Swooshing round in her floor-length green “visibility” cloak, Lucy Hadfield from Herne Hill is making a point about ageing and becoming more and more invisible.
On her cloak are motifs of things she holds dear, including her grandchildren, volunteering in Ruskin Park, and messages about being in a later stage of life.
“I decided to make this as a positive declaration about ageing,” says Lucy. “There are so many good things to celebrate about this time of life. And, by making it, feelings were reinforced.”
Lucy, in her seventies, is one of 32 students exhibiting their final work from the art foundation course at CityLit, which will be on display at Brixton’s Department Store on Ferndale Road, from tomorrow (Wednesday 18) to Saturday 21 June.
The show – Proto – features film, textiles, ceramics, print, sculpture and contemporary practice.
“We have students from their twenties to their seventies on the art foundation course,” says its leader Jera May.
“Final projects are focusing on wellbeing, resilience, sustainability and community, celebrations of difference and cultural journeys, inspiring hopeful reflections on a year of intense creative dialogue.”
The youngest student is Mahdi Chowdhury, 21, from Islington, who says the course has confirmed what he wants to do long term – fashion design. He has been accepted for the fashion design course at the University of Westminster.
CityLit “allowed me to be fearless,” he says. “I’ve found a voice. More than anything, the nurturing and acceptance of both tutors and classmates is what’s been important.”
Mahdi will be making a garment, manipulating material and using sculptural approaches “to make physical evocations of internal emotions”. The work invites projection, a place where the audience sees what they want or fear to see.
For Helen Goodenough from Ealing, the CityLit course is a second chance. “I left school at 17 and worked as a school secretary for many years. I’ve always painted and drawn but decided it’s now or never. I’m finally giving art a chance.”
For her final show, Helen is making several stand-alone films, capturing time, using painting, film and photography.
“I want to continue experimenting with moving image and the process of creating,” she says. Helen has been accepted at Chelsea College of Art to study for a BA in fine art. “This year has been a brilliant experience,” she says.
“The course has been an uplifting experience,” agrees Lucy. “Carrying on creating art will help to keep me healthy.”
CityLit, founded in 1919, is based London’s Covent Garden. It offers online and classroom-based adult courses, from part-time short courses and one-off workshops to year-long programmes.
Subjects include art and design, performing arts, history and cultures, writing, business and technology, languages, counselling and wellbeing, skills for Life. City Lit has centres for excellence in deaf education and disability learning.
Courses are taught by experts, many of whom are industry professionals.
Proto, the final-year show of City Lit art foundation diploma students, at the Department Store, Ferndale Road, Brixton, SW9 8FR. 18 to 21 June.
Opening hours:
Wednesday and Thursday – 11am–6pm
Friday – 11am–8pm
Saturday – 11am-3pm
