As several of the city’s walls are being transformed into works of art, Nuart Aberdeen artist Carrie Reichardt is taking some time out to mentor local youngsters on the art of ceramics.
Local cultural organisation SHMU (Station House Media Unit) has been supporting residents in the seven regeneration areas of the city since it was established in 2003.
Through their Youth Media Project, approximately 10 young students have been chosen to nominate unsung heroes from Aberdeen’s past and present to honour through an impactful piece of ceramic art.
Workshops took place at North East Scotland College on Tuesday, mentored by Carrie Reichardt, a self-titled ‘craftivist’.
Carrie passed on her knowledge and gave the students the opportunity to try their hand at tiling. She also taught them practical skills such as grouting and cutting.
Each student got the chance to print their own local inspirational person onto a tile that will then become one part of a large-scale mural. The final piece will be revealed later on today at Rennie’s Wynd at the side of Kenny’s Music shop.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are very happy to have formed a partnership with Station House Media Unit to deliver Nuart Aberdeen workshops for children in the city.
“Exciting as it is to bring some of the best street artists in the world to Aberdeen, a key fundamental for us is to build a legacy where art and culture is open to all and people feel that.
“This represent a fantastic opportunity for children to work with one of our Nuart artists to learn more about ceramics and help to create a piece which will be on display for the festival and beyond.
“An important part of the Nuart Aberdeen programme is to give back to the local community and get people involved and the workshop will help to spark the imagination of some of the city’s most creative children in the city.”
Carrie Reichardt said: “I had a fabulous time working with both the young people and local volunteers who helped to produce this community ceramic mural.
“It’s been great to learn about all the amazing people who have come from Aberdeen and to be able to share this information in such a public visual way. “
One of the unsung heroes being honoured from the past is Dr Mary Esslemont (1891 – 1984), Dr Esslemont was the first female to negotiate on behalf of the British Medical Association with Anuerin Bevan on the development of the NHS.
She became the first assessor of the Aberdeen University Court and she was the first female President Aberdeen Liberal Association.
From the present, Scottish Paralympic multiple sports athlete, Neil Fachie MBE (born 12 March 1984), won his second gold medal on the Gold Coast to equal the Scottish Commonwealth Games record of four golds.
The 34-year-old took victory in the men's B&VI sprint final along with his pilot Matt Rotherham. It was Scotland’s first gold medal of the tournament.
This years working title “A revolution of the ordinary” is based on a desire to propagate the idea that we each have the capacity to create a positive and at times powerful impact on the world we live in.
To encourage civic engagement and agency through collaboration and education, these workshops bring our heroes and heroines down from pedestals and teach us that they are and were just like us. Ordinary people capable of extraordinary things.
Aberdeen’s cultural heritage has been a rich source of inspiration this week for artists from across the globe, Nuart Aberdeen organisers are honoured that they can contribute to connecting Aberdeen’s past to the present and look forward to seeing what extraordinary things might just happen in the future.
The festival, which is delivered by business organisation Aberdeen Inspired in partnership with Nuart Festival and Aberdeen City Council, will take place from Thursday, April 12, to Sunday, April 15, and is set to attract thousands of visitors into the city centre.
For more information about Nuart Aberdeen 2018, please visit: www.nuartaberdeen.co.uk