ART REFUGE CANOPY & LA COMMUNE STABLE

On Saturday Nov 15 @les_laboratoires in north Paris, our Paris team @katefrance1 @naomipress @pascalemarielemeur & Raphael Bouboutou beautifully staged our 2nd exhibition marking the 10 year presence @artrefuge_ in France.

Gathering 120 photos of miniature brick-building from across our various tables, we created an installation of images that met in the corners of the central room, visually holding the space for a special iteration of The Community Table with materials evolved in this Paris setting where so many refugees & asylum seekers live in an ongoing state of limbo & homelessness.

We also showed our historic Calais maps, a short film reel edited & curated by @animatedfilms + two longer films which captivated the audience: Adolpho Maxicula’s postcard film and another featuring plasticine objects, animals, creatures & people crafted on tables & left behind at the end of sessions - traces of the rich humanity, frailty & resilience we have encountered over the years.

The day was attended by a large intergenerational, cross-cultural group of local people, art therapists, trainees, artists, performers, humanitarian workers, volunteers, friends, family, users of various services & our partners from @cedre_secourscatholique. Together we participated in artmaking, discussion & cross-fertilisation of ideas. @bobbylloyd_ spoke about the origins of Art Refuge & @miriusiskin of The Community Table model of practice, now developed across our work.

@les_laboratoires were brilliant hosts where, in this setting for the past few years, our Paris team has taken a group of refugees from le CEDRE to join other groups & local people around The Community Table / La Commune Stable. Alongside the venue & technical support they brought fougasse-making in the breadoven @stephaneravacley, a concert by the brilliant MLS, & ‘Traverse’, a thought-provoking film installation by @patricia.allio, author of “Dispak Dispac’h”.

*** The day ended with the formal launch of a new association ART REFUGE CANOPY to support work & fundraising from within France. More will follow as this exciting new chapter evolves! ***