The initial stimulus for "Inspired by Recovery" was a photograph brought to one of Risen's workshops by Andy Millar, an image from a collection by Josef Sudek, called "My Studio Window." Andy is a photographer and the picture held a particular significance for him, portraying the agony of his thoughts and feelings through active addiction and then giving him hope in recovery.
Having enjoyed a plethora of workshops on "Adrift Together," Andy and Ali, two former Risen members, were able to use this theme to inspire attendees of Art and Soul to create movement. I am excited by language and images and had brainstormed this theme to evoke poetic imagery related to it. Andy and Ali were able to use what I came up with as a stimulus in their workshops with other addicts in recovery. I am pleased to say that some of our newest members are graduates of Art and Soul.
To start the show, Claire introduced us and asked me to read my poem "Adrift Together," which I have included in this post. It was an emotional few moments for me and an example of my own inspiration in recovery.
The piece we performed at the Bluecoat, evolved from the pen of artist Frank Marnell, whose passion is drawing. Frank wrote a poem and from this came the title of the piece, "Gods of the sky." The dance placed Frank and his sketches of the performers around him, at the centre of the piece. It was a poignant snapshot of Frank's inspiration in recovery, his drawing and painting. I was privileged to be part of it, together with Amanda and Phil Kinsey, Ian Brown, Rachel Foster and of course, Frank himself.
Presiding over the event was a display put together by Risen, giving information about the group and featuring poetry and artwork by members. The piece de resistance was the angel wings, designed lovingly by Amanda Kinsey and bringing together all our work under one umbrella, Fallen Angels' Dance Theatre.We were joined on this occasion by our comrades in arms,some of the folk from Fallen Angels' Chester Group. It was lovely to see Kelly J. and Wolfie again and to have them in our audience.
The event concluded with a fair amount of networking, photo shooting and general chit chat. A good time was had by all.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Claire Morris and Paul Bayes Kitcher, who are the heart and soul of Fallen Angels' Dance Theatre. Their combined vision and extraordinary talents are what drives Risen and F.A's other recovery groups forward and gives so many broken people the chance to become whole again. I think I speak for all of us when I say that these two are the stars of the show and we love them both to bits. Thank you Paul and Claire.
Linda Lewis. 10.3.16
Adrift Together
Shoals of shattered parts cast into space;
tumbling,
twisting, turning.
Plummeting, plunging pieces,
glimmering;
slicing darkness;
glittering, glowing,
sparkling, shimmering, swirling;
fireflies on black canvas.
Blobs of quicksilver
splitting and separating,
adrift; apart
and falling through night;
melting away, then
swelling, malleable,
breaking off,
converging,
bonding,
coalescing.
Silver fish, like darts
scattered in shock,
thrown apart - hurled into oblivion,
isolated -
alone and dark and cold;
then -
pinpricks of brightness
through turbulence and blackness;
buttons of light in a churning sea,
clinging together;
a loving embrace in murky waters.
Explosions of warmth from a well of pain,
deep, deep down inside..........
dancers casting out, reaching for
hands to hold,
uniting,
connecting,
becoming whole.
Linda Lewis. October 21st 2015