Art workshops aim to help survivors of domestic abuse

A new series of workshops aimed at survivors of domestic abuse will assist participants to create fused glass jewellery and art from shards of glass.

The three workshops, entitled From the Fragment to the Whole, running on March 16, 23 and 30 at Coin Street neighbourhood centre in Stamford Street Southwark, will be run by local artist Roberta De Caro.

Roberta, an MA student at City & Guilds of London Art School, decided to focus her workshop specifically for survivors of domestic abuse, as she feels passionately that art, and glass, offers people the chance to learn new skills and gain a new perspective on the process of repairing and healing themselves.

Roberta, pictured above, said: “Glass is a wonderful material to work with. Its light-filtering powers, its colour, its sharpness and from fragility, something strong and beautiful can emerge.

“It’s these emotions I want to offer participants, the idea that piecing together fragments of glass can come to represent the resilience of survivors who are repairing and rebuilding a life beyond the abuse.

“It can be quite a cathartic experience. And one I understand from personal experience.”

She added: “I don’t claim to be able to help people rebuild their lives with a series of three glass workshops. However, I believe that in many ways, working with fragments of glass can mirror the experience of reconstructing one’s life and, as such, it can be an empowering new way for participants to relate not only to their past, but also to their current circumstances as survivors.”

For more information on the workshops or to find out more about her work click here.