'remember together' workshop led by Kate McAllan
Over the course of a day pupils from Pitlochry High School took part in a number of memory collecting workshops, inviting them to share their stories of the Covid pandemic.
Many of these children encountered the onset of the pandemic at a time of transition: preparing to go to high school and moving in to the first few years of their adolescence. The contributions reflect a spectrum of experiences and emotions.
The pupils reflected on the meaning of the remember together memorial. What does it mean to remember something difficult or complex? And how can we make universal works of art which make room for every person’s story?
Using a series of prompts involving nature, friends, food and drink they painted their I remembers.
Their responses tell of moments involving friends, creativity and cake-baking. Also at times there are stories of repetition, unease and loneliness.
The Colour of Memories
Recording details in small envelopes, pupils described their most vivid memory of lockdown and assigned a colour to this moment. The colours reflect the myriad of emotions involved.
The names of the colours read like individual poems. Yellow was the dominant colour and there were several shades of blue.
One pupil remembered filling a time capsule with her brother and feeling hope for the future. She called this moment ‘Deep, meaningful blue’.
Colour Names
Ultramarine blue
Cobalt blue
Cadmium green
Canary yellow
Naples yellow
Vermillion
Crimson
Rose pink
Sea green
Lemon yellow
Sky blue
Lilac
Olive green
Orange yellow
Deep meaningful blue
Black
The Colour of Memories
Light Blue
I remember me and my brothers weren’t getting along
but one day we started building dens in the forest
and from that day we were closer than ever
Sea Green
I remember going to my auntie’s house at the beach
when it was nice and warm; the house was the colour
of the sea
Cobalt Blue
I remember most the day I found out
my gran Agnes had passed away and
I never got to tell her I loved her
and say goodbye
Mustard yellow
I remember being in my room for months
and not leaving much
Lemon yellow
I remember listening to people sing
‘over the rainbow’
Canary yellow
I remember my family and I went out looking
for those painted rocks that people would leave out.
The weather was nice that day and we went to places
we wouldn’t normally go.
Black
I remember being trapped within the confines
of my room
Deep, meaningful blue
I remember the day I filled my time capsule.
I was with my brother in the hallway, and I was filling
the jar with anything meaningful. It was the first
moment I thought about the future.
I remember
Alec is creating a remember together memorial to the ongoing Covid pandemic, for Highland Perthshire, Spring 2024. These workshop were held on Thursday 21st of March 2023
