December the 1st, Visit and guided tour in Stormont Buildings, Belfast.

November the 17th, Visit to the Ulster Museum, Stanmillis Road, Belfast.

Photographs taken by Michael Hogg


On the 17th of November, ten participants in the Axis project visited the Ulster Museum, Belfast. The museum trip involved five tenants of Mullan Mews supported housing and five from Sydenham Court. This visit was made to see an Exhibit representing thirty five years of Civil unrest in Northern Ireland, though as you can see from the photographs we all very quickly lost interest in the Troubles Exhibit and moved around the more colourful museum displays. 

November the 10th, Visit to the F.E.McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge.

Photographs by Paula Campbell.

F.E. Mc William Gallery and Studio in Banbridge is dedicated to the memory of Banbridge-born sculptor Frederick Edward McWilliam, one of Ireland’s most influential and successful artists. 

Participants walked around the exhibition dipping in and out of the talk provided by the tour guide. His early pieces were semi abstract but later many of the sculptures were of figures or a part of a figure e.g. legs. These sculptures were more recognisable to the participants, who found great joy at pointing out the tiny details in the feet. Participant’s appreciated the time and skill which went into producing these pieces and were overwhelmed by the amount of work one man had
achieved.

Many of the larger pieces were located in the garden area. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect showing these pieces at their best and producing interesting shadows. Also, the design of these gardens meant that participants required no support from the facilitators as it was all on one level, had a very visual path to guide you to the sculptures and a view off the whole garden from any one point.

The cafe had floor to ceiling windows overlooking the gardens and sculptures, together with our new found friendships, homemade vegetable soup and not forgetting a cup of tea, it ended our more than perfect day.


Text by Sinead Hyman

November the 3rd, Workshop in Sydenham court

Photographed by Paula Campbell

The fruit paintings.

Experience from previous workshops had shown that  many participants found it difficult to recall information which was abstract in nature. The facilitators decided to introduce something which was familiar to the participants and used fruit. Some of the fruit was familiar to all and some was not widely know like a mango or a Chinese pear. The atmosphere in the workshop was relaxed, calm and productive.  For participants this was an opportunity to express themselves through creating paintings bringing with it a calmer state of mind which resonated through the group.

Text by Sinead Hyman

October the 27th, Workshop in Sydenham Court

Photographs by Michael Hogg


The clay workshop.
People have the urge to make things and clay was the perfect medium for this. Firstly participants held the clay, squeezing it and pulling bits off. Through play, facilitators encouraged the participants to talk about the feeling and texture.

After, the tenants set out to produce figures of about 10cm in height. A couple of the participants decided that they would make each individual body parts and then construct the figure as a whole. The figures took on different forms, the easiest way to describe them is to say some were similar to morph (1970’s cartoon character), some like snow men and others formed from one continuous piece of clay. A couple of the participants had decided to produce their own works such as rabbits and pigs which gave great enjoyment to the creator and the group.

The workshop was slow to take off but once a couple of figures had been produced the workshop became busy and creative. After the figures were produced, participants would place them in the middle of the table. The figures formed a group and I think it was at this point the figures took on their own  personality.  

text by Sinead Hyndman

0ctober the 20th, Tour of the River Lagan, The Lagan Boat Company.

Photographs taken by Paula Campbell.

October the 13th, Workshop in Sydenham Court

Photographs taken by Paula Campbell.

October the 6th, Workshop in Sydenham Court working with coloured squares.

Sept the 29, Visit to the Gerard Dillon Exhibition at the Culturlann, Falls Rd, Belfast

Taken at the Culturlann, Falls Rd, Belfast, photographed by Paula Campbell

Culturlann is located within a former church building and is a centre promoting culture and in particular the Irish language. Launching the Culturlann's new gallery extension was the large collection of Gerard Dillon paintings and prints.


When we arrived at the exhibition room we were warmly welcomed by Eimear Ni Mhathuna, the centre’s director. Participants received a short talk about the life and works of Gerard Dillon and also the new building extension in which we were sitting in.

It was instantly noticeable that the participants were enjoying the art work. Talking about the art content and referring its name. One such art piece, depicting a child’s rope swing, tied to a lamp post was warmly received due to it being a favourite children’s past time (which can still be seen in the streets of Belfast today). This piece prompted conversation, laughter, happy memories and then fear of “one of the bigger girls swinging you around” returning to laughter as at some point they would be that ‘big girl’!

Participants had an opportunity to tour the refurbished building and the roof terrace which has glimpses of the new public art piece, Rise.

Participants enjoyed lunch in the centres cafe situated beside a very tempting gift shop which was later perused. Ending the day the participants soaked up the sun, the friendships formed and the ‘hustle bustle’ of the busy Falls Road. 

Text by Sinead Hyndman.

Sept 15th, workshop at Sydenham Court.

photographed by Paula Campbell

This workshop involved nine participants, four tenants at Sydenham Court and five from Mullan Mews supported housing.  The workshop took place at Sydenham Court during which we discussed past trips and possible future visits as well as exploring works which had been produced to date.

Workshop Photographs from Belfast Exposed

Sept 22nd 2011, War Memorial Museum

War Memorial Museum, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast, photographed by Paula Campbell

These photographs were taken during a visit to the war memorial Museum in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Participants visited this small museum housing a collection of war memorabilia and received a guided tour with personal stories from Bob who served in the Commandos, Burma and Second World War. Participants were fully engaged during Bob’s tour which laste dd over an hour. 

Next door to the Museum is one of Belfast's most trendy restaurants. Here the participants enjoyed lunch and were highly amused by the shabby chic interior, requesting a revisit, “tomorrow”.

Text by Sinead Hyndman.

Sept 8th 2011,Workshop in Belfast Exposed

Silent, Empty, Waiting for the Day. A Mary McIntyre, Belfast Exposed Gallery


”Silent, Empty, Waiting for the Day ". A Mary McIntyre's exhibition, 







Photographs taken at Belfast Exposesd workshop

Belfast Exposed is a photographic gallery which houses an archive of community photographs begun in the 1970's.

Along with Belfast Exposed professional photographic staff. Ten participants had the opportunity to receive information, make comment and ask questions about a selection of photographs many taken around the 70’s and 80’s in Belfast. This led us gently into undertaking a photographic workshop.

The participants split into smaller groups of about 3 or 4. The group I was in consisted of 4 women. It became quickly evident that the women were not confident in having their photographs taken, so we started by chatting about passed working lives. 

After about 15minutes the participants felt that their hands played an important role. In turn, participants would place their hands on the studio table while the other participant (with guidance from Mervin) took the shot. Using a digital camera the participants could preview their pictures resulting in some ‘hand model divas’ requesting the shot, be taken again!

When the group reformed it was interesting to share what the other participants had chosen to photograph and why. Photographs now form part of the Belfast Exposed archive.


Text by Sinead Hyman

“McIntyre observes a process of entropy at work in neglected and abandoned spaces. A domestic interior, a backyard, a public park; environments that were once ordered and animated through human presence, tend slowly towards disorder."

August 11th 2011 Visit to Naughton Gallery, at Queens University Belfast.

The Naughton Gallery, Queens University, Belfast, photographed by Paula Campbell




On our first trip we took five older people, tenants at Mullan Mews Supported housing scheme and five who were tenants at Sydenham Court, to visit Queens University in Belfast. Queens is the home of the Naughton Gallery which was hosting an exhibition of paintings by the artist Neil Shawcross. Participants were lead round the exhibition by Neil Shawcross.

Neil Shawcross, Naughton Gallery 2011

The exhibition contained several large watercolour paintings on the theme of  penguin books.



September 1st, Workshop at Sydenham Court  




Workshop at Sydenham Court, Old Holywood Road, Belfast. photographed by Paula Campbell


Nine participants, four resident at Sydenham Court Supported housing scheme and five from Mullan Mews undertook a short workshop centered around their experience of colour. As a follow on from the Neil Shawcross exhibition at the Naughton Gallery, participants worked with watercolours and combined a short story reflecting the experience.




October 4th 2011, Workshop at Sydenham Court.

                              Workshop at Sydenham Court. photographed by Paula Campbell

Ten participants, five resident at Sydenham Court Supported housing scheme and five from Mullan Mews undertook a short workshop centered around a practical experience of colour. Participants discussed what colour might mean to then and relayed short stories reflecting their favourite colours and experiences concerning colour.

Axis Training Day at Sydenham Court.

Training Day at Sydenham Court

July 6th 2011
The Axis training day proved extemely popular and was fully booked . The event took place at Sydenham Court sheltered housing, one of Clanmil's housing scheme, situated off the Old Holywood Road in Belfast.
Sixteen participants from a cross section of visual arts galleries, cultural providers, artists and care staff attended the day long session.
Training was lead by Rosas Mitchell who has extensive experience both in providing training and working with dementia sufferers specifically in the area of Visual Arts.