Encouraged by your (people of Penicuik) comments from last year members of the PCAA offered to organise a Brightening Penicuik, covering public places again with handmade crafts. Since September last year we built up the outreach, and now the question is: were we bigger, better, brighter in 2014 than we were in 2013?
Check the photos and the videos 🙂
We say: In a nutshell, on balance, YES.
In detail, here are the ayes and nays:
AYE: a good number of groups and clubs got involved and were largely self organised (Kitcat, PNK, Beeslack craft club, Community Access, With Health in Mind, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, South Kirk Hall, YWCA, Library, Glencorse Centre) and we had 2 shops participating (Hospice Shop, and Peni Deli) and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the positive comments their joined up efforts brought. A couple of very bright and even spectacular installations. Real nice launch and workshops. New skills were being learned, new friendships being made, and new ideas being born. MANY People were reported to have said how much they enjoyed seeing the crafts everywhere. And when it came down, esp the one at the North Kirk, people very much missed them! And above all: voices are being heard: next year better, brighter, bigger!
Now what was then not so good, big and bright this year?
NAY: no big installations in the precinct. Very little response to the workshops we held in the Arts Centre. No real contributions to the blessed (growl!) insurance the PCAA had to take out for this very dangerous craft work. Inspite of all the outreach to the schools no participation from them directly. There could have been still more of clubs and groups participating. Some good stalwarts from last year did not come back.
Understanding the latter is important, and a lot of it has to do with people not wanting to see their labour of love cruelly vandalised. We responded to that one by having installations in doors and in shop windows. Also the burden of the insurance is felt as ridiculous and a big turn off. We will still respond to this with a letter to the Council (they should be much more encouraging this gentle way of brightening the place) and by doing a fundraising party as soon as possible!
Responses to having less in the precinct were mixed: some folks were glad to see less (one person also said she still doesn’t like that kind of public art so far) and some (the majority of the voices we heard!) were sad: they had been looking for and forward to many brightly dancing displays!
Two installations were hailed as spectacular and outstanding: the bright and complex one at the PNK, making everybody driving through Penicuik aware of there is something bright and beautiful here in town, and showing off the united efforts and skills of Arts and Crafts Fellowship; and the magical Rainbow Trail one hiding away in the Lost Garden, highlighting artistic ingenuity and commitment.
It was applauded that the shops with their windows took part, and that confirmed for us that the Arts Trail habit is becoming part of Penicuik, and that there should be made MUCH MORE use of this, such as creative groups and individuals sharing their work that way.
Overall the artistic and crafty level of engagement ranged beautifully from simple to complex, and all had one element in common: made with love in the hope and trust it made people smile and their eyes light up as the streets and places were more creative places to see.
“Lack of time” to do great and creative things has been widely named by people who showed this year lack of involvement (the schools, PCAA members, and many more). “Lack of time” seems a misery of our day and age, which at the same time is being transcended and transformed all round the Voluntary Arts week celebrations and efforts. A very special round of applause should therefore go to the Senior Pupils Thomas, Charlotte, Rachel and Chloe for staying connected with this project during the last 8 months which were riddled with A-Level exams for them, as we planned and prepared together what was to be seen at the Beeslack gate and in the Hospice Shop window. It IS possible to make time for the Brightening of Penicuik! Please read what The Penicuik Cuckoo wrote here about the colour wave!
In that said window something else was displayed that was appreciated very much: the letters CRAFT BOMB 2014 crafted big and 3D out of decorated card board. This had been an artist led enterprise commissioned for the nationwide Voluntary Arts Conference in Glasgow, and it shows a few things: having experienced artists lead installations can be of benefit and the group that has been making it under their guidance (senior citizens in a residential home in this case) are feeling very uplifted and valued through that engagement.
This leads us nicely to the summary of our evaluation so far:
- people of Penicuik want both, showing their wee efforts as well as spectacular collective impact efforts
- people need more encouragement
That then leads to finally paying tribute to the hidden 3 from the PCAA in this venture who worked tirelessly behind the scenes next to their busy lives, encouraging people and groups, preparing installation materials, finishing them off, and keep the online presence alive, linking this project to the wider map of which Penicuik is now firmly part of.
We will post that map here in our next blog as soon as the Voluntary Arts team has added it all up! Meanwhile – please get in touch with your feedback and plans!
cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo !
Brightening Penicuik 