W.A.M.P. (Words are my prisoner)

Project type: Arts Participation, Collaboration, Visual Arts, Arts and Disability.

Visual Arts Project Award The Arts Council 2009

The W.A,M.P project was an ambitious visual art project for adults with special needs who were members of Carrowbeg Theatre. It was wide ranging collaborative experimental visual art project with the artists Cathal Mc Carthy and Aideen Barry collaborating with the members of Carrowbeg Theatre Company who were co-creators over a two year long artist residency. It was wide ranging in its application of research strategies. This included explorations in traditional media, drawing with charcoal, pastels, use of paint and mixed media. It also included exposure to film and multi-media technologies using animation and projections. In October 2008 the group members explored creating gestural images using the body in Nuns Island theatre space with members of Dagdha Dance Company. The final outcome was a large scale visual art installation in Hastings Garage Space for Westport Arts Festival in 2009.

We also researched other companies and approaches around the world including Back to Back- Australia and The Bluecoat in Liverpool, Broken Line UK. We have begun to forge links with these companies with a view to investigating possible future collaborations and networking possibilities. In Ireland we have shared our experiences with Blue Teapot in Galway, KCAT in Kilkenny and Luisne art group Ballinrobe. 

Special thanks to Tim Hastings Ltd Wesport, Mayo Co Council, PJ Kelly Westport and Gus Gibbons Electrics for their assistance.