

And what is she working on at the moment? “A large figure study. It’s quite gothic and a bit different to my usual but I’m enjoying it immensely. I like to have a couple of paintings on the go at one time as oils take a while to dry so it gives me something to work on to keep me motivated.”

what’s on at ST JOHN’S

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ST JOHN’S PARTICIPATE LISTINGS January–March 2012

Opportunities: Want to design a motif?

Over the coming months artist Frances Priest will be working in different departments in the hospital, working with staff and patients to design motifs.

In art, a motif is a repeated pattern in a design or composition. It could be an image of a person or an activity, a department symbol or it could just be a simple pattern.

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Exhibitions:

Events:

Until 21st Jan Interested in fly fishing?

Then come and see our exhibition on Fly Fishing on the River Almond.

Jan–March In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in, or is characteristic of a composition.

Come Fly with Us!

Find out what flies are best used on particular sections of the river from the perspective of a local fishing group set up through Artlink’s Arts for Mental Health Project.

Look out for your fishing stories appearing on the gallery walls over the coming months.

Musical Motif

For example, do you know this musical motif? ...du du du duuuu. It’s the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 which is the most famous motif in Western classical music.

look out for:

How Clean Are Your Hands?

Wednesday 2–3pm Main Reception.

Hospital volunteers will encourage you to wash in a glow gel. You then test how well you have washed by putting your hands under a light box, all the areas you have missed will GLOW!.

A great fun way to highlight the need for washing hands well.

Bags and Bling

On the last Thursday of every month, come along to the main reception and grab yourself some jewellery or leather bags, perfect for gifts or as a little treat for yourself.

Fruit and Veg stall

MOTIF

30 Jan–6 April A selection of patterns and motifs designed by artist.

Frances Priest with patients and staff to ornament spaces around the hospital.

Frances will work with staff and patients to design motifs which will then appear in various ornamental or decorative art works throughout the hospital. We anticipate that work from these workshops will appear in the MOTIF show at the end of January 2012.

what’s on at st JOHN’S

From textile patterns to ornamentation on tea sets, the artist will explore with staff and patients in the hospital just how to make subtle (and not so subtle) change to hospital departments. Look out for patterns popping up in unusual and unexpected places...

From January through to March we will put on a series of concerts of popular classics by Beethoven, Debussy, Strauss, Wagner and Prokofiev. If you are interested in having a MOTIF concert on your ward then please get in touch.

Get in touch with Artlink by calling Vanessa on 0131 229 3555 or emailing info@ artlinkedinburgh.co.uk for more information on any of the PARTICIPATE listings.

Wednesday 7am–4pm Main Reception.

Come along and buy local produce and work your way towards your 5-a-day.

Spiritual Care

Open to people of all faiths and of none. The Chaplains offer spiritual care to patients, carers, relatives, staff, volunteers and visitors.

Chaplains can be contacted on: T: 01506 522 187/8 (or internal 52187/8) There is generally a wholetime chaplain on duty in the hospital between 8.30am and 4.30pm weekdays.

Our office is next door to the chapel.

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Making it

15: Fabulous results from the hat making workshop 16: Lunchtime crafters in action 17: Hat making – final touches 18: Terri at the origami workshop

at the WESTERN GENERAL In the Western General Hospital, as part of our regular workshop programme, we became aware that there was a large number of staff and patients with very creative craft skills.

As time passed we started to test ways in which we could utilise these skills.

This has evolved into a series of workshops in which people get involved in, in their spare time.

Crafty Lunches have become a feature of the Western General for the past few years. They offer staff and patients a chance to get away from it all for an hour to concentrate on

making something new during their lunch break.

Initiated by artist Anthony Schrag, the crafty lunches have recently been taken over by artists Yvonne Mullock and Francesca Nobilucci whose offerings include everything from sign painting to napkin folding. An extension of the lunchtime craft sessions are the ‘Crafty Missions’ , activities which staff and patients can do in their own

time. These bring together the skills of many ‘crafters’ to contribute to the making of something greater than the sum of its parts.

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Perhaps it’s best to gain an understanding of the projects from the people who take part in them.

Read on...

what’s on at THE WESTERN GENERAL

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Lunchtime crafters

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Terri Lindsay and Elaine Lord are regulars at the Crafty Lunches. Terri is a Study Co-ordinator and Elaine is an Administrative Co-ordinator for the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance team based at Edinburgh University’s site at the Western General Hospital.

Their first encounter with Artlink was at a hulahooping event – it was there that they found out about the Crafty Lunches.

In the time that they’ve been attending they’ve tried their hand at making jewellery, ceramics, silk painting, embroidery, origami and felting.

Of all the workshops that they’ve attended Elaine most enjoyed the embroidery and tie-making sessions. “I’m hoping to use my new tiemaking skills in my role as costume assistant at a local drama group called Forth Children’s Theatre Group”.

new baby grandson. Elaine couldn’t believe that I had made it!”.

Both Terri and Elaine say that they like the Crafty Lunches because sometimes they feel like there’s nothing to do at lunchtime except for work. “It’s good to get away from your desk and try to switch off for a little bit – it’s a good way of relaxing and learning new things.”

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20: Elaine Lord 21: Elaine and Terri’s wall of art 22: Terri Lindsay

Terri’s favourite workshop was in silk painting, “I thought that was very effective!”. “I also really enjoyed the quilting session and recently I made a cover for a Moses basket for my

23: Wendy Macfarlane 24: ‘Tumbling blocks’ from the Crafty Lunches quilt 25: Details from the Crafty Missions quilt

Crafty missions

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19: Lunchtime crafters in action

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Wendy Macfarlane, a colorectal nurse practitioner at the Western General, and avid quilter has been taking part in the Crafty Missions.

“I think the project is an excellent idea – it can be hard to get away for a lunch hour so I like the idea that the project comes to me.

I can take the pack with everything I need - thread, pattern, etc. - work on the project at home, and then hand it in at a later date.”

Wendy’s most recent ‘mission’ was to make a flower from hexagonal patches made from old nurses’ uniforms sourced

by Yvonne Mullock in the hospital’s sewing room.

Her patchwork piece,

what’s on at THE WESTERN GENERAL

along with those made by other Crafty Missions participants has been sewn together to make a full quilt.

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WESTERN GENERAL PARTICIPATE LISTINGS January–March 2012

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Opportunities:

Exhibitions:

In the coming months artist Francesca Nobilucci will be asking you to design a coat of arms for your department, ward or family.

All you need to do is get in touch and we will supply you with your mission.

Look out for workshops taking place throughout the hospital which may help you to design and realise your coat of arms. We anticipate that workshops will range from jewellery to mono-printing to clay work and will result in some very imaginative coats of arms.

Until 6th Jan Showcasing unique and obscure crafts from contemporary Scottish makers alongside curiosities made by hospital staff.

Check out hand-painted signs, funky embroidery, wacky hats, pop sculpture and the Crafty Missions quilt that Wendy contributed to.

Crafty involvement?

Curious Crafts

Events:

look out for:

Jan–March From January through to March we will be organising a series of events around the theme of PEOPLE.

For the third year running Edinburgh Rugby have bared all (well almost) in a 2012 Calendar to raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres. This year’s theme revolves around the players’ day-to-day lives and, for the first time features a few special guests from outside of the Edinburgh Rugby camp... the best of the rest!! To order your calendar go to http:// edinburghrugbycalendar. com/default.aspx

Events inspired by you

These events will reflect the rich cultural diversity of the hospital - expect Polish Singers, Bollywood Dancers, Scottish Chanters, Egyptian Artwork, Nepalese landscapes. Whatever your talents and cultural interests, we would love to hear from you!

Maggie’s Monster Bike & Hike

2012 Open Show: People

Artwork for your ward?

Artist Francesca Nobilucci wants to know if you have any ideas for artworks that you would like to see in your office, ward or department? Your very own resident Crafty Lunches and Crafty Missions artists would like to make something for you. Come forward to let us know what you would like!

11th Jan–30th March A take on the very popular Open Show which involves staff and patients across The Royal Edinburgh, The Royal Infirmary, St. John’s and the Western.

Staff and patients have the opportunity to show artwork which involves the subject matter of PEOPLE. Look out for painted portraits, photographs of townscapes, and whatever else budding artists come up with! This is a touring show.

Maggie’s Centre Calendar

These events will take place in the Gallery and we can also arrange for them to take place on your ward.

Saturday 5 May & Sunday 6 May What will you do with your Bank Holiday weekend in 2012? Join Maggie’s on an amazing 24 hour team challenge event, biking 30 miles and then hiking 8, 23 or 41 miles to our Bronze, Silver or Gold finishes. It’s not a race – it’s a fantastic, exhilarating (and demanding!) experience you’ll never forget!

Get in touch

Cultural Crafters

We are looking for cultural crafters who are interested in showing their work. Do you make or do you know of someone who makes Mexican Masks, French Lace, Indonesian Batik, Polish Pottery, Japanese Woodcuts or Kenyan Beads? Whatever your craft, we are interested in hearing from you.

In the exhibition will be the results of the latest Crafty Mission – a large scale version of Boticelli’s The Birth of Venus.

Divided into 20 x A4 sections, each section re-imagined and made by a staff or patients in the hospital. Come and see just what it looks like when they are all put together!

with Artlink by calling Vanessa on 0131 229 3555 or emailing info@ artlinkedinburgh.co.uk for more information on any of the PARTICIPATE listings.

You can take advantage NOW of our Early Bird registration fee – just £75 instead of £125 per person.

But hurry - places are strictly limited, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. www. maggiescentres.org.uk

what’s on at THE WESTERN GENERAL

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Funded by:

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The Courant is written and produced by Artlink, a company registered in Scotland No. 87845 with charitable status, Scottish Charity No. SC006845.