An exhibition celebrating the work of autistic artists that encourages people to see the world differently is opening for a one-off show at The Turnpike Gallery in Leigh on the 4th April, 2023.
Making Sense is the result of 10 workshops and features autistic artists and explores neuridiversity and the senses in a “fully touchable and messable exhibition”
The exhibition is facilitated by artists Jamie-Lee Wainman and Gemma Lees in collaboration with young people at True Colours CIC in Leigh, as part of their A New Exchange development journey.
We caught up with Jamie-Lee and Gemma, to find out more.
1. Could you tell us what the exhibition is about?
Jamie-Lee: The exhibition aims to present a sensory hands-on experience for an audience. Gemma and I have experience of visiting galleries and museums and feeling frustrated when they have mixed messages about what you can and cannot play with. We shared our experience with the group of artists and True Colours CIC and we noticed it was a mutual experience. As a collective, we were driven to design and create a completely interactive exhibition.
Gemma: From the beginning, we were all excited to create a fully ‘playable and messable’ experience, engaging the different senses. Jamie-Lee and I soon discovered that taste would be incredibly hard to do due to allergies, but we have exhibits to smell, touch and listen to and nothing is behind a rope or glass case.
2. Could you tell us who the exhibition is aimed at?
Jamie-Lee: The exhibition is aimed at people of all ages and abilities. Curiosity and exploration are key elements of the exhibition and we all have these skills. We want to encourage our audience to be curious and explore the work in ways they may not have experienced before.
Gemma: Anyone and everyone and I’m hoping that we especially attract the adults, just like the amazing artist we’ve had the pleasure of working with from True Colours, who want to be given the chance to explore art and sensory play in a safe, non-judgemental space.
3. What are the aims of the exhibition?
Jamie-Lee: We want to share with our audience the skills and creative processes that we have explored during the workshops, relating to the senses. The exhibition is an opportunity for the artists to share and be proud of their amazing work!
Gemma: Definitely to celebrate the artists and their awesome pieces and as a celebratory end to our programme of workshops over the last few months together.
4. Could you tell us more about working with True Colours CIC?
Jamie-Lee: True Colours CIC is a wonderful welcoming place that supports young people and adults with autism. They are very supportive to the young artists and to ourselves as facilitators. We are encouraged to go big, which allows us to encourage the artists to go bigger! It is a great dynamic.
Gemma: The young people and staff have all been amazing. I’ve learned so much about delivering arts workshops and we have really become a cohort of artists together. We’re both very sad to be ending this project and have already spoken about looking for funding opportunities to work with True Colours CIC again.
5. Could you tell us more about yourself and Jamie-Lee and your involvement with the exhibition?
Jamie-Lee: Gemma and I met on the New Exchange Programme and we were partnered together and further partnered with True Colours CIC. We are both neurodivergent creatives and recognise the power creativity has to express emotions, storis and experiences. The collaboration has been made me a more confident facilitator; Gemma has helped me push myself to facilitate workshops I would have previously been nervous to facilitate alone. I am extremely grateful for her creative support.
Gemma: It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with another neurodiverse creative and I think that we recognise a lot of ourselves in each other. Jamie-Lee also worked on the project prior to this one, so her insight has been invaluable and she’s also taught me a lot about 3D printing which might as well be magic as far as I’m concerned! We both wish to collaborate in the future and really believe in our concept of creating non-judgemental, artistic experiences and sensory-safe spaces for adults. There may be some ideas in the pipeline, so stay tuned!
6. Could you tell us about the New Exchange Programme?
Gemma: The New Exchange programme is an artist bursary programme and has been run by the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh with GMCA, Wigan Council, The Together Trust, Bridge College and True Colours CIC. Three new socially engaged artists were brought in and each was paired with an artist from the previous project and a partner organisation, focussing on reflective practice, peer-to-peer learning, sharing learning across sectors and up-skilling artists to work with their communities.
7. Could you tell us about your experience of working with autistic adults?
Jamie-Lee: I have worked with Venture Arts, a wonderful organisation based in Hulme that supports neurodivergent artists to explore a series of creative processes such as ceramics, photography, illustration, animation and now 3D printing with me! The artists have work for sale at the Whitworth Art Gallery and have exhibited work in London. It is great to work with organisations like Venture Arts and True Colours CIC where artists are encouraged to explore creativity and celebrate it.
Gemma: This was my first experience working with autistic adults and I’ve learned a lot about how to tailor workshops to different skills, abilities, and areas of interest.
8. What was the most memorable moment from working on the collaboration?
Jamie-Lee: My personal favourite memory was during one of Gemma’s workshops that included creating the ribbon garland as a collective of artists. The artists worked together to tie the ribbons onto the rope, supporting and helping each other. This was great to see and was a wholesome moment of us all coming together to work on a collaborative outcome.
Gemma: My favourite thing has been the lovely feedback notes and drawings the artists have given us every week. It’s really inspired me to work hard and deliver the best workshops that I can.
9. Do you have any previous experience of autism?
Jamie-Lee: I am neurodivergent and have been diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia. I find myself gravitating towards neurodivergent people and many of my friends are ADHD or autistic. I feel that my knowledge of autism continues to grow as my friendships grow.
Gemma: I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia at 21 and am just now going through the process of an autism diagnosis as a 39-year-old. My son is autistic, and I’ve been advocating for him in his education since he was in nursery, 7 years ago. This was my first experience of working with another neurodiverse artist and how we just “got” each other from the get-go was amazing!
10. What one thing do you hope people will come away from the exhibition thinking?
Jamie-Lee: I hope that people feel encouraged and excited to engage with the exhibition in new ways. We aim to create an accessible experience and hope it inspires people to think about how people, specifically neurodivergent people, may want to engage with a space.
Gemma: That sensory exploration and play aren’t just for children and ways that they might make their future events more accessible for neurodiverse people in the future.
You can find out more about Jamie-Lee by visiting the website https://www.wainmandesign.co.uk/
and you can follow Gemma Lees on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gemisace/
