Residencies
2020 Vision
A live event and a town centre exhibition took place in St Helens as part of a six-month residency project.
2020 Vision: An exhibition exploring the future of our world was led by artist Sophie Mahon. Sophie worked with young people from Parr, Fingerpost and FourAcre to explore ideas around their visions for the future as well as creating a number of works based on their present day experiences.
As part of the residency, work was shared with the public via a live event, town centre promotion and an exhibition.
The project is a partnership between Heart of Glass and Helena Homes Make It Happen project, and supported through the Creative Europe funded Collaborative Arts Partnership programme (CAPP).
Firstly, a live event at Derbyshire Hill Family Centre was led by a group of free runners and gymnasts from Parr. The free runners move from building and object while performing jumps and other skilful moves.
The group has been working with Sophie and alongside professional free runners coaches on live visual performances. A currently used town centre shop was the focus for the exhibition of the project’s work.
Sophie explained: “The exhibition looks at the worst and best possible outcomes for the future. The show included a range of paintings, interactive audio/video works and sculptures spread beyond the pop up space as well as shop windows in and around Church Square and throughout community spaces in St Helens.”
Over the course of six months Sophie developed workshops with St Helens Youth Service, Wild Card Amateur Boxing Club, St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, St Augustine’s of Canterbury Catholic High School, The Sutton Academy, Free Runners Derbyshire Hill Family Centre, Parr Library, Chester Lane Library, Holy Trinity Church and 818 group; bringing together a group of young collaborators with whom she has developed the project.
