We're delighted to have finished up our biggest project to date and hopefuly the first of many such projects with a massive mural (over150 square meters) up at the Sport Aberdeen Get Active facility in Sheddocksley. The project came about after the team got in touch and asked if we'd be interested in submitting a new mural design as part of the larger facility renovations. I was familiar with the site having spent my formative years growing up a stones throw away and have fond memories of running around on the adjacent football pitches, usually up to no good! So the idea of returning to create something new for the centre really resonated with me and we began mocking up a few design ideas.
A few weeks later we found ourselves in the reception area of the centre ready to meet with members of the public to discuss our plans and to seek their input into the mural. Its was great to meet with some of the centre users and staff, finding out what the space means to them and how they use it. I was surprised by how busy the centre was and met some amazing locals including John, a retired centre user and keen walker & yogi. He was full of ideas and kindly noted them down for our consideration as part of the design. The locals input really helped to give us to understand what the centre means to the community and in turn helped inform the new design. So armed with a few miles of masking tape and spray paint, we set to work!
If you'd asked me about doing a project of this scale 2 or 3 years ago I'd probably have said its a bit beyond my capabilities or more accurately beyond my confidence level. But since the arrival of Nuart Aberdeen and of course Mary with the Painted Doors project I think we've seen a shift in people ambitions and certainly being closely involved with both projects has given me not only the skills but I guess the belief in myself to take on a project like Sheddocksley. Of course we still drafted in Katie Guthrie who brought a wealth of knowledge to the project being no stranger to painting big walls and murals. Katie has undertaken numerous projects with Team Recoat in Glasgow who've also been incredibly supportive and helpful over the last few years. The three of us spent the next week translating our design off the computer and onto the walls at Sheddocksley with our aim to be finished within 7 days. Of course this proved easier said than done, especially painting a harled wall which requires more paint than you're average flat wall (damn you white spots!).
On going building works and some pretty typical Aberdeen weather also added a bit of pressure as we tried to get everything finished on time. Rain stopped play on quite a few occasions along with running out of paint and the start of the early dark nights also proved challenging. But we finally added the final touches and downed tools for the last time at the end of October. But despite spreading the work over the month we did managed to stick to our 7 day time scale. Although challenging and at times exhausting, especially painting for 4 or 5 hours in the evening after working at the day job, it did provide ample opportunities to interact with the various centre users who stopped to chat as they made their way into the centre for their weekly work outs. Its amazing the effect a short chat can have, just as you're ready to cry after finding another white spot, someone tel'sl you how much they love the new design and then you have that moment of realising its a little bit more than just paint on walls. We really wanted to create something that would help lift the whole centre but also the people who use it and their feedback and interactions were invaluable.
As for the design, incorporating the classic ball head figures was important as its one of the main things I associate with the centre with the iconic characters adorning the old boiler house for some 30 odd years. But now we could add some new friends to the mix to help reflect the diverse group of users at the centre and the range of new activities on offer. Football played a big part in the design with a new footy pitch themed entrance to the changing rooms but we also wanted to show that the centre is inclusive for people of all ages and abilities. Whether the sun was shining or the skies were gray, the design had to shine. Centre user John's suggestion of a yoga man was added as a finishing touch, seeing people off as they leave the site.
It's been a fantastic experience, and one that's only been possible thanks to the help and support of the Sport Aberdeen team especially Hugh Black and the staff at Sheddocksley, Tony at KW Contractors and of course the centre users who took the time to chat with us. The project marks the first outing as Kekun Studio which we hope to use as an umbrella for multiple projects. Also in the same month we hosted our first pop up gallery show 'Little Shop of Horrors' at the studio and I finished my design for the Painted Doors Aberdeen project! Why do one project when you can do three!
Check out some photos of the process below and be sure to check out the facility, with 2019 fast approaching perhaps now is the time to pick up that new gym membership and to make some positive changes. Sheddocksley is a warm and welcoming place and well be there putting the work in, although this time in the gym as centre users!
A few weeks later we found ourselves in the reception area of the centre ready to meet with members of the public to discuss our plans and to seek their input into the mural. Its was great to meet with some of the centre users and staff, finding out what the space means to them and how they use it. I was surprised by how busy the centre was and met some amazing locals including John, a retired centre user and keen walker & yogi. He was full of ideas and kindly noted them down for our consideration as part of the design. The locals input really helped to give us to understand what the centre means to the community and in turn helped inform the new design. So armed with a few miles of masking tape and spray paint, we set to work!
If you'd asked me about doing a project of this scale 2 or 3 years ago I'd probably have said its a bit beyond my capabilities or more accurately beyond my confidence level. But since the arrival of Nuart Aberdeen and of course Mary with the Painted Doors project I think we've seen a shift in people ambitions and certainly being closely involved with both projects has given me not only the skills but I guess the belief in myself to take on a project like Sheddocksley. Of course we still drafted in Katie Guthrie who brought a wealth of knowledge to the project being no stranger to painting big walls and murals. Katie has undertaken numerous projects with Team Recoat in Glasgow who've also been incredibly supportive and helpful over the last few years. The three of us spent the next week translating our design off the computer and onto the walls at Sheddocksley with our aim to be finished within 7 days. Of course this proved easier said than done, especially painting a harled wall which requires more paint than you're average flat wall (damn you white spots!).
On going building works and some pretty typical Aberdeen weather also added a bit of pressure as we tried to get everything finished on time. Rain stopped play on quite a few occasions along with running out of paint and the start of the early dark nights also proved challenging. But we finally added the final touches and downed tools for the last time at the end of October. But despite spreading the work over the month we did managed to stick to our 7 day time scale. Although challenging and at times exhausting, especially painting for 4 or 5 hours in the evening after working at the day job, it did provide ample opportunities to interact with the various centre users who stopped to chat as they made their way into the centre for their weekly work outs. Its amazing the effect a short chat can have, just as you're ready to cry after finding another white spot, someone tel'sl you how much they love the new design and then you have that moment of realising its a little bit more than just paint on walls. We really wanted to create something that would help lift the whole centre but also the people who use it and their feedback and interactions were invaluable.
As for the design, incorporating the classic ball head figures was important as its one of the main things I associate with the centre with the iconic characters adorning the old boiler house for some 30 odd years. But now we could add some new friends to the mix to help reflect the diverse group of users at the centre and the range of new activities on offer. Football played a big part in the design with a new footy pitch themed entrance to the changing rooms but we also wanted to show that the centre is inclusive for people of all ages and abilities. Whether the sun was shining or the skies were gray, the design had to shine. Centre user John's suggestion of a yoga man was added as a finishing touch, seeing people off as they leave the site.
It's been a fantastic experience, and one that's only been possible thanks to the help and support of the Sport Aberdeen team especially Hugh Black and the staff at Sheddocksley, Tony at KW Contractors and of course the centre users who took the time to chat with us. The project marks the first outing as Kekun Studio which we hope to use as an umbrella for multiple projects. Also in the same month we hosted our first pop up gallery show 'Little Shop of Horrors' at the studio and I finished my design for the Painted Doors Aberdeen project! Why do one project when you can do three!
Check out some photos of the process below and be sure to check out the facility, with 2019 fast approaching perhaps now is the time to pick up that new gym membership and to make some positive changes. Sheddocksley is a warm and welcoming place and well be there putting the work in, although this time in the gym as centre users!
