Art / big jeff
Big Jeff collaborates with mental health charity in art project
Bristol’s most famous gig-goer collaborated with young people to create a stunning canvas that will go on display at his upcoming exhibition.
Jeffrey Johns, better known as Big Jeff, teamed up with mental health charity Off The Record (OTR) for the workshop that saw six participants between the ages of 13 and 22 express their feelings and emotions through art.
Together with Jeff, they created a piece of work entitled Shared Expression, which will be included in the Welcome To My World exhibition at The Island from November 17 to 22.
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Big Jeff told Bristol24/7 that the collaboration has been an interesting and eye-opening experience.
“This is the first time I had to work out how to collaborate with people really,” said the music lover and artist.
“Most of the artworks that I have done in the past have been completely on my own,” he said. “I think the piece that we created was definitely like a feeling of sharing.”
The exhibition aims to instigate conversations around mental health issues.
Curator Lee Dodds said: “Jeff’s work is so focused on his disabilities, mental health and struggles that he feels. He paints because he uses it as art therapy. So it seemed like an obvious choice that we spoke to Off The Record to see if we could collaborate with them and somehow involve them in the feeling of love and power that Jeff feels when he paints.”
Bristol’s most famous gig-goer collaborated with young people to create a stunning canvas that will go on display at his upcoming exhibition – photo by Lee Dodds
Tilda Boyer from OTR, who organised the workshop, said: “We really wanted to show to young people that you can funnel all of those feelings like anger, anxiety or whatever they may be into creativity.
“I think a lot of the time when you do art when you’re younger at school, there is quite a lot focused on looking really perfect. But within the arts and wellbeing space, you’re moving away from perfectionism and more towards what feels good.
“You can really let out all these things that you often don’t have time for in other parts of life, just being your most authentic self.”
The exhibition will show other interesting collaborations and events. Some of the organisations involved include The Big Issue, Talk Club and Gig Buddies.
Main photo by Ania Shrimpton
Read more: Big Jeff’s art to be displayed on billboards across Bristol
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