The Launderette residency drop in was an open invitation to all to be curious, share, discover, play and come together to engage with exhibits. An opportunity to trigger memories captured creatively as well as an opportunity to join in activities in the space and create one’s own social connection with others. The Launderette space was curated by a group of women elders who call themselves Washhouse Wimmin – Ros Martin, Silu Pascoe, Mary Phipps, Doreen Baidoo, Pauline Glanville and Savita De Souza. Each woman took charge of a specific areas e.g Mary: exhibition with Ros and Mary in the children’s corner. Doreen: outreach poetry sessions with Malcolm X elders. Ros: creative writing residency. Pauline & Silu: research and local history sessions on launderettes and soap-making.
Adding to the residency space were: Breathing Fire Theatre group, Ruth Pitter and Vanessa Boyaya with physical improvisation, and Alphonse Daudet Touna with our washhouse band.
Thanks to Saliha Clarke for social media service, as well as all those visitors who stepped inside, returned and contributed generously.
group image: The Washhouse Wimmin group photo taken in 2023 at Mshed from L to R front to back Belinda French, Pauline Glanville, Silu Pascoe, Pam Laudat, Doreen Baidoo, Mary Phipps & Gill Greenwood. (minus Savita De Souza)
anyonerememberthewashhouse.org
