Hamari Yaadain group workshop with Carol Sorhaindo
Pavilion has partnered with community support organisation, Touchstone to deliver a year-long programme of art workshops for elderly people in BME communities.
Last week Carol Sorhaindo ran our first session with Touchstone’s Hamari Yaadain (Our Memories) Dementia Café members.
In the workshop, we painted with homemade saffron dye. It is well known that saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and it has been grown and used in India in Punjab and Kashmir for over five thousand years. When used as a dye, saffron creates an incredible, bright yellow colour, which Carol had made for the group to experiment with. Carol also introduced some oak dye, which is known to be a symbol of British identity, and this encouraged the group to talk about their journeys of migration and the significance of their heritage combined with the experience of living in Britain.
The group created intricate designs using a block printing techniques. We discussed experiences of migration, memories of Britain and Leeds when they first came here, and the significant changes they could see in the world around us today. One member of the group recalled how his father had worked with block printing throughout his working life, and he shared happy memories with the group. Fond memories of old interior and textile designs were shared and some members of the group had brought with them pieces of clothing or textiles, which were significant to them and they shared these with the group.