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What's Happening
BLGC
Dear God...
“Hardly anyone can ever find God because God is right at the end of your mind after all the background thoughts are gone.”
Maisie Satchwell-Hust
 

The Holy Biscuit

'Mixing Bowl'

What we achieved:


Some recent and ongoing projects demonstrating the developing role of Mixing Bowl in the wider activities of Holy Biscuit:
 
Traces

(October - November 2017)
 
‘Traces’ came into being as a result of discussions at Mixing Bowl, where the idea of a project dealing with different cultural and individual responses to death, grief and loss was suggested. An exhibition of contemporary artworks connected to this topic was accompanied by a wider programme of events and activities. At one of our Mixing Bowl evenings, writer Huw Evans performed his piece ‘Not Long Now’; written in response to Huw’s diagnosis of terminal cancer and his confrontation of the likelihood of his own premature death. We also held a ‘Day of the Dead’ (Día de Muertos) party, embracing the colourful Mexican traditions for remembering and celebrating the lives of those who have died. These various activities enabled people to explore the themes from different perspectives and attracted a wide range of people to Holy Biscuit.
 
seeking_refuge

veg_printing_(2)
 

 

Ausama al Khalil
 
From March to April 2018 we exhibited paintings by Ausama Al Khalil who fled torture in Iraq before seeking asylum in the UK. The artist sadly struggled with depression and isolation, as well as issues of displacement from his home culture. Mixing Bowl’s interactions with these themes included an evening of talking about where we find refuge and what home means to us. Jonah Mesgar, originally from Iran, shared his experiences of coming to the UK as an asylum seeker and we enjoyed a bring and share supper of 'comfort food' contributions. Another event explored the idea of journeys with a map-making activity and picnic meal. We also hosted two free lunches for the community, with food, discussions and activities related to the idea of home and cultural identity. These brought together members of the Painting for Fun group who meet at Holy Biscuit, members of staff and people from local churches.

picnic
 
Artistory

 
At time of writing (May 2018) we are about to launch our new project, ‘Artistory’; An art and feasting collaboration that seeks to celebrate the stories of those who live and work in Shieldfield and question the roles of host and guest. Mixing Bowl events as part of this programme include ‘Double Jam’, an evening of communal jam-making and musical jamming. There will be a number of other activities and events throughout May and June, including bread making, vegetable printing and recipe sharing. In the gallery, a growing exhibition will be created with documentation of events being added as we feast our way through the project. The recipes, stories and photographs collected during this time will be collated to produce a printed Shieldfield community cookbook as a legacy of the project and Artistory will culminate in a bring and share meal and celebration. You can find out more about Artistory on our website: http://www.theholybiscuit.org/artistory/