Omnibus Theatre first week, London UK

Friday 11th was our premier night at Omnibus Theatre Well/Being programme that runs till the 31st. 

I felt a bit less shy to introduce myself and invite people to make dolls, a bit but it helped a lot.

The makers were Kofi, Olivia, Theo, Pav and Ruth, we made 7 dolls.

On Saturday 12th Ross, Eva, Tabby, Spike, Max and Catherine came, we made 6 dolls.

Two wonderful things happened for the first time. Firstly two girls decided to feel each other’s pulse when they meditated. Secondly a girl put two hearts into her doll representing her actual heart and the future one she will have by a transplant. Both moments were so beautiful!!!

‘Thank you for believing in your dreams + inspiration. I applaud you for the courage to go forth into the world.’ 

‘Thank you for showing us that our dreams are closer than we think. We hope you reach 7 billion.’

‘What an unexpected pleasure to meet Regina at the Omnibus Theatre and participate in her heart-felt artwork.  There was something very restful and peaceful about being with her, as together we talked and created more people to add to ‘Dreams and a Heart’.  It was moving to hold my little person with a hand on their ‘heart’ and connect with my own heartbeat, as Regina led a meditation.  An inspired idea that she has followed with dedication – spreading Love and Peace throughout the world – thank you.’

I adore these workshops. Thank you so much for coming and bring your creative souls to the project. I am so grateful and inspired by unexpected moments like these, by our conversation sharing our unique experiences, incredible human beings we are.

fullsizeoutput_42c2  fullsizeoutput_42cb  fullsizeoutput_42b7  fullsizeoutput_42c4  fullsizeoutput_42a9  fullsizeoutput_42b0  fullsizeoutput_42be  fullsizeoutput_42a6 fullsizeoutput_42a8

fullsizeoutput_42b5  fullsizeoutput_42ba fullsizeoutput_42bd  fullsizeoutput_42b1  fullsizeoutput_42a5  fullsizeoutput_42a3 fullsizeoutput_42a1  fullsizeoutput_429e  fullsizeoutput_42a0 fullsizeoutput_42af

 

Omnibus Theatre January 2019 Exhibition, London UK

We are thrilled to be back at Omnibus Theatre as part of the Well/Being programme that runs till the 31st January at Omnibus Theatre in London. 

Godmother is very busy at the moment then lovely Tony helped to install the dolls. We worked together on Thursday to fix the brackets on the wall. On Friday I put the ribbons, hanged 151 dolls and again left a gap to be completed by the community.

We are displayed differently at this time. There’s an arch on the wall, we are inside the arch. The dolls loved the space, it’s nice and cozy. 

Thank you so much Marie, Sarah, Tony, Seb, Shaun, Sofie and all the lovely staff at Omnibus, we are so happy to be back, it feels like home. 

fullsizeoutput_429b  fullsizeoutput_42c5    fullsizeoutput_42c1

fullsizeoutput_42ac

Omnibus Theatre January 2019, London UK

 DreamsAndAHeart_OmnibusExhibition2019

Come and view some dolls beautifully displayed at Omnibus Theatre and make your own to add to this ongoing participatory artwork. With nearly 2000 dolls created so far, this exhibition is a celebration of all the work by Regina and her workshop participants over the last 7 years.

If you’d like to make dolls to add to the community, join Regina

every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening 5-10pm

Saturday 12 and 19 January, 5 – 10pm

Sunday 20 January, 5 -10pm

If you have a group you’d like to bring, Regina can be available on several afternoons during the exhibition. Please message us here if you’d like to arrange a group visit.

There’s no need to book – just turn up. All welcome! Please check for last minutes changes or updates on our social media pages.

The dolls are on display whenever the Common Room is open. Regular opening hours are 10-6pm Monday – Saturday. The Common Room is also open in the evenings for audiences to shows, and live music events in the Common Room itself, so we recommend you check out what else is on and make the most of your visit to this wonderful venue.

Omnibus is wheelchair-accessible. If you have any other queries about the venue, please see the Omnibus website.

https://www.facebook.com/dreamsandaheart

https://twitter.com/DreamsandaHeart

https://www.instagram.com/dreamsandaheart/

11-31 Jan | Wed-Fri 5-10pm, Sat 12 & 19 5-10pm, Sun 20 5-10pm | Free

Dreams and a Heart is Regina Mendes’ long-running participatory artwork for peace. Each doll is filled with dreams and given a heart, before the maker completes a short mediation with the dolls, guided by the artist.

Regina’s dream is to make one doll for every human on the planet. Like the hope for peace, this seemingly impossible task happens slowly, gently, one heart at a time. You are invited to join Regina and make your own dolls to add to the growing community

With over 1800 dolls made over the last 7 years, this exhibition is a celebration of the work completed so far; sharing the first 700 and working towards our 2100th doll.

Regina will be on hand to help you add your doll to the collection 5-10pm Wednesday to Friday, Saturday 12 and 19 5-10pm and Sunday 20 5-10pm. You are welcome to view the exhibition any other time the Common Room is open.

Doll-making is free and open to all.

Detailed workshop times and more information about the project available at dreamsandaheart.com and on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @dreamsandaheart

Omnibus Theatre January 2019

DreamsAndAHeart_OmnibusExhibition2019

Come and view some dolls beautifully displayed at Omnibus Theatre and make your own to add to this ongoing participatory artwork. With nearly 2000 dolls created so far, this exhibition is a celebration of all the work by Regina and her workshop participants over the last 7 years.

If you’d like to make dolls to add to the community, join Regina

every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening 5-10pm

Saturday 12 and 19 January, 5 – 10pm

Sunday 20 January, 5 -10pm

If you have a group you’d like to bring, Regina can be available on several afternoons during the exhibition. Please message us here if you’d like to arrange a group visit.

There’s no need to book – just turn up. All welcome! Please check for last minutes changes or updates on our social media pages.

The dolls are on display whenever the Common Room is open. Regular opening hours are 10-6pm Monday – Saturday. The Common Room is also open in the evenings for audiences to shows, and live music events in the Common Room itself, so we recommend you check out what else is on and make the most of your visit to this wonderful venue.

Omnibus is wheelchair-accessible. If you have any other queries about the venue, please see the Omnibus website.

https://www.facebook.com/dreamsandaheart

https://twitter.com/DreamsandaHeart

https://www.instagram.com/dreamsandaheart/

Omnibus Theatre Exhibition January 2019

11-31 Jan | Wed-Fri 5-10pm, Sat 12 & 19 5-10pm, Sun 20 5-10pm | Free

Dreams and a Heart is Regina Mendes’ long-running participatory artwork for peace. Each doll is filled with dreams and given a heart, before the maker completes a short mediation with the dolls, guided by the artist.

Regina’s dream is to make one doll for every human on the planet. Like the hope for peace, this seemingly impossible task happens slowly, gently, one heart at a time. You are invited to join Regina and make your own dolls to add to the growing community

With over 1800 dolls made over the last 7 years, this exhibition is a celebration of the work completed so far; sharing the first 700 and working towards our 2100th doll.

Regina will be on hand to help you add your doll to the collection 5-10pm Wednesday to Friday, Saturday 12 and 19 5-10pm and Sunday 20 5-10pm. You are welcome to view the exhibition any other time the Common Room is open. 

Doll-making is free and open to all.

Detailed workshop times and more information about the project available at dreamsandaheart.com and on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @dreamsandaheart

https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/dreams-and-a-heart/

Shakespeare’s Globe, London UK

We were at Shakespeare’s Globe last Friday to work on ‘Mothering and Making: What would support you to do both equally well?’

Mayou and I had a good conversation about our mothers and our daughters. She made one doll and started a second one. I fixed and finished one doll made another day by another maker. Some dolls have a sort of scar that happens when the fabric tears by accident and we fix it with some stitches. I feel it is like a reminder of our ‘imperfect’ humanity.

It was a brilliant D&D called by Matilda, director of Mothers Who Make. The project organises meetings all over the country for mothers who are artists to be encouraged to express their art. Thank you Matilda for opening the space for us.

Every time a mother is happy the world is saved.

fullsizeoutput_4214  fullsizeoutput_420d

101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space, Newbury, UK

On 8th November we went to Newbury at 101 Outdoor Arts. The space is amazing, it’s huge! Also huge gorgeous animals around us, I loved them! 

The makers were Libby, Mel, Rose, Catherine, Katie, Ailin, Hannah, Lorna, Amy, Olivia, Simon and a couple of people I didn’t get the names. We made 14 dolls, some I’ll finish myself. 

Some makers took their dolls to other sessions, some finished them at the closing big circle and we meditated together after it. 

I forgot to ask most people to write their comments, here are few of them:   

‘Both therapeutic and relaxing with a beautiful concept at its heart.’ 

‘A beautiful exchange of words and thoughts. Thank you.’

‘Really lovely and touching, I felt very connected doing this in a group, provoking conversations you wouldn’t normally have.’ 

Thanks Nick, Sarah and Olivia for holding the space for us and thank you so much all the makers who joined us in this wonderful space.

fullsizeoutput_3ceb fullsizeoutput_423e fullsizeoutput_3cdc    fullsizeoutput_3ce4    fullsizeoutput_3cdd
fullsizeoutput_3ce6 fullsizeoutput_3cd6  fullsizeoutput_3cd5 fullsizeoutput_3ce7  fullsizeoutput_3cd1  fullsizeoutput_3ce8  fullsizeoutput_3ce2  fullsizeoutput_3ce9  fullsizeoutput_3cea  fullsizeoutput_3ce0  fullsizeoutput_3cd2  fullsizeoutput_3ce1  fullsizeoutput_3cde  fullsizeoutput_3cdf

2018 Cufos Community Centre, London UK

In 2018 Nicola, Fiona and Flavia came in four sessions at Cufos Community Centre in London.

We made 23 dolls together.

I cancelled almost half of the yearly sessions because I was running workshops abroad in Iceland, Lisbon and Brazil and also at the exhibition in London.

I made dolls on my own in one session, the band was playing next door, they were sad that I was alone but actually I didn’t feel lonely, they were there and it was lovely. 

It was our fourth year at Cufos.

 

fullsizeoutput_30f5   fullsizeoutput_392a  fullsizeoutput_30ec        fullsizeoutput_3910

fullsizeoutput_423b

Omnibus Theatre goodbye for now, London UK

Yesterday morning we disassembled the exhibition. Godmother Sarah – without her there would be no exhibition really – was there to help us, we are so so grateful, we love you godmother!

The dolls are now back to the suitcases, but our friend didn’t want to say good bye to them at all…

We lived a beautiful story – there was a gap to be filled in four weeks by the community. As soon as the gap was completed – the end of the story, black out. 

Usually an art work when completed is appreciated by the public for a certain period of time. 

It seems it was an art installation with a theatre/ performance soul, was it?

fullsizeoutput_4150  fullsizeoutput_4151     fullsizeoutput_414f fullsizeoutput_4153 fullsizeoutput_414e