It all started with a visit to Westbury centre!

QUEST

A rabbit, clown and some black sheep undertake an amazing adventure around Westbury and beyond!

An exciting participatory arts project created by twelve nominated students from Matravers School, Westbury & Jill Carter, Social Engagement Artist. Exploring the theme of identity, the lads directed and undertook a series of performative journeys. Using a collection of found objects (toys), they set out to explore a world of work & play, responding to folk, everyday situations and environments along the way. The hugely creative process was documented with photography, film, drawings, dialogue & journals. There was potential to unearth, stories to unfold and dreams of a large rabbit, clown and group of black sheep ... finding their way, discovering new friends, standing out from the crowd, and truly becoming somebody!

A chance to think outside the box!

I"m on a journey, to be somebody, are you?

It was a brave decision on the part of Matravers School teacher Heather Leach to let a social engagement artist loose on a group of teenage students.  An invitation to join in a quest was taken up by the 12 x 13 year lads, the artist and a teacher's assistant and some toys.   The lads sorted themselves into two groups. Quest 1 choose to take an overstuffed orange Rabbit and name it Gregory and decided that he needed to find his way home.   His friend, Clown, christened Charlie, would keep him company whilst we all went on a hugely unplanned adventure which was to be conceived and directed by the students.  When faced with a chance to get out of school it was decided to visit the town centre of Westbury, an old once upon a time wool market town.   Ideas were discussed about how Rabbit could make its way home, become REAL, become SOMEBODY.  It was decided that for this to happen, food, a place to work, eat and relax would be required.  What about travel, health concerns, making friends and exploring interests.   What about a visit to people at work, oh yes!  And so it was Greg & Charlie set off to the estate agents, cleaners, church, library, pet shop, vets, opticians, car showrooms, heritage centre and butchers.   There was a dream too about getting out into the bigger wider world.  At that point no one knew what was going on, least of all the artist.