Morwenna Kearsley is working with Renfrewshire Council and the THCARs2 Regeneration team on a free 12-week photography course PICTURING PAISLEY that explores Paisley’s textile and architectural heritage.
Morwenna Kearsley wants to work with adult participants in a group to consider the photo-essay as a means to tell stories and discover more about Paisley’s past, present, and future. Participants will look at and visit archives to get a sense of Paisley’s rich history, make new photographs together by getting out and about and will experiment with a range of creative techniques to make their own unique photo-essay.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about:
The history of photography and the photo-essay
How to use a camera and compose creative photographs
How to use an archive and find interesting stories and photographs from the past
Paisley’s history in textile and thread manufacturing (thinking in particular about the architecture associated with this)
Creative writing techniques
Editing your photographs into a photo-essay
And much more!
This course would suit both complete beginners in photography and those with some experience. The main emphasis is on having fun, developing some new skills and reflecting on the rich cultural heritage of Paisley in a safe and relaxed group environment.
Morwenna is an artist and photographer based in Glasgow. She studied for a degree in Photography & Filmmaking at Napier University in Edinburgh and later she obtained a scholarship to study on the Master of Fine Art course at The Glasgow School of Art. She still loves to make photographs using analogue film and darkroom printing techniques, as well as using digital technologies and creative writing.
Her work and research attempts to understand the complexity of image-making and image-receiving, often through writing: weaving archival research with autobiographical events to agitate and disrupt my understanding of what a photographed or filmed image can be and how it acts on our collective memory, our homes, and our towns and cities. As well as exhibiting regularly, nationally and internationally, she also works as an arts educator for adults and children, across a wide range of organisations.
Workshop Programme
Venue:POP, Unit 35-36, The Piazza, Central Way, Paisley PA1 1EL
Times: 10.30am-12noon on each occasion (unless otherwise stated)
Untitled 2009 is a brand new play written by Nelly Kellyand directed by David Wood, produced as part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations of The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven, by legendary trans artist and activist Jo Clifford. Supported by Outspoken Arts Scotland. All events will take place at the Tron Theatre, exactly ten years after Queen Jesus’ premiere at the theatre in November 2009 to mark the anniversary and celebrate and reflect on its impact and legacy.
Nelly, David and the team behind Queen Jesus Productions would be delighted to meet any trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming performers of all ages and experience who are interested in taking part in this special project. All performers will be paid for the day of rehearsal and the day of performance. In addition to this all performers are welcome to take part in workshops hosted by Brazilian artist and activist Renata Carvalho (who plays Jesus in the Brazilian production) and voice expert Susan Worsfold (director of the original production). Performers will also be invited to be part of the audience for the UK and Brazilian productions (The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven and O Evangelho Segundo Jesus, Rainha do Ceu) and to take part in post-show discussions. We regret it’s not possible to reimburse travel costs so this opportunity may best suit people based in and near the Central Belt. Actors ITC/Equity minimum daily rates offered for 1+2 Nov.
Important dates (all central Glasgow)
Deadline for expressing interest in casting workshop – Monday 12 Aug 2019
Casting workshop – Monday 9 Sep, 10.15-13.15
Queen Jesus performances and workshops – Wednesday 30 October to Saturday 2 Nov (exact days & times to follow)
Rehearsal day – Fri 1 Nov, 10.15-18.00
Performance day – Sat 2 Nov, 10.15-16.00
How to apply
Please get in touch by mailto:queenjesusplays@gmail.com telling us why you want to be part of the project and a little about you and your performance experience, this can be done in either written form or as a short video application. If submitting a video please send us a YouTube or Vimeo link.
There is no word/time limit on applications, however please keep your application concise to allow for the team to give a fair amount of consideration to each applicant.
The casting for Untitled 2009 will take the form of a relaxed workshop on Monday 9 Sep, 10.15-13.15, and we aim to make it accessible for all. On invitation to the casting workshop, a member of the team will be in contact with you to ask of any specific access requirements you may have and will be happy to discuss with you ways in which we can best support you on the day.
Venue for casting workshop
Vic Bar (internal location), Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HB
In July 2009 a Bible was put on display in GoMA alongside
the notice: “If you feel you’ve been excluded from the Bible, please write your
way back into it.” The exhibit, Untitled 2009, was intended to be a reclamation
of the Bible as a sacred text, created by Rev Jane Clarke, a minister of the
Metropolitan Community Church, in collaboration with artists Anthony
Schrag and David Malone for the Made in God’s Image exhibition (https://galleryofmodernart.wordpress.com/portfolio/made-in-gods-image/).
But it was condemned as a sacrilegious act by churches across Scotland, and
globally, as negative reports broke out online.
Now ten years on, Untitled 2009 will be on display again in Glasgow and the words collected in its margins performed, challenged and explored by a dynamic ensemble of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming performers in this new piece of theatre, as part of Queen Jesus’ 10th anniversary celebrations. What has changed in the last ten years and what do these words tell us about queer lives in Scotland then and now?
The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven
The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven is a unique, one-woman, site-responsive theatrical piece in which Jesus has returned to earth as a trans woman. Written and performed by Jo Clifford (TAMING OF THE SHREW, EVE) – author of over 80 plays, Stonewall role model, Saltire Society Outstanding Woman, and one of Scotland’s most renowned playwrights – and directed by award-winning director and voice practitioner Susan Worsfold (EVE, HEROINE). Described as having “one of the most remarkable journeys in recent theatre history” (Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman) the play has indeed had an incredible journey over the last ten years since its premiere as part of Glasgay! at the Tron in 2009. From being the subject of hate and abuse from a mass protest outside; to hundreds of critically acclaimed and sold out performances in the UK and Brazil and the resulting creation of a Brazilian version that has become the most talked about work in the country and is at the epicentre of the struggle against censorship and bigotry.
Curated by Queen Jesus Productions, with support from Tron Theatre and Outspoken Arts Scotland, the 10th anniversary celebrations include a three-performance run of the original production and the Scottish premiere of the infamous Brazilian production alongside a programme of performance, learning and discussion inspired by the play’s journey, themes and guiding principles.
Supported by Creative Scotland National Lottery Funding.
Drop-in sessions where Susie will be demonstrating making flowers from sinamay. You’ll have the opportunity to make your own flower and to turn it into a brooch.
