Hi, I’m Kristina, the new Digital Marketing Trainee here at The Florrie. Each Month this year, I’ll be attending some of the fantastic community hub classes we host to give you an insight into what we do here at The Florrie. Our Community Hub Activities are essential for many, as they can really help with mental health, building new friendships, gaining skills and knowledge, and some provide therapeutic benefits as well (such as the yoga class). The Community Hub Activities are truly a lifeline for so many people, so I’d like to tell you all more about them!
This month, I’ll be focusing on the art Group. The Florrie has held art classes for 9 years, and they are a space for people to gather, create art, and share here in L8! The Wednesday class is about more than just creating art for the people who get involved – it provides community, a chance to socialise, a space of safety and freedom, and a relaxing, therapeutic atmosphere.
‘I love The Florrie because I’m able to draw here and I don’t really get the chance to at home. Everyone at the art class is lovely, and I’m upset when I can’t come!’
– Joyce Ward, member of the art class.
From the moment I stepped into the class, I felt welcomed and comfortable. I was very quickly included in conversations and the members took the time to show me where all the art supplies were. I got involved, working on a few different projects while I was at the class, including working on some illustrations and sitting with Marguerita (who teaches calligraphy to the group) to learn about calligraphy.
Although it was fun to make art, my favourite part of the class was talking to the group. I was one of the younger people in the class, but the conversations we had bridged any generational gaps, and I found that everyone was very kind and genuine!
I interviewed some of the members who shared why they come along to our weekly art class. One member was Kath Garrett, who was born and raised in Dingle. She’s painted since the age of 3 and she used to love her job teaching special educational needs children – especially teaching them to draw. Kath expressed that she’s very grateful that she can keep drawing and painting with her friends in The Florrie now that she’s retired.
As a final bit of advice, Kath said that you always have to sign your artwork, because you never know if you’ll become famous!
I also interviewed Dennis Harrison, a retired cartoonist who used to work for the Liverpool Star making his ‘Fred the Ferry’ comics. Dennis has been coming to the art class for around 4 years after hearing about The Florrie through BBC Radio Merseyside.
Dennis told me that The Florrie provides help to lots of groups, and it’s allowed him to make friends like The Florrie’s very own member of staff, Tim. He also emphasised that the art class allows everyone to create wonderful artwork in a shared space. The class gives Dennis a sense of purpose and he he’s proud to share his work with others!
The Florrie’s art class also has a calligraphy group, where they learn calligraphy techniques from one another. A sweet lady called Marguerita voluntarily leads small lessons around one of the tables. When some of the calligraphers were being interviewed, they had been practicing with calligraphy pens to illustrate trees, which were beautiful!
The members of this small group explained that they love doing calligraphy, as they find it fun and therapeutic. They expressed that learning calligraphy has helped with issues like dexterity and wrist mobility, as well as allowing them to pick up a new, useful skill.
As previously mentioned, I met Marguerita myself and she taught me some calligraphy. She explained that people often make calligraphy seem like a ‘serious’ thing, when it’s just about your journey, your own expression. Marguerita told me that you don’t have to aim for awards, just to have fun with it, as said in her own words. She explained that she just wants others to enjoy it as much as she does.
‘You should create art how you want to, not how others say you should.’
– Marguerita, who teaches calligraphy in the class
Marguerita highlighted to me that honest expression and showing up as yourself is the only thing that matters in our class, not how ‘good’ your art can be classified as. And if you do come to the class to improve your work, the other artists will be happy to give you tips and pointers – they always uplift each other and want to see you succeed!
‘Shared learning, shared responsibility. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Picasso or not in our art class.’
– Tim, The Florrie’s Community Co-ordinator.
Something that stands out about the group is that they’re always happy to offer kind, helpful advice if you ask for it. They always inspire each other to express their creativity, whether through painting, illustration, or calligraphy. Kath’s friend, Colin, even plays guitar and sings folk songs from time to time!
The resounding messages that were being shared in the group were that the art class, and The Florrie as a whole, provides them with somewhere to go to make friends, learn skills, and use their time productively. Some members of the class used to attend a cancer support group where they’d paint together, but they needed a new home, so they joined our group at The Florrie. They told me that they now come along every Wednesday and shared that they feel quite upset when they can’t attend the class because they really value the space and community here!
In the art class, you’re sure to learn a thing or two, and find someone you can connect with. You’ll be welcomed with open arms, and you’re bound to talk to someone interesting, or at the very least, you’ll be in a shared creative space where you can do your own thing.
The art classes meet at The Florrie every Wednesday from 1-3pm.
If you want to get involved and would like more info on the group, contact Tim on: tim@theflorrie.org