Animal life

Lancaster West Art from Constantine Gras on Vimeo.

This was the third drawing workshop held at the Lancaster West estate. 
Children are using their imagination to help me work up designs for a mural. This will be installed in the Grenfell tower as a 3x2m mural made up of wall tiles. The tower is currently undergoing renovation and the art work will probably be located in a new community space. 
Although not being run exclusively for children, adults seem very reluctant to shed their inhibitions and participate.  So it's the children who are having all the fun and we have a clearly defined pattern of imagery taking shape: urban structures, especially the iconic appearance of a high rise tower;  self-representation whether this is drawing oneself, or family,  or referencing aspects of cultural identity.  And given the age range of participants, it's not surprising that animals of an exotic persuasion, are materialising  on the estate. Thankfully they are all friendly and well-behaved. 
In the drawing completed at the last session we had the following:

• an elephant that is spraying a group of residents who are trying to make a drawing
  
• 3 giraffes, one of whom is towering over Grenfell tower,
  
•  two snakes, a rhino, horse, birds, alligator, fish and sundry other animals
  
• a high rise window where a child has written "I Love Cheerio" (popular cereal in these parts)

Anyway. Don't take my word for it. Play the film and listen to the excited words of the young artists and witness how the art work was constructed.