#Softlads Anthology has launched!

 

“Do I have to sacrifice the softness to be read as strong?” - Harry Wyld, workshop participant.

I wanted to Share with you our exciting news that the #SoftLads anthology has launched!

We had a really lovely launch event at Henry Sandon Hall. So many folks came along it was a little overwhelming!

For those who are new to my site here is a little more information about the project:

#SoftLads is first limited edition book is the result of a series of creative writing workshops with Holly Winter-Hughes of The Word Association CIC – exploring gender, identity and self-worth through my new art series #SoftLads. To buy the SoftLads anthology follow this link https://tinyurl.com/4465h359 To buy postcards of the Tapestries follow this link https://tinyurl.com/mu244j9m For the past two years, I have been creating a series of tapestries focusing on portraits of tattooed males to explore male identity. We invited members of the public to experience the work for themselves, and with guidance to create poems and pieces of prose in response to the work and the themes explored. The workshops took place at the Henry Sandon Hall in Worcester, and the Stryx Gallery in Birmingham as part of SHOUT Festival Of Queer Arts And Culture. The workshops allowed people the chance to experience the artworks, talk to the artist about the work and explore the themes from the work through a series of gentle writing exercises.

The book includes over 30 creative writing responses, has two critical essays and full colour picture panels of each of the tapestries.

Here is a video of people who performed at the launch of the anthology.

Here is a video of some of the workshops in action to give you a flavour of the workshops and what we did!

Please feel free to purchase a copy of the anthology or the supporting postcards that showcase the tapestries!