South Devon Memories Captured in Cockington

The life stories of members of three South Devon Memory Cafes have been collected as part of the EVA Life Story Box Project over the past twelve months. Participants from the Babbacombe, Bovey Tracey and Totnes Memory Cafes have worked collaboratively with project artist Kate Green, telling the stories of their past, talking about the present and looking toward the future.

The stories have been told by members with dementia and by those who care for them and live with the daily difficulties and sadness of having their loved ones suffer from such a devastating condition. In addition to story telling and discussion, project artist Kate explains: “It was important to get all the participants creatively involved in the project; they took part in activities which collected their stories that they wanted to save for themselves and their families and friends using photographs, mementos, collages, video clips, animations and sound recordings. "

According to Kate, “Each participant's container for their life stories reflects a little about who they are: a five-level cantilever sewing kit, a vintage silk-lined suitcase, a wooden tool box, an vanity travel case, an old kitchen cupboard, a cabinet containing twenty-four pigeon-holes and an old piano stool. Each box has been filled with a rich array of personal information, including recordings of interviews I conducted with each of them during the project.”.

Last month each Memory Café hosted an invitation-only afternoon exhibition and viewing of these very special boxes for the participants, other members of the Memory Cafes, along with family members and friends. Kate explained: “The project was intended to end there, however, as each of the boxes has become an incredibly rich artwork in themselves there will be an exhibition of them in the Kitchen Gallery at Cockington Court, Torbay, from 25th June to 6th July. It will be great to let the wider public experience these multi-media works of art. The exhibition will provide an opportunity for a greater understanding of the many types of dementia, how it affects sufferers and their family members but most importantly that those experiencing dementia have had some fantastic life adventures too.

Also, there will be a stop-action animation of each of the boxes which can be accessed on-line: viewers will be able to virtually activate recordings, lift lids to view images/artefacts and enjoy the contents of each box. The animation will be posted by July on www.auneheadarts.org.uk (follow the links).”.

More information about this project, and two other projects involving older people (EVA Radio and EVA Artist Commissions) can be found at: http://www.auneheadarts.org.uk.

EVA Life Story Boxes is a project of Aune Head Arts in partnership with Innovations in Dementia and the Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Special thanks are due to The Alzheimer’s Society and the Memory Cafes at Babbacombe, Bovey Tracey and Totnes. Funding was provided by the Baring Foundation, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Nominet Trust and the Norman Family Trust.

This free exhibition is open until July 6th - 10am - 4pm in the Kitchen Gallery.