A Dab Hand

Prompted by recent controversy over Penrith’s planned “New Squares” development, the project was devised to celebrate forgotten corners of the town. Drawn in Time was a response to the current situation, following the demolition of part of the town centre, economic recession, the demise of a developer and long term cultural and agricultural change. Aimed at benefiting the adult population of Eden District, the project took drawing as the medium for public debate and ideas sharing. In an inclusive process, using traditional and less conventional materials, they invited participants to consider creative and pro-active solutions to the development issue.

Heart of Penrith

Concentrating on this topical and emotive subject for Penrith and the Eden District residents, A Dab Hand worked with Heart of Penrith, an action for community group and a sub-group of PACT (Penrith Action for Community Transport) a constituted organisation committed to local sustainability. Weekly drawing sessions, exploring aspects of memory and hope, took place in local market and retail buildings that had “lost their heart”. They also involved the local library and museum.

Public event

This led to a public drawing event in a shopping arcade. The artists talked to passers-by engaging their interest with a presentation in a redundant retail unit. The display showed photographs of well known and less travelled locations in the town. People were invited to draw ideas and opinions on squares of card, using a variety of media, about what they would like to see in Penrith or what they liked about the town. The resulting drawings are to be professionally bound into a ’Book of Aspirations’ and presented to Eden Council, before being donated to the museum. Participants used the opportunity of the drawing activity to stimulate quite passionate discussion. Overall 300 people took part, and many more stopped to look and talk about the project. As one participant said, “People take more notice of a drawing. The trouble with writing is that nobody reads it”.

Through this project participants learnt about the history of their town, how and why changes take place, how they could have a voice, and how they might influence future prospects for their local area. They also learnt how to use different drawing materials and how to communicate ideas visually.