remember together, Pitlochry High School

'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