Artist Dedeia Rocha describes working with Art School Plus on her Camden Council project 'Inside Out’

Fresh from finishing her MA in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts Artist Dedeia Rocha was looking to connect her creative practice with a project that aligned with her voice and values. Thus far her artwork has taken her from her home city Rio to London, with an established catalogue of work behind her she was seeking to take another step forward into the public artwork realm. In her own words she describes her work on a community project with The Fleet Pocket Park in Camden, and how a training programme with Art School Plus helped her bridge that gap through empowerment, practical advice and partnership.  

The day begins.

On one side of town is a local authority looking for creative solutions for a little snag in a newly refurbished pocket park. On the other side, not far away, is an artist eager to create their first public artwork. As much as London is a place full of bridges, the likelihood is that these two points may never connect. Unless there is a different kind of bridge.

In 2022 I had just completed my MA in Fine Arts at Chelsea College of Arts and couldn't wait to create a public artwork. I was selected to take part in a training programme with Art School Plus, an organisation that works with artists to boost professional development and connect with projects. I figured I could learn the ropes to take my art to the streets of London. In fact, that intensive week provided a wealth of useful information that would have taken me years to gather on my own.

Said and done.

Everything in The Fleet Pocket Park was harmonious and looking great. Ready to cater for the growing community around it except for three sturdy, unobtrusive metal cabinets, totally devoid of beauty. Knowing my work and sharing with my core values such as integrity and accountability, Art School Plus highlighted this as an opportunity and brought it to my attention, so that together we could present a proposal.

By then I knew that having a good idea wasn't enough. It had to be conveyed through an effective pitch. A pitch in which we could not only present the idea for the work, but also clearly explain how it would be carried out.

Process.

Initially I approached the cabinets like party crashers. As there was no way of expelling them, I considered camouflaging them by repeating the colours and textures in the park so that they would become invisible. However, after a conversation with the authorities, we understood that it would be more appealing to incorporate some of the local history into the project. So, I tried to get to know those "intruders" better and learn why they were there to begin with.

After experimenting with a few alternatives and some research, I ended incorporating the parks underground river into the artwork, the river that lends its name to the park and plays a very important role to the city.

In conjunction with this, I explored the idea of flow, there is a flow of water, there is also a flow of information, and entertainment, distributed by multicoloured wires, sheltered by the cabinets. So instead of hiding them, I chose to celebrate them and reveal their true function. Hence the title of the work, Inside Out.

Pitch.

To ensure the success of the pitch, I made three small cardboard mock-ups and took photos of them on site. All of this was in analogue mode, without using any software, as is the case with all my work.

Our proposal was approved, and the rest is history, at least on my timeline. Thinking over the whole experience I can easily identify the main reasons why the project was succ essful. 

Access to Information. Art School Plus highlighted the opportunity to me and bet on my work as being a great match. Although I had already been looking to expand to different materials, I don’t think I would have seized this opportunity if it was not for ASP.

Space for Discussing Ideas. Brainstorming and researching, we realized that instead of being photographed the collages could be scanned and then printed on adhesive vinyl. We requested different quotes and settled on the one that had the best estimate and was conveniently located a few blocks from the park.

At that phase of the project, we had several details to consider: vents to the cabinets should remain open, hinges should be operational, locks should be accessible, and security signalling should be in place. Quite a lot to take in if you are by yourself.

Sense of Partnership. At no point in the journey did I feel alone. We talked at every stage of the process. I had space for my ideas to be challenged and at the same time felt in control of the decisions. What I heard the most was: ‘it's up to you’.

Wholehearted Support - After agreeing to submit a proposal, it was necessary to draw up an action plan, to define each stage so that everything would work out on time. Art School Plus nailed the proposal presentation and helped me communicate not only with the authorities, but also with the fabricators.

Together, we set deadlines and chose the fairest budgets. We also attended meetings, drafted emails, and nudged suppliers so that everything would be ready on time. Art School Plus not only paved the way to a winning art proposal but kept reminding me of the deadlines and helping me to think of strategies to meet them.

Promotional Strategies - As much as the work is in the street, as much as it is a public space, it also needs to be in the virtual public space. It was great to have ASP encouraging me to write about the experience and not letting it go unnoticed.

Today, those who live around the park are invited to open the windows of their imagination. Those who are just passing by may have a few seconds in which to leave autopilot mode and allow themselves to make new enquiries about what is around them.

A bonus of the project is that the presence of art, not only provokes interaction it provided an excellent anti-vandalism strategy. Perhaps because the representation of the flow of water and the tangle of coloured threads has a graffiti feel to it. Or maybe because what was just a space before the renovations has now become a place. And better: a place that belongs to everyone.