Between April 2017 to March 2018, embarked on a journey of self care. self love, deep listening, self awareness and professional development through Tamalpa UK's Level 1 training course in movement based expressive arts. 

Through the course, I explored 7 body parts and discovered aspects of my hisotry and personal mythology that is housed in each of these areas. 

​I had the invaluable experience of transitioning between movement, drawing, writing, and dialogue to unearth where i am physically, emotionally and mentally. 

​My Final Self Portrait symbolically represents key learnings and life resources that I discovered and worked with through the course. 

Last Sunday Indigo and I had the honour of sharing I Shape Beauty's Re-imaging of Self project at the Caribbean In/Securities and Creativity: Diasporic Dialogues Conference  at The British Library in London.

The "(Re)Creating Ourselves Free – poetry & performance as acts of emancipation, of self and body, for women of colour" panel was chaired by Malika Booker (poet & artist) and also featured the amazing work of Toni Stuart (poet & artist). 

Indigo presented an essay that provided an insight to the issues that inspired the creation of our Re-imaging of Self project; a 3-day workshop for Women of Colour that explores freedom as a daily practice through visual art, movement and poetry. Following the talk, we performed poetry and created a movement based drawing inspired by the work of Heather Hansen to reflect the mediums that workshop participants work through. 

There were many beautiful moments that emerged from this heart-centred day; from the flow and synchronicity between both our talk and performance and the work of Toni Stuart, to the funding ideas, warm encouragement and feedback we received from those who attended.
The reminder of the power, unity and wholeness within circles is something that particularly resonated with me. We were able to shift the energy within the room by simply removing the panelist tables and by rearranging the 60 chairs that had been placed in rows for a talk into a circle, Every individual was present, seen and heard within this talk as we explored freedom and healing through art,

Inspired by Heather Hansen's Emptied Gestures pieces, I am most free when... is the first of a collection of collaborative pieces that explore what freedom looks like to Indigo Williams and I. The poetry in indigo blue acrylic paint counteracts a narrative of silencing while the black chalk symbol carves out a sacred personal space to counteract the negative belief of not being enough. The bold channel of red chalk that
flows from the top to the bottom of the piece symbolises the presence of strong, active and energising life force energy while the blue chalk marks symbolise the grounding resource that is found through connecting to the breath.

I am most free when... was displayed at the Carribbean In/Securities and Creativity: Diasporic Dialogues Conference on Sunday 25th June 2017.

Back in April, Indigo Williams and I worked with an amazing team of Women of Colour to create the I Shape Beauty "SHAPE" Film. The film provides an insight into what I Shape Beauty is all about.

​Check it out, find out more about who we are and follow us on Instagram (@ishapebeauty) & Twitter (*ishapebeauty) and sign up to our mailing list! 

http://ishapebeauty.co.uk/join-our-mailing-list/

Art Director on set: @becca.human 
Photographer: @lifethrough_mylense
Make up: @_roxy_asare
Producer: @layasland & @accordingtoindie
Production runner: @yvettekissi

Featured in the film: Laura Kirwan-Ashman, Rebekah Ubuntu, Zoe Bere, Mamoyo, Shagufta Iqbal, Michelle Tiwo, Sarah Katende
#film #filmphotography #props #moodboard #photography #knowledge#selfownership #selflove #selfcare #sisterhood #unity #love #support#portrait #photographer #photoshoot #queen #crown #melanin 

Over the past 18 months I have worked as the Artist in Residence at Bedford Academy. This opportunity has enabled me to work with the Art Teachers, Y13 Fine Art students and a small group of Young Carers to explore identity and their personal experiences through Expressive Arts workshops.

Young Carers workshop
Through discussion, writing and expressive art making we explored what it’s like to be a Young Carer and what each student needs to be the best Young Carer they can be. The work displayed visually responds to one of the questions explored within the workshop.
 
Abstract Portraits
Inspired by self-reflection, the power that symbols hold and the importance of creating playfully, the abstract portraits symbolically reflect what each individual would be if they were to be an element, a colour, an animal, a plant/tree/flower, fruit/veg, a building, a book, an item of furniture, a time of day and a scent. This workshop aimed to create a space for each individual to connect to who they are through visual art. 

Sandgate, Kent 

:Indigo Williams and I, and our work with I Shape Beauty was featured on True Africa amongst 12 other amazing Black British women who are doing amazing things!

Check out the link below:
http://trueafrica.co/lists/13-different-black-british-women-amazing-things/

Check out the interview below and check out more of Beulah's amazing work here