Gentleman's Wardrobe - Engaging with new communities In collaboration with artist Richard Bliss

Abstract

This artwork emerged from the process of engaging with a group of men who care for a loved one at home.
It took the form of an interactive sculpture constructed from two 1930s ‘Gentleman’s’ wardrobes, enabling audiences to sit inside and listen to audio recordings of the everyday lives of the men involved; including a poem about caring for someone with dementia.
In 2019, the interactive sculpture was exhibited alongside the work of artist Richard Bliss at The Greenfield Arts Centre in Durham.
The male carers were proud to share their experiences and the Wardrobes with another group of men in another community setting, many of the men from Cree connected with the piece and shared stories of their own life of caring in the community.
The Gentlemen's Wardrobe together with the work that Richard had created with the community really brought the two distant groups of men together and enabled conversation through a deep understanding of each others circumstances.