EMPOWERING BODY PAINT FOR WOMEN LIVING WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS
We are looking for 20 women and those assigned female at birth living in Greater Manchester living with Endometriosis* to take part in our next phase of our empowering body painting series, as well as a group of local artists interested in developing their artistic practice exploring body painting.
Metamorphosis is an ongoing project by Cabasa (based in Mossley, Tameside) using body paint as a tool for wellbeing and empowerment.
Cabasa is a Carnival arts organisation which brings all people together to create big, bold and beautiful events that capture the joy of being part of a community. Cabasa uses arts and creativity to enable people to learn new skills, develop high-quality work they feel proud of, bring communities together and explore diverse community traditions.
* you can take part if you have been officially diagnosed or are currently exploring a possible diagnosis.
“ Art can help you cope with emotions, becoming art can help you inhabit and be empowered by them.
Body painting has power as a source of healing and empowerment.”
– Emma Cammack [body painting artist]
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
We will be delivering a workshop day in March 2022 (Endometriosis awareness month), where participants will work with a group of local artists. The session will include breakout rooms and group work with creative therapeutic activities, sparking in-depth discussions and exploring shared and differing experiences of Endometriosis.
Artists and participants will partner up and explore design, colour and texture.
All of our ideas and thoughts will be explored in a celebratory day of body painting at the end of the month, where everyone will be painted and professionally photographed.
We will then work towards an exhibition and digital resource to share our stories and raise awareness of endometriosis through beautiful body art.
DATES
We’ve had to change some dates due to staff changes, but it’s simpler! Just a Saturday creative workshop session for artists and participants and the full painting day itself
Where: All sessions will take place at: The Vale, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, Greater Manchester, OL5 9JL
Meet, Greet & Creative Session: Saturday 19th March 2022. 11am – 3pm
We will be providing lunch as well.
Celebratory Body Painting Day: Saturday 26th March: 10am – 4pm
If you’re an artist please get in touch as there may be extra training days on top of some of these sessions.
FAQs
Do I have to be diagnosed with Endometriosis
You can take part of you have been diagnosed or are exploring a possible diagnosis.
How will the sessions work?
The workshop and celebration day will take place at The Vale in Mossley, in the workshop session we will be taking inspiration from your stories, as well as exploring creative ideas, and having fun with paint.
It will be a lovely supportive atmosphere to share stories, experiences, and ideas around how Endometriosis has affected your life, raising awareness, being creative, and mainly come together to celebrate our beautiful bodies as they are.
There will also be plenty of brews and lunch on offer.
Do I have to take all my clothes off?
When we are doing the body painting you can do whatever you feel most comfortable with, we can paint over clothes, you can be partially clothed, or you get painted in your underwear, it’s your choice, however as it’s body painting we will need to paint some of your skin.
How will we be photographed?
When we photograph on the day, you direct whatever you feel comfortable doing.
For both individual and group photos you can decide whether to remain anonymous or not. We will be guided by how you’re feeling – even if you change your mind on the day. It will be a great celebration of our journey together as a group.
What will happen on the painting day?
After having a meet and greet day sharing ideas, our team of around 10 artists will be painting everyone and having some amazing group photos and individual photos celebrating and bringing together all the ideas and inspiration we have come up with as a group. We will let you know more once we confirm your place. Most of all, we will be having a lot of fun!
Every person on the day also will be female or assigned female at birth and the space will be private for you and our team.
WHY ENDOMETRIOSIS?
We have found combining art and raising awareness are a perfect combination and tool for social change, as well as wellbeing and empowerment.
It takes 8 years on average for a diagnosis of this condition. This is both because of low awareness amongst clinical professionals and women’s own expectations of periods, specifically that high pain is typical and must just be tolerated.
Through sharing information online, sharing work with the local community and friends and family, we want to help raise awareness and help women secure diagnoses earlier.
Our artistic director Emily also has lived experience with endometriosis.
For more information you can read more at:
SIGN UP
Please select and fill out the relevant form below and a member of our team will get in touch. All of your answers are strictly confidential and only shared with a small number of our team.
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METAMORPHOSIS
Endomorphosis is part of our ongoing research and development project into body painting called Metamorphosis. From studying the art form across the globe from its ancient roots and modern cultural forms, to how the body painting can become a tool for wellbeing and empowerment.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE
This project is funded by:
