Voice of the Young in Rhayader

The Inner Picture is an exhibition at Rhayader Museum and Gallery featuring, film, photography, painting, poetry and print work made by a group of 15 young people from Mid Powys supported through the project by artist and film-maker Blue MacAskill.

I have to confess to having an interest in the exhibition. I am mentor to the project partners ? the Artist, Blue MacAskill and CARAD, as part of the ?Chance To Create? grant scheme. So I was aware, before setting foot in the exhibition, how hard Blue has worked to engage with the young people and provide a meaningful experience for them.

It was my first visit to the Gallery space and it felt intimate and accessible. There was a lively mixture of things to take in: paintings, collage, film, stencil-drawings, t-shirt designs, poetry, archive & contemporary photos and museum exhibits with commentary from the young people.

A few things stood out for me.  A poem by Robert Matthew Newton, interpreted on a stunning painted canvas by Blue. ?I love writing poetry and find that when I focus on writing I can relieve lots of built up feelings and deal with subjects when they form words as poems.?

 "If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you,
And share with you its beauty
On the days you're feeling blue

If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own,
A place to find serenity,
A place to be alone.
If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea,
But all these things I'm finding
Are impossible for me

I cannot build a mountain,
Or catch a rainbow fair,
But let me be what I know best,
A friend who's always there"

I found the stark pencil & stencil drawings on white canvas very moving. Images of journeys through landscapes with the raw emotions of fear, hate, hope and love literally spelt out with stencils. I assume the sentiments and quotes were taken from conversations between Blue and the young people, over the weeks they worked together: ?Nobody cares what we do?; ?Never been out of this town?; ?All I know is violence?.

I liked how the new photo portraits complemented the archive photos from the museum. Quotations about art, community and family spiralled round the walls to weave the exhibition together.

The most arresting thing of all was being able to speak with one of the young people who had been involved in the workshops and had work displayed in the exhibition. She told me about how she was feeling when she created one of the pictures. I welled up listening to her speaking and hearing from her Mum how proud she was. She was making plans to set up a youth group herself and told of how this process had given her the confidence to do that. This glimpse of the extraordinary power of community arts brought the whole exhibition alive for me. It isn?t just a collection of works, it is a celebration of the way in which an artist can create an environment where people feel free to connect creatively with themselves and others.

 Add your voice!

Everyone is welcome to drop in and explore the themes of the exhibition with Blue MacAskill on the 5th and 6th June @ 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm.

Blue MacAskill is also offering Schools, Colleges, Powys Groups, Art Groups, Youth Services free workshops. To book a place for your group contact Helen Beal at marketing@carad.org.uk or 01597 810 192

You can also join Blue on Twitter and Facebook: "MOCACYMRU" or find out more at  HYPERLINK "http://www.bluemacaskill.com/"www.bluemacaskill.com

 Blue worked with young people via:

Llandrindod Wells Young Parents Group, Llandrindod Wells Care Leavers Group, Newtown Care Leavers Group, Powys Young Carers, Local Rhayader Curator's Group, Presteigne and Knighton Groups / Curlew Project Group