In this blog we have also included competition entries .
After what seemed like the longest time ….. we are now back working on the amazing mosaic, at Mary Smith House with Revoe residents. We will be there for the next 3 sessions on Tuesdays between 5-7pm.
The mosaic is now finished and will be attached to a prominent wall in Revoe. We will upload photos when we can take a photo.
We are making really good progress now thanks to last weeks work continuingBarbara working on the mosaic
A big thanks to everyone who came this evening to work on the mosaic
top half of the mosaic in progressBottom half of the mosaic
This month have also been working with some young children and their families
Thanks to our grant from BCH Tenants fund we continue to engage with people and families most in need of creative activities across Blackpool.
painting and drawing todaydinosaurfunny face6ft art piecemask making todaymiss meowfamily workshopprincess sock puppet making princess
This month we have also been working with a group of young people who we hope to be creating a large scale mural with later this year. The group are keen to get involved in graffiti art work and this evening we tested their skills.
Some great work made this eveningThe sun was very bright and hot today but the work made was fabulous. Thank you everyone who took partand ….one for the cat lovers working on a poem and logoworking on a handmade book
In June we had our first competition entry from Jean Scott who lives in Revoe.
A great start to the competition.
We are looking forward to working with people face to face again this month.
Using the art packs and the Makezine as inspiration for people to get creative and send entries in to our competition.
Great session this evening in Blackpool with a group of young people.
Chloe’s Collaboration
Chloe’s sitting in the yard,
Making art, it’s not so hard
Sat there making an art book
Filling each page just to see how it looks
Creating stuff just to fill the time
While I sit here writing a rhyme
It seems like the perfect situation
To create this little collaboration
Chloe’s collage our 2nd art competition entrydrawing in the sketchbooks: provided for art journals – part of the art packs
As we work on the project we update the web site with information on a regular basis.
We are currently working on the Make zine, art resource that will be available to all our project participants past present and future.
The Last legs Make Art Zine is currently available online via the link on the previous post while we are in the early stages of development.
We are producing a ‘hard’ copy of this publication that can be included in the art packs we are also currently putting together for members of the community most in need of creative support in the Blackpool and Fylde areas.
We draw our inspiration from working with others and believe that a creative community is a healthy community.
We had ‘two young ladies who really benefited from the art packs during lock down, they both live with anxiety and depression and find art lets them express themselves and lets them take their mind of things for a while, they use the art packs and other supplies on a regular basis and found them really helpful.’
We included small canvases, a box of paint and brush in the art packs
We will soon be working face to face with participants once again and are exited to get going on new activities using the art packs and ‘Makezine’ to help facilitate creative workshops
Now in September we are still monitoring the situation to enable us to get back to what we love doing most which is working with the community, supporting creativity across the Fylde Coast and beyond.
We are currently discussing how to safely continue our working practise while maintaining safety for our participants. It is tough times for our organisation as most of our participants do not have access to digital media platforms and our work is all about inclusive, face to face participatory arts activities. We hope to be back to it soon.
Art work made in March 2020 with participants
for a local hostel. Requested by staff.
Update April 2020
After an email from one of our partner organisation we decided to make up ‘art packs’ for the people we have been working with as part of recent project/s. The participants of our recent projects have become even more isolated due to the current situation and we feel we must do something positive to support them while stuck indoors with very little social interaction or artistic intervention.
We would like you to use the provided sketchbooks to create art works, poems, thoughts, ideas – if possible one a day on a page or using a double page.
We thought these could be photographed or scanned when your ‘diary/ sketchbook’ is complete so that we can make an online or physical exhibition of your work that could inspire other people who may be in a similar situation to create art works as well.
Let your imaginations run wild. You can write or draw anything
For instance you could tear up this letter and rearrange the words to create a poem.
We hope to be working with you again face to face once the situation improves for everyone.
Boz and Lee April 23rd 2020
We are currently making up more packs and would like to thank particularly Mike Mckone and others who have recently donated pens, paper and materials towards the art packs.
I would also like to thank Jean and the Granthams Art Discount team for sorting out the sketchbook orders so quickly.
Thank You! YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Dear all early March 2020
As individuals and as an organisation we take our responsibility to the health and well being of our participants and partnership organisation seriously.
Due to the current situation with regards the Coronavirus we have taken the difficult decision to suspend all our creative activities until further notice.
We apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment this will cause to yourselves and to our participants. We feel this is a necessary precaution to undertake due to the numbers of groups and individuals across the Fylde Coast that we work with. Many of our participants are already ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’ residents and community members; therefore we wish to protect them and ourselves from any possible chance of infection or risk of infection.
We were looking forward to taking our recent activities forward in support of positive community engagement however this current crisis has put these creative sessions on hold for the time being.
Last Legs – Boz and Lee wish you all the best and hope that we can continue to work with you all again in the very near future.
Thank you for all your support and understanding
Boz and Lee
Art work below made in March by family member just prior to the current ‘lockdown’ situation.
Earlier this year
In 2020 we have already facilitated 10 workshops with the community and received notice that Glasdon have agreed to support us with funding to enable us to carry out at least one more workshop.
The artist who created the canvas above requested to have the address for suicide prevention services included here
Papyrus – for people under 35 Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm Text 07786 209697 Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Childline – for children and young people under 19 Call 0800 1111 – the number won’t show up on your phone bill, 24/7
The Silver Line – for older people Call 0800 4 70 80 90 – 24/7
We would like to acknowledge our most recent grant funding from the ‘Edith Mary Clark Foundation’, and thank the trustees for awarding us £500 to continue our creative activities with local people and families on the Fylde coast.
We now envisage some of this funding to be utilised for creating art packs for families currently isolated due to the current situation.
We feel privileged to work with our community and are enabled to do so through generous funding from local organisations.
We also continue with our project ‘Upwards and Outwards’ funded by Blackpool Coastal Housing: BCH
On March 2nd we began our creative sessions with families living at a Central Blackpool location. Sessions will be held at the New Life Church, 6 Queen Victoria Rd, Blackpool. These ‘face to face’ workshops are currently ‘on hold’ due to the current situation.
In around two weeks we hope to start back working on the large mosaic, working with local, Revoe and Central Blackpool residents again, thanks to previous funding from the community chest, Revoe-lution funding.
Life.
Life may be tough
Things will get rough
There will be bad days and good
but if the bad days are too much
Please don’t give up
Always stand tall
Always hold your head up high
because as long as you keep moving
there will be no more goodbyes
keep moving
keep fighting
one win at a time.
Poem by G. Dunn 2020
We would like to thank Tracy – ‘Lytham Community Network’ for her recent generous donation of arts materials that will continue to help us offer free materials to participants during our workshops.
Last Legs will be working with local families by offering creative activities free to people experiencing financial hardships due to complex personal circumstances, thanks to our recent funding received from Edith Mary Clark Foundation
As always we seek to work with individuals and groups who often miss out on creative opportunities .
2013 Fantasy animal made from recycled materials based on a design drawn by schoolchildren for ‘Dr Evoes Pet Shop’ Central Drive Blackpool 2013
Design by schoolchildren Revoe Academy art work by Boz Phillips 2013
I have experience of working in partnership with organisations such as Empowerment, Horizon Blackpool, The Grange Blackpool, Urban Arts Studio St Annes, Age Concern UK, Connexions, Homestart, New Revoe Residents Association, Revoe-Lution Blackpool, Blackpool Borough Council, Young carers, Streetlife, Fylde Youth Service, Blackpool Art Of Recovery and Blackpool Club to Go : delivering, and facilitating numerous community arts and digital media workshops since 1999.
I continue to collaborate with a number of local artists, musicians, organisations and individuals to create digital and non digital art works. My art works, jewellery and video productions, have been exhibited online, in local galleries, and local shops over the last 15 years. I have also directed and been involved with a number of short films and online music and television productions.
From 2016- 2018 I was the ‘artist in residence at Ibbison Community Center where I was instrumental in setting up ‘Hand Made Un’s’ Community art group.
I currently work with residents across 5 temporary accommodation sites in Blackpool, funded by BCH on self directed project ‘A question of art’ – and previously ‘Home is where your heArt is’ and ‘Onwards and Upwards’. projects devised and delivered by Last Legs after our successful ‘Art Buddies’ project 2017-2019. In 2017 we were nominated for a BCH community award for Art Buddies.
Projects initiated by myself and Lee Fitzgerald include –
A mosaic to celebrate Revoe and commemorate important buildings, a poster project for Blackpool Art service, Horizon ‘Freedom Clock’ art work in conjunction with Grange Park Residents and the recovery community. Working in partnership with Lee Fitzgerald on these projects as ‘Last Legs’ we received funding for a number of projects in the Blackpool Central / Revoe areas with community members of all ages. Our most recently successful devised, delivered and funded project is ‘Home is where your heART is’ – going to hostels across Blackpool to support creative interventions and make art works for new homes during time in the hostel stay: involving creative activities such as poetry and art canvases. This project is ongoing.
Freelance creative projects in 2024 have included working at the Fylde family hubs and youth clubs in partnership with the Youth Teams in Kirkham and St Annes
below 2006 Video stills from two videos produced for the Grundy Art Gallery.
In 2006 working with two Blackpool schools for the Blackpool Council Arts Department I directed and produced two videos based on the work of international digital artist Yuji Watabe who’s video work was then display at the Grundy Art Gallery.
Boz Phillips 2006
Relevant Skills
Relevant Skills 1999 – 2025
• Designing and delivering projects and workshops: working with community groups to create art works
.• Supporting individuals in their own home with daily tasks, shopping and creative activities
• Creating and installing art works in shop windows
• Art film production skills – costume, set design etc
• Curating and organising multi-media, art projects.
• Planning and carrying out health, safety and risk assessments.
• Evaluating and giving feedback on project outcomes
• Organising, networking and collaborating with other artists and work colleagues
• Producing measurable, quality outcomes from projects and activities
• Understanding and experience of multi agency working practices.
• Research skills.
• Identifying and receiving funding
• Budgeting and planning project expenditure
• Directing, filming and creating short films and experimental video
One of the clues posted in local shops. Image of young person in bird costume made during the ‘birdies Trail’ project for the book ‘We Can Fly’ – created by Chris Culshaw. I worked with families to make costumes and masks that formed the images to accompany stories in the book.
‘Fish-box’ – screen printed limited edition book Spring 2008 (Red Fox Press)
Video still from ‘Short History of the Illuminations’ 2006
Boz Phillips 2006
Photograph of participants of the ‘My Place’ video made to celebrate the opening of the ‘Oracle’ building in Blackpool. Working with Blackpools dance officer and UDP.
last legs community arts health 