The Art of Solace

Artist and hospice nurse, Naomi Clements describes the solace of art as she completes a painting that has sat in her studio for some time...a painting she began after the summer her mother died. Now, after a workshop as part of the solace initiative, she has picked up the painting again and she talks of the process of rediscovering the time of farewelling her mother. See post on The Big Idea.

The Solace Initiative - the workshop

We had our first workshop today between 7 hospice workers and 7 creative practitioners. People came for two hours and shared stories of their lives and the things that bring them solace. From this engagement we hope to create new works to build the narrative of what brings us solace. Thanks to everyone who participated, singers, writers, composers, filmmakers and artists along with those who work alongside the dying and who are themselves artists, creative thinkers and practitioners. The lines of difference blurred as people began to talk and share their views on solace.

The 2015 Digital Residency - The Solace Initiative

Thanks to The Big Idea Trust for accepting my project, with my son Sam based in San Francisco: The Solace Initiative, to explore the question What brings us solace? I will be working with creative practitioners across arts, music, dance, sculpture and film to discover the many avenues and experiences of creative practitioners in collaboration with hospice workers. Take a look, have a think and engage with our site The Solace initiative.