EXPRESS & DISTRESS workshops delivery
This series of workshops was designed and developed for the aspiring needs of young people, too often caught up in a vicious no-job-no-hope cycle. Facilitated by artist Rasheed Bushura, his workshops examined the principle behind the power of positive thinking.
Participants were empowered with the creative freedom to visualise their unique life story and express their hopes and aspirations for the future.
RAHEED KAYODE BUSHURA - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
2010 - Present BLUE TRAIN
Overall responsible for the selection, interpretation of the performance and coordinating overall element ensuring it’s consistent with the concept.
· Directing/steering overall elements of the blue train production such as Costume, Set design, Dance choreography, Curation, Music, web design/web journalism and film documentary.
· Co created the concept, storyboarding, story, mood boards, brand identity, Designs and Character illustrations for blue train.
· Responsible for directing the overall selection and interpretation of the circle of power performance.
· Supervising the visual aesthetics of blue train.
Exhibition
17 Jan - 11 Mar 2011 @ East Gallery
FREE Exhibition open from 8am - 6pm Mon – Friday
Exploring Spirituality
We are proud to host the debut exhibition of one of our creatively gifted young Artist, Rasheed Kayode Bushura.
Rasheed has created a dazzling array of pieces, which he has been working on for several years. With such variety of work, deciding what to display wasn’t easy – there simply isn’t enough space to display it all! However, as you make your way around the gallery today, we hope you will understand why we brought together these particular pieces to create a complete exhibition of works under one theme.
About this exhibition
Rasheed’s work is heavily influenced by spirituality, religion and culture – resulting in a spiritual adventure, exploring different views about creation and beliefs.
The purpose of this collection is to inspire others to “get to know thy self, be at one with self and all creation”. His work attempts to “direct humanity to strive to reach the pinnacle of their being (physically, mentally & spiritually) by raising consciousness through unveiling and merging our ancient mysteries and sciences”.
Having successfully completed a degree in graphic arts and illustration, Rasheed is currently working as a freelance artist and is involved in a variety of projects. In the future he hopes to incorporate other art forms into his practice, such as dance, music and theatre performance, which will help him convey his messages in different ways.
Want to take a look at some of his other work?
Visit his Blog: www.rasheedbushura.blogspot.com
Blue Train project May 2010- Jan 2011
Synopsis of the project
The Blue Train project was a unique opportunity for young people from East London, to explore the collections of the V & A Museum and collaborate with creative professionals to create high quality performance(s) and Exhibitions combining set-design, music composition and dance inspired by Serge Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes.
The challenging, innovative and cross cultural nature of the project was also intended to have an impact in the classroom as teachers encourage young people to use a curriculum linked resource when preparing for a visit to the Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929 and Blue Train Exhibitions at the V & A, and East Potential Gallery and when choosing to undertake further activities to in their schools.
Blue Train has been delivered to and by young people aged 12-25 The aim of the project was to reach people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in East Potential’s foyers and assessment centre in Newham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge Barking & Dagenham and Harlow, and disadvantaged young people in various London boroughs as well as young people in local schools in Newham.
The Project has enabled young people to work with media professionals, video artists, set designers, dance and music professionals educators and other experts.
Participants also had the opportunity to gain an insight into career options within the creative industries, as well as building skills and contacts to progress into arts careers.
A breakdown of beneficiaries is attached.
Dance
Course outline
Aim
To create a contemporary dance piece that told the story of the ‘Circle of Power’ as devised by the young peoples Arts Steering Group. The idea to showcase the skills and talents of the young dancers – the end result to create a final dance performance.
Content
Based on the storyboard created by the Arts Steering Group, various styles of dance were incorporated into the dance sessions:-
- Contemporary
- Street Dance
- Hip Hop
- African
All sessions included warm up, exercise routine as well as learning the choreography.
Because of the logistics of getting everyone together at rehearsals they had to be held at the V&A in the end. This actually worked out well because they took place in the Raphael Gallery which was a public space where visitors could watch rehearsals.
Outcome
The young participants have taken part in Dance performances so far on the 3rd of December at the late night event at the V&A and also at the two ‘Circle of Power’ performances on 11th December at the V&A. The performances were well received by the audience all together 250 have seen both performances.
Film
Course outline
Aim
To involve the young participants in the production and delivery of a high quality film, documenting the progress of the Blue Train project.
Content
To deliver five half day practical sessions for young people providing them with key skills in film making and post production tools.
To utilise the film editing days in order to complete the film to a high standard of quality an approximate length of 20 minutes.
Outcome
Key skills Developed
Knowledge and practical skills using a camera, conducting interviews, using Final Cut Pro editing tools and filming live events with multiple cameras. The young people also developed a greater knowledge of the Ballet Russes.
Life/soft sills Developed
Increased confidence, working independently and as part of a team, presentation and analytical skills.
Music
Course outline
Aim
For the young people to learn how to use a music production program, to create a score in line with the concept of the project (and storyboard). To create tracks that enhances and accompanies the dance choreography.
Content
- Introduction to project and story
- Introduction to logic
- Creating tracks to a specific theme
- Rewriting, enhancing and polishing tracks
- Recording to CD
- Writing lyrics and using images to create accompanying slide show
- Live recording of tracks
- Using a mixing desk during performance
Outcome
Young people with experience of music production were able to pick up advance skills using Apple Logic software and create original tracks that were included in the overall score for the performance.
Young people with less experience made tracks based on the overall theme and recorded them to CD. These were used for the website and possibly the accompanying DVD. Lyrics were also written and the young people will record these in a studio. A slide show of images was also made to accompany the music which told and alternative version of the story.
Set Design
Course outline
Aim
To create a collaborative project through which young people translate their ideas ofDiaghilev and the Ballet Russes through their own creative practice.
The Set-Designs are to be designed in harmony with the other sectors of the ballet i.e. the music and dance. The Set-Design would set the scene, mood and sometimes tell the narrative. The design pieces then cater for different skills level of participants and are created within allocated timeframe.
Content
The Set Design process was divided into two sections:
1) Schools sessions – Rokeby School, the students concentrated on the design and painting of the floor cloth as well as creating illustrations for the projections:
· Detailed design process to create individual “Symbols of Power”
· Creation of stencils to paint symbols
· Experimentation with various scenic painting techniques
· Application of techniques on floor cloth
· Illustration class on themes of jungles, ancient civilisations and meteor strikes
2) Sessions at Half Term / East Potential where participants created the remaining components of the set:
· Followed a design process to design the artwork for the ‘jungle’ and the ‘mystic” backdrops
· Followed a scaling up process to transfer artwork from design to cloth
· Intro to scenic painting techniques
· Application of techniques and detailed work on creating the backdrop
· Created the “Pyramids” for the show – construction and painting skills
· Assisted with the creation of the model box for the exhibition
· Took responsibility for the installation of the set at the V&A as a team
· Assisted with carrying and storing the set
· Learnt construction skills – building flats, laying floor cloth and general get in / fit up skills
Outcome
The set design was realised to a high standard and successfully depicted the required scenes and atmospheres. The young people had full ownership over the pieces created – especially a small core team of boys from Rokeby who were incredibly dedicated and came during the half term sessions as well as at school sessions.
The young people were responsible for realising their own designs on the painted backdrops, which were visually striking and captured the spirit of the show. They successfully took the V&A exhibition as a starting point and interpreted it individually to add to the design palette. The team were extremely dedicated and the participants greatly enjoyed the experience and felt proud of their achievements.
Web
Course outline
Aim
To enable the young participants to specify and design a website and to implement it with the available online tools.
Enable the participants to document the other workshops and to publish it online.
Content
The course was split into two parts
1) Arts Steering Group learned about:-
- Web design
- Communication strategies
- Legal framework
- Technologies & Web development
2) Other young participants learned about :-
- Digital media content creation and publication (Writing, Photo and Audio)
- Online publishing technology
- Legal issues
Outcome
The Artist Steering Group:-
- Specified the brief for the Blue Train website with ‘user stories’, ‘wire frames’ and ‘sitemap’.
- Designed the artwork for the site and selected a ‘tumbler’ template for the website.
Other young participants:-
- Learned how to publish onto the Blue Train website.
- Created 4 short audio clips/interviews with Audioboo.
- Took and published digital images.
- Wrote short documentation of the other workshops.
Costume
Course outline
Aim
To introduce young people to the techniques both practically and aesthetically, for creating dance costumes for the final Blue Train Production.
Content
- Introduction to Ballet Russes through Exhibitions at V&A East Thames.
- Getting to know story line and characters from the Arts Steering Group (made up of young participants) Storyboard/Concept/Treatment.
- Workshops:-
- Research & Development of Designs
- Experimentation with fabrics
- Design techniques
- Painting
- Basic sewing skills
- Recycled materials
- Working with Dancers to fit their costumes
- Running the performances.
Outcome
Participants gained:-
- Learning of skills and creativity
- Learning to take responsibility
- Teamwork
- Confidence building
Overall the young people developed a sense of commitment and an insight into this creative industry. Certain aspirations may have not been met to the full however others were surprising and welcome such as one student wishing to pursue a further education course in costume design.
The final outcome was a very successful set of costumes that facilitated the choreographic work and vision of the Artistic Director.
Curation
Course outline
Aim
Visual Documentation of the Blue Train project in 3 multidisciplinary Art Exhibitions. The Exhibitions then in turn demonstrates progression.
Content
Each Exhibition was planned by the young people to outline the three different aspects of the overall theme of the evolution of man.
Their understanding of Curation was developed. They made the choices in setting up the Exhibitions and how different elements to be included would be:-
- Set Design
- Web
- Film
- Costume
- Music
- Script
- Photography
Participants visited all the other young peoples groups involved in the project, liaising with them to collate all the materials to be Exhibited and selecting what would be in the final Exhibitions.
Outcome
Two out of three planned Exhibitions held to date and been very successful.
Exhibitions 1 of 3:-
- 8 Nov-11 Dec 2010 East Gallery Exhibition
- Family Fun Day Sat 13 Nov 2010, 10am-1pm
- 3 Dec 2010-15 Jan 2011 V&A Museum, Sackler Centre
- Late Friday Event Fri 3 Dec 2010, 7-10pm
- Family Day Parade of Animals Sun 5 Dec 2010, 10.30am-5pm
- Circle of Power Performance Sat 11 Dec 2010, 1-2pm, 3-4pm
Exhibitions 3 of 3:-
The final Exhibitions and film screening due on 29 January to be held at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow East London.
Artistic directed by Rasheed Kayode Bushura
