On 18th March 2010, a group of young people aged 13 - 18 took part in an intergenerational project as part of the Me, Myself, I project and came to visit the "Unwrapped Exhibition" at the Void Gallery.

( Participants from the Me, Myself, I project talk about their photographs with the young people)

Me, Myself, I was a unique photography project funded by Derry City Council. The project  was offered in two locations in the City at the Waterside Women’s Centre and at the Creggan Neighbourhood Centre. Since October 2009, participants have completed a Digital Photography/IT course establishing technology as an important tool for communication. This was followed by an exploration of self image in older age in creative workshops challenging how the media represents older people and counteracting this with an exploration of a more positive self image as we grow older.

 Since December the participants explored their lives through a series of four special photographic assignments with Emmett McSheffrey a professional photographer and artist formerly from the city but now residing in Glasgow. The themes explored were “A Self Portrait, My World, Transitions and My Dreams”. This photographic exploration has helped the participants “unwrap” their lives and shows us that even as we grow older we still have something very valid and important to say and present to the world. These assignments will form an exhibition entitled “UNWRAPPED” which was launched at the Void Gallery on 16^th March.

 The project also engaged with children and youth first to creatively explore the issues about identity in older age and to challenge ideas and possible stereotypes that they may have about growing older and older people in general. The groups visit ed the Void Gallery to see the exhibition and meet the older artists who have created the work on view. This offered the  children & youth the opportunity to work with older people on an equal basis and to challenge their ideas of what older people can achieve. As WEA celebrates its own centenary this year, WEA is  delighted to be celebrating the artistic achievements of older people and sharing this with the community.   

In the Youth Workshops the young people were encouraged to let their imaginations run wild. They looked at the exhibition, discussed the photographs with the participants who had created them and then imagined a life line for each individual. Others reflected on the images and put forward their own thoughts and ideas. Here are just some examples:

Worksheet: Words that come to mind when you hear the word “old”

Funny, Frail, Traditional, Granny , Bingo, Early riser; up & out early; wrinkly; small, pills + medicine, racist; class + elegance, experience, glasses, smart good advice, mass, tea, M&S,  classical music,  Soul, Rock, Country and Western Music.

Kyle responding to the image of the “Dead Tree” in Theresa’s pictures

The dead tree makes me think about a person who keeps going despite doubters.

Someone who says “I can” when everyone else says “you can’t”

Someone who sticks to their own values, in the face of peer-pressure and other changes

Someone who sticks around when everyone else is gone

Because of its strange shape, it makes me think of someone who’s not afraid to stand out

Someone who wears clothes because they like them

Someone who dies their hair a colour they like

Someone who lives life with the goal to be themselves

However, it also makes me think of:

Someone who can’t admit that sometimes giving up is a better use of your time

Someone who’s afraid to conform

Eoin Responding to the Image of Mount Errigal in Maureen’s Pictures

• 10,000 years ago –  the mountain  was formed
• Present day –  the mountain is climbed
• 10,000 years – It will still be here long after we are gone
• 1,000,000 years –  it may disappear as the land changes but we will not be here to witness such change

Steph’s and Emz Life Line Responding to Patricia’s Sax Player Image

 Name à Josephine

Likes like à live – modern apartment

1960 – Born (New york)

Music school – learn sax

Not married – no children

Cool, jazzy

 1964 – Born; poor background

1974 – Beginning of love for music especially saxophone

1977 – Granda who played sax to her passed away leaving his saxophone to her

1980 – busks on street for money; no job

1983 – some guy notices her talent for playing saxophone; her first show!!

1986 – Continues to play in theatre and is partners with guy

1988 – Has baby with guy

Gives up saxophone

Comments from the young people on their time spent with the older people were positive and the older people were very encouraged both with the reception of their photographs and amazed at the imagination that the young people had when viewing and looking at the work.

Thank you to WEA tutor Mary Duddy for helping to organise this session with the young people.