Another Day In The Elephant Yard

Well when I say day it was only for a couple of hours! Jo and I are getting better at grabbing the public. We had some interesting characters this time. The group of sixth formers just out of exams who created a wild range of high quality models and were getting dangerously enthusiastic about plastecine were among the best.

Still a way to go but with a few more sessions with different groups we can get it filled in ready for display in Kendal Library from the 6th June.

How to approach people in this situation is a problem we discussed at length. You can stand there trying to look relaxed in the knowledge that you are in fact stood playing with plastecine as the shoppers and workers of Kendal hurry quickly past with fearful glances, horrified that these clearly insane people might pounce on them with plastecine ambitions.Your hope is that one might take sympathy. You can try and make eye contact but this invariably leads to accidents as people walk into walls attempting to avoid your manic stare. You try to step out in front of people with a friendly "Hello" but in your own fear it comes out like the squawk of a shot parrot which in turn sends your intended victim dashing off at high speed to catch an imaginary bus to the refrains of Barry Manilow over the centre tannoy.

A friendly smile to those who look, a pleasant "hello" to those who stop and a confident chat to those that linger: you soon find yourself tuning in to the passing crowds and before long they gather to make models and dwell on times past: getting plastecine stuck in their mothers carpet. And it is then that the worthwhile starts to emerge. The stories of a well loved past, the parent who thinks the idea of plastecine would be fantastic for their blind and disabled daughter, the stressed business man who briefly stops to smile and relax while he makes a model flower. Job done. Workbase is promoted and Wellbeing delivered.

It is only when I get home I pause to think how if twenty years ago somebody had told me that at 43 I would be playing with plastecine while listening to Barry Manilow, my life may have taken a very different course.

Many thanks to all those who stopped to talk to us and make models.