The Vital Role of Hands - an ongoing photo diary (2020)

By

Emma N.J. Long

Margaret's hands and the jar stuffed full of shopping receipts I have delivered to her along with her shopping since April 2020.

I recently told her about the Social Art Library Ambassadors programme, that it would be great to do 'something' with these receipts and explained in a little more detail, she flapped her hand at me, laughed and replied, "well you're definitely artistic!"

In April 2020, I was one of 51 artists who was awarded a 'Home Work' Commission from Heart of Glass to explore the concept of care in my role as Covid-19 Mutual Aid Volunteer. This resulted in the production of a digital diaristic photo journal 'The Vital Role Of Hands' which documented snapshots taken during doostep conversations, shopping exchanges, cash reimbursement and sipping coffee in the garden. The snapshots were framed by my hands in additional photographs, as though being presented to the viewer at my own doorstep for a socially distanced safe examination. In doing so, I was recreating exactly what one of the ladies would do to emphasise her verbal explanation of what she needed; she would tell me to 'hang on' before going back into the house to retrieve an empty container or packet and present it to me with her own hands so I 'knew what I was looking for'.

Alongside the photographs were snippets of text revealing some of the conversations that took place or my own reflections on the items I had purchased and how care was relevant to and manifested in the acts I was undertaking as a volunteer and the implications of care-giving as a socially engaged artist. I am continuing to volunteer for the same 2 ladies and continue to write up shopping lists, type notes on my phone, have multiple conversations via phone and doorstep.

Now my recent commission as an SOAL Ambassdor will allow me/us to add further pages....

More information: https://www.heartofglass.org.uk/thoughts-and-news/thought/a-care-compendium-chapter-three

https://www.instagram.com/emma_artissocial77/

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Emma N.J. Long

Emma studied Fine Art at Staffordshire University where she formed a 'feminist' creative duo ; 'Mad Cows' with a fellow student to explore the 'real' crisis and consequences of the lack of 'healthy' British Beef/cake. They went on to produce a number of collaborative performance, video and mixed media sculptural works which challenged the white middle-class persona of the 'artist' and the elitist strategies of the art world, presenting the opinions of people they interviewed on the Hanley streets as 'larger and louder than life' characters in a subtle, hush hushed white cubed context.

Upon graduating in 1999, she delivered art projects in various settings whilst attending a Foundation Course in Art Therapy and was orginally based at Bankley Studios, Manchester where she developed her interest in co-producing community events for the general public. She trained as a Tutor and taught courses for further and adult education providers before moving on to work as a Community Arts Manager for 12 years where she developed a level of expertise in Intergenerational Art. Since December 2018. Emma has been researching Social Practice and developing as a Socially engaged Practitioner. She initiates, produces or contributes to projects which explore issues specific to a place and these can broadly relate to health, heritage, culture and nature. In working with and for people and participants, she encourages appreciation and exploration of contemporary and participatory art techniques ranging from drawing and painting to photography and performance, yet incorporates approaches and materials from ‘everyday’ life.

Visually, Emma is enthused and intrigued by the quirks, characters and narratives of individuals and seeks to draw these out through combining the human figure with text in various ways. Embedded within her practice are the principles of equality and advocacy; giving a voice to the unheard; illuminating the grassroots experiences of everyday people; providing a creative platform for people to explore, expose and challenge hierarchal and political structures, systems and policies. She is equally concerned with the ethos of ‘art for all’, engaging people who have no arts background; facilitating the exploration of creative potential, emphasising the well-being aspect of art-making, to effect change in a community – large or small for the greater good.

https://www.instagram.com/emma_artissocial77/