Working Parts

Watch a slideshow of Diary Drawings on Guardian website

Windows with a Difference presents

Bobby Baker Talk “Diary Drawings”

When: Wednesday 14 September

Time: 1.30

Location: The Public West Bromwich

ACT UP present SHOUTING  a short piece in response to the Drawing titled “Shouting” by Bobby Baker

Bobby Baker will discuss her drawings from an exhibition that shows one person’s experience of severe mental and physical illness and recovery.

These figurative drawings use various styles such as caricature, surrealism and the more classic techniques of life painting. The exhibition displays the harrowing realities of living with mental illness and society’s lack of understanding, using artistry and humour to break down the barriers commonly associated with talking about mental health. The images, carefully selected by Bobby with her daughter Dora Whittuck, a clinical psychologist, are drawn from 711 drawings made over 11 years. The drawings are captioned by Bobby and present a clear account of her journey.

“Visitors’ comments reveal how powerfully the artist’s protests connect with the widespread experiences among others who are struggling with problems themselves… The Diary Drawings form a graphic autobiography of rare emotional directness. They also tell of ties that held against unimaginable strain, and so give an extraordinary story of damage and repair.” Marina Warner

“I work in mental health and feel [the Diary Drawings are] a unique record of what the experience is like… The visual lightness and humour makes it all so accessible. Brilliant!” Child & adolescent NHS psychotherapist.

The talk opens with a short performance by ACT UP who have created a piece of theatre based on the drawing titled SHOUTING  in the publication “Diary Drawings”.

Read about it in the Observer
Find out about Bobby Baker by watching this short video on the BBC website Video nation

Please join deaf visitors on Saturday 4 June, 2pm for BSL TALK with interpreter Jessica Heller, when photographer Brian Griffin Talk about his photographs in Black Country, you can find out why Brian thinks ’Growing up in the Black Country was the best thing that ever happened to me’

A good night was had by all at Brook Street Centre Tipton, Steve Day delighted the audience and Jessica Heller did a great job of BSL interpretation. Jonny Fantastica did his audience participation as Doctor Deaf and invited people to join his Surgery of Laughter. Following this event Black Country Touring’s  promotor in Dudley wishes to set up a diary of events, so that events and local activities do not clash, enabling Deaf people in Birmingham and the Black Country to have more access to great entertainment by deaf and hard of hearing artists.

West Midlands Regional Disability Network are holding an event called ‘2011: Are you ready?’ for Black Country groups in Walsall on 25th May.

Invitation: 2011 – are you ready for change?

Join Expression at 1.15 pm – 2.30 pm and hear Expressions Choir sing great songs with choir leader Sami Cornick. They will also perform new songs “Moving On and A2i” created with musician Robin Surgeoner . The venue is “Action for Independence” formerly Albert Road Day Centre, the address is 25-38 Albert Road Wolverhampton. Phone Margaret, Michael or Ginette for info on 01902 553558. You can buy the CD! as well. It’s £1 on the door, which will help keep the Choir going. If you can’t see them on April 2, Expressions will perform for the Mayor  on Wednesday the 18th May.

Are you a Culture Vulture and a Deaf and or Disabled Person?

If you love going out to gigs, plays, pubs, clubs and more, we would like to meet you. In a nutshell, we want to end the hassle of hunting round for the right information online, lengthy calls to box office, or getting the right seat booked. Above all, empower the user of the service to tackle the issues that Deaf and Disabled People and their parents or carers encounter when wanting to attend an event. And of course make the visit, free of obstacles and confusion.

We are meeting Deaf and Disabled People at the Arena Theatre and The Public, on Monday the 24 January and Tuesday the 25 January. If you are interested in getting involved please download information by clicking link Info_Pesky_People.

I am the coordinator  of the Wolverhampton Disability Network.  98 people attended the event I organised at the Lighthouse for International Day of Disabled People on December 3. 70% were disabled people, representing all types of disabilities we managed to get 15 out of the 31 groups from our network to the event, so I am well happy. We had a good number of deaf people attending, which I was pleased about. I think having a deaf artist helped and the films were subtitled, well nearly all the films. Success on the day was the result of disability groups in the network pulling together and making this whole happen, for example Paul Darke’s Outside Centre kick started the event with the Disability Film Festival. Working Parts helped involve disabled people in the event by providing artists who delivered workshops with groups before December 3 and found a deaf artist to run a brilliant workshop on the day.    Working Parts benefited the event in two ways,  firstly participants came along to the event and secondly the quality of the art work created.  Groups who were involved in more than one workshop with an artist, understandably produced better artwork, giving more depth and telling a visual story about their experience of disability. Stowheaths and Oxley’s work was more defined. Working Parts also contacted Expressions Choir to sing at Lunchtime, who were great and very well received.

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