Long-term readers of this blog may remember
that back in 2008 I was grateful recipient of the mentor scheme run by the KoestlerTrust. I was assigned a mentor, Sally Hinchcliffe, an author who kindly
travelled across the UK from Scotland to help me improve my writing. I documented the sessions here. It’s thanks to the Koestler Trust and Sally that I now have
four books published.
More recently, I was contacted by the Koestler
Trust about being a curator for their annual exhibition of prisoner art at the
Southbank Centre. I gladly accepted. Last week, I spent a few days at the Koestler
Trust location at Wormwood Scrubs prison selecting art to exhibit in my area of
the Royal Festival Hall in September at the Southbank Centre.
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| These are going to be my bouncers at the exhibition door. |
Out of almost 9,000 entries, I selected
19, mostly portraits. Knowing nothing about art, I chose what appealed to me
and was of the highest standard. I’d compare it to when you meet someone, you
pretty much know right away whether you like them or not. The theme that
evolved organically from my selection is faces. Spending all day gazing at art
was like meditating on colour. It was great to take a break from the computer to
take up such an unusual challenge.
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| The staff were surprised that I picked a dog in a pink feather boa but some of you know me better. |
With eight other curators, all ex-Koestler
mentees, I’ll be at the Royal Festival Hall on September 23rd and 24th.
The “Chasing Dreams” exhibition is free to the public and lasts until the end
of November. If you’re in London around that time, please come and support this
wonderful organisation and take a look at the prisoners’ art.
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| Fellow curator Daniel with some of his selection |
Shaun Attwood
4 comments:
Hi Shaun. I'd like to congratulate you on turning a nightmare experience into a life changing but positively so. I have just finished your trilogy and I am gutted that I have. Now what book do I read? You are a brilliant author and I look forward to reading whatever else you publish. Keep up the good work. Nick. H Brighton toerag UK.
I have a little self help book out called Lessons on Amazon :)
Hi Jon, I watched your documentary on Nat Geo. Congratulations to positive thinking and changing life of others. Nash
Hi shuan great work really inspired form you and u r too brave a good man of thoughts
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