Testing Situations | Experiences of dementia, assessment and art

Over the last year, artist Charles Harrison and the Testing Situations team have been touring around the UK to learn more about people's experiences of being tested for dementia.



The Catalyst: National Innovation Centre for Ageing. 

Testing Situations presented an exhibition of learning from the tour featuring artworks from Clive Smith, Dan Moxam and a newly commissioned film titled 'Margaret' and supporting imagery by film-maker Harry Lawson. 

The main event featured presentations from project lead Charlie Harrison, social scientist Emma Harding and collaborator Mhari McLintock followed by screenings of 3 artistic films made by, or in collaboration with people living with dementia. 





The afternoon session included a participatory workshop and group conversations with around 60 attendees, both individuals and groups from North East.



I didn't attend the event, but saw the exhibition, and was particularly moved by Harry Lawson's body of work about his late Grandma, Margaret, during her last 4 years living in residential care. The film includes footage taken by Geoff, Harry's father of Margaret in her bedroom and scenes from the rest of the care home that was later filmed by Harry. It shifts between tender, intimate interactions between Margaret and Geoff and more routine observations of life in the residential home. As the UK population is living longer, more people are living in residential care, and this film gives an insight into life in a residential home. 

I felt privileged to witness the loving scenes between Margaret and Geoff, in which Geoff gently strokes Margaret's hands and tries to make her comfortable. I was gripped by the Geoff's patience and care in the way he spoke and handled his Mum, and though highly personal, the film did not seem invasive.

The more general shots within the home give a good impression of the rapport between Harry and the residents. Harry is happy to engage with the residents, some of whom make a point of being on film. As I watched one woman ask Harry if he would like her to introduce herself on camera and then go on to tell a little story, I notice that I'm smiling, for the residents are being treated respectfully as individuals who are valued.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/testing-situations-at-the-national-innovation-centre-of-ageing-newcastle-tickets-84623227351#

https://www.charlesrobertharrison.com/testingsituationsblog

“ one who works with their hands and their head and their heart is an artist”

“ one who works with their hands and their head and their heart is an artist”

Saint Francis of Assisi

Over the past couple of weeks I've been busy assessing the work of the students that chose the Text Strand that I facilitated and moderating the marks given to students in another Strand.

Assessing Fine Artists is tricky. There are no 'correct' or 'incorrect' answers, it is subjective and open to interpretation.

It is not uncommon for students to be confused about how they should present their work for assessment, and to get to grips with what they are being assessed on, or how to improve their grade next time. Major efforts have been made by Newcastle University Fine Art staff to try to make the assessment process clearer and the objectives and learning outcomes less 'wooly'. 

It's not just the students that this has helped. As a member of visiting staff who has not been involved in the ongoing discussions about assessment, I have found it relatively simple to understand the assessment criteria and there has been clarity regarding the process.

When approaching I found it particularly useful to recall the following 

and apply this to the marking criteria as follows

Head Work

Gathering, evaluating and reflecting on visual, text-based and contextual material; analysing and critically reflecting on one’s own and other’s work; being conceptually inventive; being intellectually exploratory; consolidating ideas and making decisions.

Heart Work

Working with commitment; participating; engaging; managing time; taking risks; working positively; being responsive; working with initiative.

Hand Work

Being productive; exploring, testing & manipulating materials and technical processes; expanding, consolidating and applying practical skills; being technically inventive; using skills in visual communication and in composing, structuring and realising artwork.