THE thoughts and feelings of people living through the pandemic have been captured in a new art installation in the town centre.
The creative arts project – which is a joint project between Mendip District Council and the mental health charity Mind in Somerset – features a series of poems on public display at Merchant’s Barton car park.
The poems were penned by service users and staff at the mental health charity, and commissioned by Mendip District Council to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, earlier this month.
The inspiration for the poetry pieces were a set of stunning photos taken by Frome photographer Tim Gander and installed 18 months ago on hoardings surrounding the town’s Saxonvale site. Tim spent two years documenting life at the derelict location before the district council acquired and secured the land, in August 2018. The new poetry works are displayed alongside their corresponding photo panels for local people, and visitors to the town, to read and enjoy.
Chair of Mendip District Council, cllr Helen Sprawson-White, Saxonvale project co-ordinator at Mendip, Naomi Wilson, and photographer Tim Gander joined representatives from Mind in Somerset at the unveiling earlier this month.
Cllr Sprawson-White said, “It’s so touching to read the words of those suffering with a range of mental health issues during this hugely difficult time in our lives, their interpretation of Tim’s images mixed with their own thought and feelings are both emotional and outstanding.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to each of the contributors for their honesty and creativity, and to Mind in Somerset for facilitating the sessions, as well as Tim Gander for his moving imagery. I urge anyone that can, to take the time to visit the site and take a moment to read the poems.
“Frome is proud to host these works of hope, written by people from across our district, and displayed so beautifully in the Saxonvale quarter. As the Saxonvale development evolves, it will offer a new way of living and working in the heart of the town. We envisage it will become a central hub for arts creativity too.”
Photographer Tim Gander said, “Never did I imagine when I was photographing the images that they would have such reach, or be used in such a positive way, or for such a significant event as Mental Health Awareness Week. It’s humbling to see how people have responded to my photographs in their own words on such a visceral level. I’m so proud to be a part of it. It gives me goose bumps.”
Operations manager for Mind in Somerset, Charlie Acton-Pearce, explained the hoardings poetry project provided both service users and staff at Mind in Somerset with a unique platform to express how they were feeling, in a creative way.
He said, “We approached the theme together, all coming from the same place. The benefits of this project run deep and are difficult to quantify. Our group members all reported that the poems have helped in their recovery journey, and will no doubt have an impact on those who read them, too.”
Recovery and wellbeing worker at the charity, Victoria Buckler, who had written one of the poems on display, added, “It’s been a tough year. Many people have experienced crushing grief, uncertainty and feelings of isolation. This arts project, and Tim’s wonderful photographs, provided the perfect inspiration and opportunity to share a message of hope.”
The outdoor art installation is now available to view. The poems and prints are displayed in the town’s car park, next to Marks and Spencer.
To contact Mind in Somerset call 01749 233115 and speak to a member of the team, or visit www.mindsomerset. org.uk. You can view Tim Gander’s photography at: www. takeagander. co.uk/home
Above: Charlie Acton-Pearce, operations manager at Mind In Somerset (Mendip); Naomi Wilson, Saxonvale project co-ordinator at Mendip District Council; Victoria Buckler, recovery and wellbeing worker at Mind In Somerset (Taunton); cllr Helen Sprawson-White, chair of Mendip District Council; Frome-based photographer Tim Gander and Ryan Anderson, project manager, representing Balfour Beatty.
