P L O R K is a playful term invented by Corita Kent, an American artist, educator, former religious sister, and advocate for social justice. It combines PLay and wORK.
Radical Acts of Plork is a creative exploration of community play, care, and rest, with and for each other as a means of regenerative social and environmental healing. Radical Acts of Plork at Forgan Arts Centre is designed and led by artist Ruby Pester.
“We tend to think of play as abstract without a goal, and somewhat irresponsible, while work suggests a goal , is specific, honorable. Because of this, play can be more challenging – even though we have been taught to perceive work as that challenge. We need a third word – one which combines the two concepts and allows us to recognise them together as one responsible act necessary for human advancement. We combine the abstract and the concrete, the joy and the labour. That word would represent the ecstasy we feel when work and play are one.”
Corita Kent, from her book Learning By Heart, Teachings To Free The Creative Spirit
Radical Acts Of Plork lends our imaginations to building creative, nurturing intergenerational community experiences. The project will engage multi – generational carers and queer communities to develop and co-create with invited artists, makers, and educators, to make a series of interactive artworks which activate the estate including the gardens, grounds, and The Gardener’s Cottage. The project will;
- centre community care and our interconnection with nature as a means of regenerative social and environmental healing and wellbeing
- explore ideas of liberation through ‘plork’- work and play as one
- consider ‘creative interruptions of Capitalism’ as a means to radically re-imagine and re-build the systems of our world, looking to our collective future
The community groups participating will design and make different elements of the project. This activity is possible thanks to Creative Scotland‘s Participatory Arts & Mental Health Fund.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare.”
Audre Lorde
Radical Acts of Plork Workshops
Radical Acts of Plork included a variety of workshops and events where we explored ideas of care and rest whilst working to making artworks and homeware for the Gardener’s Cottage. The Cottage will eventually be used to support respite breaks of carers and through this project, we have been able to design and make items that will make it feel homely and comfortable.
- Queer Makers Club: a makers club for adult LGBTQIA+ people with artists Ruby Pester, Ardis Önnerfors and Leo Valenti.
- Young Queer Makers Club: a makers club for LBGTQIA+ young people aged 13-18 years led by artists Max Alexander of Play Radical and Nadia Rossi and Ruby Pester of Pester&Rossi.
- Care Makers Club: a makers club for adult unpaid carers with artists Ruby Pester, Lewis Prosser, and Keny Drew.
- Young Care Makers Club: a makers club for young carers aged 13-18 years led by artists Max Alexander of Play Radical and Nadia Rossi and Ruby Pester of Pester&Rossi.
These Makers Clubs are supported by partners including LGBT Youth Scotland, Fife Carers, Fife Young Carers, and Community in Cupar CIC.
A Plate of Plork
Radical Acts of Plork culminated in an event that unveiled the artworks created by Makers Club participants called A Plate of Plork. This event also include a ‘make your own pizza station, yoga in the gardens, a fermentation and pickling working with ‘Fermental Health’, and other artist led activities and interventions.
Evaluation
Ruby has now completed evaluation of Radical Acts of Plork. This is available to download and read using the link below. This project was funded by Creative Scotland.
About the Artist: Ruby Pester
Radical Acts of Plork is led by artist Ruby Pester. Ruby’s research and community consultation is culminating in a series of activities, workshops, and events called On The Table. If you’d like to get involved with On The Table visit our Events page to see upcoming activities.
Ruby Pester is a visual and social artist living and working in Glasgow, Scotland. She has been creating work collaboratively across Scotland and internationally since 2008 and is one half of the collaborative artist duo Pester & Rossi. Her practice derives from visual art and leads to creating live art, sculpture, installation and public interventions in response to people and places. Ruby embraces a collective working approach, hosting public events and workshops, often working with young people to create art that explores and activates collective experiences of play, making and civic celebration.
