Awakened by Frink

This project was funded by Dorset Council and Wessex Museums and involved a series of eight art workshops with the Dorset Deaf Activities Group (DDAG). The project provided an opportunity to develop an understanding of the work of Elisabeth Frink, acquire new skills, work together, explore ideas and learn about the exhibition Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. The project also helped to develop an understanding of how the Elisabeth Frink collection can be used as a resource to promote learning and wellbeing.

The project resulted in a final exhibition of the large group drawing, sketchbooks and photographs of the project and a film in the Alice Eileen Cooper Dean community space. The group’s final sculptures were also displayed in the exhibition Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within alongside  Elisabeth Frink’s artwork in a section related to her studio and working processes.

The DDAG were invited to the private view of the exhibitions and a celebration event in December 2023 where members of the group attended with their family and friends.

The Awakened by Frink project aimed to:

• Engage profoundly deaf adults with the work of Elisabeth Frink.
• Undertake a series of art workshops including book binding, drawing and sculpture whilst exploring the techniques and inspiration for Elisabeth Frink’s artwork.
• Use the work of Elisabeth Frink to promote well – being and help build confidence.
• Encourage the group to work together, discuss ideas and encourage and learn from one another.
• Showcase the group’s artwork in the community space and Elisabeth Frink exhibition.
• Encourage staff and volunteers to be more confident, knowledgeable and inclusive in their approach towards working with profoundly deaf people.
• Raise awareness of the barriers profoundly deaf people face.
• Provide equal opportunities for people with disabilities.

The Dorset Deaf Activities Group (DDAG) had been meeting regularly for two years and making artwork; the project provided the group with an opportunity to continue to develop their creative skills. The workshops at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery included an introduction and touch tour of Elisabeth Frink’s work by Annette Ratuszniak, the former curator of the Elisabeth Frink estate. The group explored drawing in different ways and created their own hand bound sketchbook with Ink and Page from Bridport. The DDAG were then encouraged to work on a large – scale piece inspired by the sculptures and garden of Elisabeth Frink’s home at Woolland house where they worked together as a group to make a 12 meters long drawing. The group were introduced to Frink’s plaster maquettes and created their plaster sculpture of the human form whilst learning about Frink’s working processes. The DDAG were involved in choosing the photographs and decision making for the final exhibition.

Visually impaired photographer Adam Millward took photographs of the group throughout the project which formed part of the final exhibition.

Staff at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery worked very closely with Caryn Mitchell, a freelance British Sign Language (BSL) signer and group coordinator to co-produce and shape the project to suit the needs of the group and to make everything as accessible as possible. Many members of the DDAG were unable to read or write English so effective communication to the group was essential for Caryn to then sign to the group. The project had to be kept very visual and well – structured with much group demonstration and individual one to one support.

Staff and learning volunteers helped to develop and support the project and a great deal was learnt about BSL. This stimulated the research into BSL poets by one volunteer Beth Brooke who then worked with members of the group and created her own poem about the process called I learn to say horse in British Sign Language. Copies of Beth’s poem were made available in the exhibition.

The final exhibition consisted of the large group drawing in charcoal and chalk pastel based on Frink’s sculptures at Woolland House, hand made sketchbooks exploring drawings in a range of media, framed photographs of the participants taken by Adam Millward and a film by Pageant Productions. This was curated and displayed by the learning team at Dorset Museum in an exhibition in the Alice Eileen Cooper Dean community space. The group’s individual plaster sculptures were displayed on individual shelves together in a group within Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within, forming an integral part of the exhibition.

Before:

• Consultation with the DDAG group coordinator and members of the DDGA, including an initial visit to see the group to establish their interests in working with Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
• Initial research into BSL, effective methods of communication and the challenges faced by profoundly deaf people.  
• In depth project planning and consultation with exhibition curators and collection staff.

During:

• Regular communication with DDAG Coordinator and interpreters for the group.
• Collecting feedback at the end of each session from group members to involve the group in the decision making process and exhibition planning.
• Visit to the Collection Discovery Centre to view Elisabeth Frink maquettes assisted by the Collection team.
• Specialist input from experts and practitioners to support learning.
• Meetings with exhibition curators and exhibition designers.
• A visit to the group by Tully Jammet, Elisabeth Frink’s grandson.

• Adopting a co-production approach with the DDAG and coordinator/ interpreter to develop and design the engagement programme.
• Working with and learning from the exhibition curators and exhibition designers.
• A flexible approach, allowing room for the project to develop and grow organically from the needs and different abilities of the group.
• Moving around the museum and working in different spaces.
• Working with practitioners in house and utilising the skills of the staff and volunteers.
• Collecting audio and visual evaluation from workshop participants, staff and volunteers through regular feedback and the final film created.
• Being very clear about the display of the group’s work in the exhibitions and finding effective solutions that worked.
• Raising the profile of the project by exhibiting the groups’s work in the main exhibition Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within. One volunteer said “It was great to see the joy and fulfilment the group gained and seeing their confidence in activities and materials grow. Members of the group clearly felt great pride in their achievement, a feeling that was bolstered by the participation of Annette Ratuszniak and by the visit of Elisabeth Frink’s grandson Tully. These visits helped to raise the profile of the group and the project. It was great that a group who must often feel that they are on the fringes of much of what goes on in society were centre stage in a project which is prominently on display as part of the Frink exhibition and in the Community Room.“

One of the main barriers was communication, staff and volunteers did not have any experience of working with profoundly deaf people and had little/ no knowledge of BSL. Communication about Elisabeth Frink and working processes had to be simplified for the interpreter to communicate to the group. This proved to be very tiring for both the interpreter and the group members and was undertaken in shorter sessions. Names of people or nuances were not understood or easily communicated and art terminology had to be simplified for interpretation purposes. Demonstration to the group and visual representation were very important.

One volunteer said “It was fascinating to get a glimpse into how profoundly deaf people communicate and was shocked to learn that many deaf people have never been taught to read or write.” She explained the group interpreter had explained there are no joining words in BSL so communication often involves presenting a concept and that nuance of, for example emotion, is often communicated through body language and facial expression.

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery provided an inclusive and safe space for the group and this was the highest priority. Social interactions and communication amongst the group were very important and needed to be factored into the workshops; the lunch at the end of each session was also very important for the group socially. One group member was not so much interested in the art, but more about being with other members of the group – another important element of the project to consider.

Staff had no prior experience of working with the group so were unsure of what they would be able to achieve or what their individual interests were. It was very difficult to plan an exhibition of the group’s work until they had actually started working with the group and some of the artwork had been created.

“What a great project with such amazing outcomes. The production of the sketchbooks was amazing apart from the art produced. I hope there is some continuing workshops for these talented people from the deaf community and it’s not just a one off.” Visitor to the Awakened by Frink.

“So proud of Dorset Deaf Group involved in this exhibition. It has been so inspiring, very proud my Dad was involved! The artwork is fantastic very intriguing and mesmerising Fantastic!” Feedback from daughter of one of the participants and visitor to.” Awakened by Frink.

“It is wonderful to see all of the beautiful, individual art created by the community. I love the sketchbooks and the unique styles of each person which you can then see all brought together in the collaborative piece. Fantastic work – you deserve your own gallery!” Visitor to Awakened by Frink.

“Lovely exhibition, great to see this in the museum!” Visitor to Awakened by Frink.

“The sketchbooks are amazing. The room is so full of creative inspiration. Great to see Frink from another angle, thank you!” Visitor to Awakened by Frink.

• Adopt a co-production approach that involves the community group and empowers them to shape and define how they want to work with your museum.
• Ensure that you fully understand the needs and sensitivities of your community group, making adjustments and adaptations as necessary.
• Utilise your strengths and use other experts, practitioners and volunteers to enrich and enhance your project/ group’s experience.
• Expect the unexpected, adapt a flexible approach and allow the project to grow and develop. Outcomes can often be very unexpected.

Emma Talbot

Head of Education at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery 

Emma.Talbot@dorsetmuseum.org

Alexandra Briggs

Learning and Community Outreach Coordinator at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery 

Alexandra.Briggs@dorsetmuseum.org