Italian Residency 2004:As part of my residency at LABA, I was involved in two participatory projects. The first project, ArtInTreno, was an interactive installation conceived by a local artist group. Working with lead artist, Andrea Contino, I assisted in the installation and realisation of the concept. Using a local train carriage, work was done to transform the public space, into a site of interaction and thought processing. Carriage one was transformed using golden decor and housed a large tree illustration. Focussing on Italian interior and architectural design, the work conveyed ideas of rich embellishment, combining religious connotations. The tree evoked ideas concerning family bonds, symbolising the tree of life. Extending the installation into the adjoining compartment, an ideas space was created using post-it notes. Incorporating the concepts of journey, time and space passengers were invited to reflect and document. The carriage became a hub for thought and discussion, provoking interaction with the work. The second art project was developed in a local primary school. I was invited to assist in the preparation and management of the final project, MostrInMostra, which incorporated art, song and dance. Using mixed media materials, the children were encouraged to create and collage fictional monsters. Developing creativity and storytelling through an interactive day, the children were then encouraged to sing, dance and celebrate their creations. The following days were spent documenting and exhibiting the work for an exhibition at the school.
