LAUNCHING THE STORY CONTINUES

JOANNA'S PERSPECTIVE

There were four of us who braved the weather and met at Ealing Common Station for another 'walk and talk'. This time the plan was to arrive at The Ealing Central Library at 1pm to attend the launching of The Story Continues, another community project by ARTification. As we were exploring the area between Ealing Common and Ealing Broadway, I was telling the group about our destination and what they could expect at the event. It is always good to have something nice awaiting you at the end of a walk, especially on a cold and windy day.

The launching of THE STORY CONTINUES was yet another multi-faceted event organised by ARTification, an organisation based in Acton which brings communities together through participation in the arts and cultural activities. I was really excited about it, because these ideas are very close to my heart and I have become the Artification volunteer!

If you saw a view across Ealing Common, it would give you an idea of how bleak the day was. Anyway, let me not bother you with the detailed description of our walk as you can find it on my blog.

 Having walked through the Ealing Shopping Centre, we climbed the stairs and entered the library which is soon to be moved to smaller premises somewhere else in Ealing Broadway. 'Use it or you will lose it' was a slogan heard a number of times during the event held at the library this afternoon. This project is a great opportunity to introduce people to the libraries on their doorstep.

Beata and Tomek wanted to make sure they would remember the dates of the local history lectures so they took pictures of the posters. Near the entrance there was a small but informative display on the subject of recycling. Almost opposite was an exhibition showing photographs of the London LGBT community members holding their childhood portraits.

 Soon I met Rachel Pepper, ARTification Director, who urged us to make our way to The Green Room so we didn't miss the first music performance. We didn?t quite make it for 1pm sharp as we needed to stop and have something hot on the way. It was impossible to carry on counting on beverages and snacks promised at the event; two hours? walk on a cold and windy day with snow melting before it fell to the ground was more than enough to make us give in to temptation at a Polish restaurant near the library.

So we were late, but still we entered the venue in time to see the African and Caribbean duo play. It was nice to see many familiar faces there. Everybody enjoyed the rhythms by NAS. You don't often have a chance to hear the kora playing. What is 'kora'? Mr Google will tell you: 'The kora is a 21-string lute-bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.'

Next there were a few speeches, short, witty and up-to the point, luckily. It's always good to hear Robbie Pearson speak. The previous time I saw him, he was in a different role. He and his wife, Brandy, were preaching at St Martin's Church in West Acton only a fortnight ago. However, I?ve also had a pleasure of listening to his and Brandy?s poems a good number of times.

Cllr Dr Patricia Walker, the Mayor of Ealing, spoke at the event as well. My Polish friends were interested to see the Polish eagle in her mayoral chain. It was at the Acton Carnival last year when Dr Walker told me a story of this eagle, the Polish national emblem.

Then we listened to Amir Darwish, a poet from the Kurdish part of Syria. It was truly moving.

Near the front of the room I could see Laura Barker who started as a volunteer with the Acton Arts Forum in 2014 and now has an important role with ARTification. Unfortunately, sitting at the back, I only photographed Brandy and Robbie Pearson from behind. They are both active members of the Acton Poets Group and I do love their poems.

There were many hands-on activities for children. I met Judith who runs art projects at Bunny Park in Hanwell. That's yet another destination for the Ealing Walking, Talking and Exploring Group.

Assiya from the Afghan Academy I had a pleasure to meet at the Acton Carnival last summer. You can learn a lot about Afghanistan and its culture from her.

That was a feast for the ears: music and singing that came next. Sheila Moylan played the lyrical Irish harp and sang and Martin Lau accompanied her.

 Richard Neville, the storyteller I first heard at a Greenford Festival, was brilliant as always. Pity my friends had to leave early and missed his performance. We chatted afterwards and he told me he had started studying anthropology and is really interested in the history of storytelling and its popularity within educational systems in other countries. Well, I could tell him instantly about a school in my hometown of Skarzysko-Kamienna which invites storytellers to work with the students.

Mind you, there were also arty activities for children taking place in the main library space. Jude Pepper-Cox and Kamer Chatawa from The Art Box were creating book covers with children taking inspiration from the children?s books in the library.

Participants had many opportunities to talk about the event and exchange their ideas.

The last person I spoke to at the event was Martha Lambert from the library. She got really interested in my walking and talking tours and introduced me to a man called Jonathan Oates who is the borough archivist. We had a nice chat. He showed me a book about the Polish church in Ealing which was written by my compatriot, Juliusz Englert. Looking through the book, I couldn't help noticing a familiar name: Alicja Poloczek. She died last year... I met her through mutual friends at the Polish Cultural Centre. She was involved in so many activities. RIP, Ms Poloczek.

So that was my Saturday, of which a definite highlight was launching of The Story Continues at the Ealing Central Library! Well done to all at the ARTification!

P.S.

I'm afraid to see pictures you need to go here: http://lifewhim.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/from-ealing-common-to-ealing-broadway.html as I haven?t found the way to upload them here.