Steampunk Bob's Videogram Express
Steampunk Bob returned with a new series of Videograms created for lockdown and a project that allows small acts kindness to be shared remotely. I was originally commissioned by People United to be their lead artist for a Tate Exchange week at Tate Modern and planned to design an area with prompts encouraging strangers to perform deliberate acts of kindness for each other. With the museum temporarily closed and that project on hold, we wanted to see if we could achieve similar aims and remotely fostering feelings of warmth and connection in these tough times, and came up with Steampunk Bob’s Videogram Express - an intergenerational exchange of greetings/advice service between the very young and the very old.
For several years People United have been facilitating Kindness Week residencies at primary schools where I go in as Artist and Treasure Hunter Steampunk Bob. In 2018 we visited St. Stephen’s Infant School and the whole place – teachers and support staff – got involved, discovering loads of KQs (Kind Qualities) and KPs (Kind people) and extending the activities long after we left. They’re pupils were the perfect participants to make initial Hello Videos for the project.
Lockdown has been difficult for many older people experiencing isolation. My friend and colleague Shula Hawes works with The Cares Family – a charity that helps older people living on their own – and they’ve been organising zoom gatherings for their ‘Older Neighbours’ (participants on their scheme). I’ve facilitated many intergenerational projects in care homes and seen first hand the bonds of understanding formed between older people and young children. Both groups’ straightforward acceptance of one another, their absence of judgement, their ability to be fully in the present moment are super conducive to joyful, quality experiences. Shula and I worked together to create zoom meet ups where the Older Neighbours would answer whatever questions that pupils’ wanted to ask, hoping they’d be inspired to chat further and form bonds with each other, too. Little did we know…
The project started with filming an invitation video for the pupils at St Stephen’s. I dressed as Steampunk Bob, pitching it as an extension of my past visit - a further kind thing they could do for my new friends who are isolated in their homes, and I spent a lockdown afternoon filming it in my kitchen, editing everythihng with sound effects, images and mini film clips.
It turns out there were only a few pupils at St Stephen’s school – children of key workers – and they all wanted to take part. Their teacher Ms Gold filmed them asking questions after an outdoor forest school activity, and you can see a wide range of comfort in front of the camera: some were at ease speaking directly to an imagined person, some were very quiet and very shy. One pupil declined to take part at first, but at the last minute decided to dance for the camera instead of ask a question. Much less stressful, much more fun!
I wasn’t sure quite how the remote chats with the Older Neighbours would go, but it was clear right away that everyone was charmed by the pupils (who are indeed very, very charming), and they were thrilled with the idea of responding to their questions. The thoughtfulness of those answers, the care and consideration they showed each of the children and the gentle encouragement for the shyer pupils is a delight to see. The sessions were scheduled for an hour, but each one flew past that time, past 90 minutes and folks were still chatting about times in their lives the questions brought to mind. Shula and I were privately sending chat messages, ‘How are we going to end this?’ ‘I have absolutely no idea…’
Alas, internet connection in some participants’ homes means there is some choppy footage, but I think it fairly accurately reflects what everyone is going through, and it’s so good to see how 70, 80, 90 year olds are just as able and willing to use (and benefit from) online tech. For me, it’s all more than compensated by witnessing the children overcome their shyness and the caring, encouraging answers from the older neighbours.
We sent back the videos to St Stephen’s Infant School and the children watched them on the last day of term. Ms Gold wrote about their experience watching the films:
“The most noticeable reaction from the children was the pure excitement at the prospect of seeing themselves on screen followed by shyness when seeing themselves on screen! Some of the younger ones were sure we were watching in real time and nodded along to the responses. When the participants identified the children personally they beamed... I think they really felt a connection. The children were interested in the responses, they laughed and chatted, nodded and smiled! They loved knowing the ages and there were a few gasps! Given the challenging times and unusual past few months, I really believe this gave our children a sense of ‘togetherness’, an understanding of how similar and different other people’s experiences of lockdown have been.”
The pupils from St Stephen’s who took part were Adam, Bill, Blaec, Ezme, Halle, Logan, Malachy, Niamh, Oscar, Sabia & Victoria, as well as two teachers, Ms Gold & Mrs Vickers.
The Cares Family Older Neighbours who replied with wonderfully considered, funny and engaging stories were Carol King, Corinne & Linda in Liverpool, and Carol Vincent, David, Ed, Florence, Peter & Sue in London. The final videos were augmented with Creative Commons images, film footage and sound effects from free source sites unsplash.com, Prelinger Archive and freesound.org.
Many thanks to Mega Becky Vincent and the team at People United for commissioning the project, and thanks to Shula Hawes from The Cares Family and Ms Gold & Mrs Vickers from St. Stephen’s Infant School for helping make it work so well.