Three Days, Three Homes, Three Zooms and Three Minds’ inspired by Mandela
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Every Year on the 18th July people across the world come together to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s birthday and his contributions. Last week three of us from Caring Together got a chance to celebrate this together too along with RJC Dance, of the Mandela Centre, Chapletown. We Celebrated Mandela in Art. We were a late entry yet we reflected on Mandela’s strength and determination and this inspired us.
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The materials were kindly delivered to my home address last weekend by RJC Dance and we commenced on Wednesday with a few phone calls, a reflective walk, then a doorstep chat. And later that day we had a meeting of minds on zoom in our own homes. It was lovely to share our ideas and thoughts as well as reflect on Mandela himself and what he meant to each of us. It was such a powerful discussion as well as humbling.
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Karen laid the foundation for our piece. Which were the shoots and the hand of peace pushing through in the middle. Vivienne took on the challenge of laying the fabric down to create contrast and significance. And the last part was mine, to put the words down as the roots: his values and beliefs. A part of Mandela’s vision was about dialogue and education and we definitely felt his powerful teachings as we chatted.
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For the Saturday, Mandela’s Birthday Celebration the title for our art work was: ‘Peace, Love and Unity’
It symbolises our reflections on Mandela of his grass roots movement and his courage of pushing through on inequality and injustice, with strength and dignity for peace and unity. We felt he led by example in his words and his actions for all. He demonstrated resilience and never lost his faith or belief.
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It was heartwarming to be alongside everyone for the event on Saturday 18th July. Everyone came together to remember what he has done and his legacy. It is clear his life has been an inspiration to us and the world . We loved everyone else’s amazing art work too, such a creative lot. We would love to do it again and hopefully once things improve we can do it in the same space. Thank you to RJC Dance for putting this event on to celebrate Mandela. Humbling indeed. We look forward to seeing all the work in the Mandela Centre soon, and as you said, maybe the Tate Modern too! Thank you RJC Dance https://www.rjcdance.org.uk/.
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“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Nelson Mandela
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See pictures below:
