Clare Hamilton 'Weather the Storm Together' 25 January to 14 February 2021

 

'WEATHER THE STORM TOGETHER'

Clare Hamilton

In these lockdown days, some of us are coping better than others. We really are all in this together and need to look out for each other now more than ever.

If you are struggling to weather the storm - financially, practically or emotionally - there are local organisations who can help, including:

Kent Together 

can help you with:

- making sure you have enough food and supplies

- picking up prescriptions (except in Tunbridge Wells)

- making sure you have someone to talk to by phone, Skype or Facetime.

Kent Support and Assistance

can provide short term assistance to households facing financial hardship as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Money Advice Service

can give you advice about how to manage your money and what support is available from your account providers.

Live Well Kent

can offer free, confidential support when mental health is impacting your life, work, money, relationships, housing or physical health.

Wellbeing advice

Here you'll find suggestions that can help your wellbeing as well as children and young people's wellbeing.

The pandemic has created uncertainty and anxiety and the constant news can feel overwhelming. This anxiety is natural, and we are all feeling it. Fortunately, there are things we can do to protect our mental health and to support the wellbeing of our friends and family.

'Weather The Storm Together'

Clare Hamilton

Driftwood boat and ceramic wave sculpture.

2021.

You'll find out more about Clare's work using the links below:

Instagram @clare_hamilton_design and 

The Woodshed Gallery Folkestone 

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Upcoming Exhibitions:

Ethan Sheppard 'Get Some Compassion' 4 - 24 January

‘GET SOME COMPASSION'

Ethan Sheppard

                       

In the year 2015, I got a tattoo. It read, ‘get some compassion’, bordering an image of a syringe. This would forever be a reminder that others, and sometimes myself, lack(ed) compassion when it is most needed. 

The Calais jungle closed the following year, in 2016. A camp on the borderline between two rich and powerful countries, overflowing with migrants and refugees; 10,000 people at its peak. All individual lives, many fleeing persecution and terror and wanting nothing more than a safer life. I opened my eyes to it and wanted to learn why this was happening. The world’s eyes stayed closed? The enduring negative reactions. The enduring apathy. Questions haven’t been asked, let alone answered, yet prejudice prevails... Why are they coming here? Why can’t they stay in the first safe place they come to? They’re in a safe country already! Why are we helping them and not our own? Unfortunately, it appears these questions are rarely asked with any genuine desire for an answer.

A growing number of people seem to view refugees and migrants as the problem, rather than understanding the causes that drive families and individuals to risk their own lives crossing borders; or the government's failure to address the underlying issues. 

A person who needs help, whoever they are and wherever they come from, is still a person who in need of help.

First and foremost, we surely need, above all, a caring response to those who need help? And we can care, in both big and small ways.

 

This sculpture is intended for a set group of people who need help; those without compassion. Those who need an additional dose to help confront their own fears, insecurities and absence of understanding. Perhaps by injecting some compassion it could bring the ability to understand someone else's situation, or enhance the desire to take action to improve lives.

'Get Some Compassion'

Ethan Sheppard

Syringe sculpture / spray paint.

2021

The colour gold is associated with illumination, love, compassion, courage, passion, magic, and wisdom.

Find out more about the refugee crisis and Ethan's work using the links below:

https://care4calais.org/the-refugee-crisis/

https://ethanwshep.wixsite.com/mysite

https://www.instagram.com/_ethanarthouse_