User:Spike Mclarrity/sandbox

The UK artist Spike Mclarrity performing in Islamabad.

Islamabad art festival is in its first year November 18th to November 30th 2019 created and funded by the Pakistan actor called Jamal Sha. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamal_Shah)  With the intention of bringing international artists to Pakistan in a cultural exchange of artists living in Pakistan and artists from all over the world. "Islamabad Art Festival is built upon the foundation of cultural diversity that is so deeply embedded in the land that is now Pakistan, and in the people that are now Pakistani. Art has the unique capability of enabling people to engage intimately with their natural and cultural heritage in a creative and critical manner. The spirit of creativity and innovation brings people together and strengthens society as a whole." (https://www.islamabadartfestival.com/ )

Spike Mclarrity a live art performer from United Kingdom lives and works in London, travelled for the first time to Islamabad to perform and run art workshops over a two day period. The art festival was one of the largest and diverse festivals he has attended that showcased artists and performers from all over the world, as well as artists and performers from all over Pakistan. The workshop was designed to enable people to move beyond their own limitations, especially when it comes to creating and the obstacles that we inflict upon ourselves, through lack of confidence, self doubt or other peoples negativity. Looking beyond what is good art or what is bad art and getting in touch with the immediate source of inspiration and motivation that comes from within the individual themselves.

Finding a sense of clarity within ones own intentions when setting out to create with the fear or negative attitude of "I can't do this" "I am not creative" "I am bad at making art". Spike managed to create a safe space within a public building to allow people to begin to strip away the layers of doubt and bring a fearless self to surface, mark making, sharing, crossing boundaries into other peoples private creative spaces, at the same time remaining a sense of self with respect to others and our surroundings.

Spike used various techniques such as responding to music, using the imagination and getting back in touch with our ancestors, mark making with pens, physically moving around the table as a group drawing into each others art and working with partners from different backgrounds and life experiences. It was not an easy workshop, it was set out to challenge, to motivate and importantly to inspire each participant of what is possible, what they could achieve by setting their mind to all the possibilities on offer to them. For Spike it was an incredible experience to be able to share his skills and to bring a bit of his own life experiences to share with people.

The festival itself was well attended by artists/performers/sculptors/dancers and musicians. This was the perfect platform for Spike to be able to apply his live art performance, where he performed "White rabbit becomes a shaman" to a very dedicated audience at the Sir Syed Memorial Complex "British Live performance artist Spike Mclarrity given a live demonstration of his art performance at Sir Syed Memorial Complex." ( https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/11/25/islamabad-art-festival-2019-in-full-swing-in-federal-capital/ ) For Spike being part of something so new and so challenging it gave him many new experiences especially soaking up the rich culture of Pakistan.

Spike was asked to speak to the first Lady of Pakistan at the PNCA ( http://pnca.org.pk/ ) Where he spoke about being a British artist and his experiences of art in Islamabad and the Islamabad Art Festival. It was a nerve racking time but yet it was also an honour to speak as a British visiting artist to the festival. Spike along with organisers and other artists from Pakistan and international artists were invited to have high tea with the president at his resident. This was an astounding honour to speak to the president as a visiting artist and how Islamabad and the art festival had really moved him, it was one of those emotional and extraordinary times that he will not forget.

Spike was presented with an award for his live performance during the closing ceremony at the Serina Hotel, which was presented to a well attended evening. Spike was moved and surprised at receiving the award from AIF19. After ten years of performing around the world, this is the first ever award he has received. To know more about his work see the link to his website. (http://www.spikemclarrity.com/) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFgNnoSsIo0)