Many thanks to Melanie Swan for letting us in on this release from the Isle of Wight “No man is an Island” exhibition group. It looks like a great project and we look forward to seeing more about it over the coming years. Ed
‘Celebration’ the theme, as the countdown starts for a 2009 Quay Arts exhibition working towards the 2012 Cultural Olympiad
All over the South of England, ‘celebration’ was the theme when Britain became an Olympiad Nation as the Beijing Games closed on Sunday 24th August.
The Cultural Olympiad is a national celebration and exploration of arts and culture linked to the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. This reflects the original Olympic ideal of striving for all-round excellence, in creative and cultural life as well as in sporting achievements.
As host of the 2011 Island Games, the Isle of Wight has a particular focus in the South East.
A group of Isle of Wight artists and their families are joining in the Cultural Olympiad through their ‘No man is an Island’ exhibitions and projects. They brought the hugely successful ‘Inside Outside’ exhibition to Quay Arts in 2004 followed by an exhibition in the House of Commons last year, arranged by Island MP Andrew Turner.
The group, who all have one or more family members with autism, include professional artists and craftspeople, whose joint exhibitions celebrate the highly creative world of their families.
“We exhibit as families, without labels or explanations, with just the fantastic work speaking for the care and creativity we share. We have young people who are gifted in sports as well as in performing and other creative arts. Our exhibitions include work by everyone, regardless of particular difficulties”
said artist and exhibition organiser, Melanie Swan
Zoë Kennard, Melanie’s daughter, made the original sculpture which the group took as their exhibition logo.
She and her husband, award-winning poet Luke Kennard, marked the occasion with a visit to Quay Arts carrying their ‘Carnival Island’ Olympic-style torch! Former Island Games sailing competitors Richard and Andrew Talbot had their own celebration after representing, with Jim McMillan and Jon Evans, the Isle of Wight and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club at the 2008 Laser National Championship.
A past Island Games medal winner, Richard Talbot was delighted to gain the award for Top University Student, for Bristol. In the Carruthers family, 16 year old Jamie was thrilled to learn he achieved 6 GCSE’s, as well as passing an audition to perform live at Disneyworld, Paris in 2009.
“We have so much to celebrate” said Melanie. “The message to all our young people is that we are aiming to achieve our very best, in whatever we try to do for these exhibitions and we are definitely aiming for the top!”
