Every year, 1 – 7 June is Volunteers’ Week – a celebration of the contribution that volunteers make across the UK. At Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums (AAGM), we want to give our volunteers more than just a week so over the month of June we will be regularly sharing blogs written by some of our volunteers highlighting some of the incredible work that they do!
Our next guest blog is by Alan Johnstone, creator of the Aberdeen Memories Gazette and co-lead volunteer of AAGM’s Our Aberdeen programme.
When I was asked to write an article on my volunteering experience with AAGM to mark Volunteers’ Week 2023, I reflected on what has been achieved specifically in the past year and how much I enjoy my role and my involvement with Our Aberdeen.
Our Aberdeen is a monthly meet up that takes place at Aberdeen Art Gallery. These relaxed dementia-friendly sessions bring people together to share stories and enjoy being part of a community. Staff and volunteers will show artworks and objects from the collection inspired by a selected theme, and then we have the opportunity to share our own stories and memories related to these themes. Recent sessions include Step into Spring, Aberdeen Harbour and Sport & Games.
As someone with only a passing interest in art prior to retirement, who now spends much of my time applying reminiscence therapy to support our local communities, I continue to learn something new every time we run an activity and when I listen to peoples’ personal memories.
I like to select an artwork and carry out some personal research on it, such as this painting of a flower-seller called Kitty of Frying Pan Alley by Sir Oswald Birley, currently on display in Gallery 14 – Art of Empowerment. I uncovered information about flower-selling as a profession, the artist’s background, the location of Frying Pan Alley and why it was so-called, where the painting has previously been displayed, the donor and even a distant connection to Princess Diana! All this enabled me to inform a fascinating exchange of views within the group who attended that day.
Sometimes a group will pause by an artwork which we hadn’t selected for the session but catches their eye. A good example is Match Head - Dartboard by David Mach on display in Gallery 18 – People & Portraits. The head is constructed of matchsticks, bound together with wire from a genuine dartboard. The matches were bound together by setting fire to them and the placing of the darts was done in the Art Gallery when the artist threw them at the head. This display really divided opinions - some liked it, some hated it, some thought it is gruesome, we debated what may have prompted the artist to create it. Suddenly we had a group who were largely strangers before the session chatting away and exchanging views in a relaxed manner.
An element of humour never goes amiss as I found when I introduced a group to a Spider Necklace by Colleen Thompson, currently on display in Gallery 8 – Adorning, and asked the ladies whether they would wear it. Reactions ranged from “not if you paid me” to “oh yes, very classy”. The conversation turned to which other animals, insects, fish you would wear as a piece of jewellery and to spiders in general – what do you do when you find a spider in the bath?
There are many opportunities to get involved as a volunteer with AAGM. Over the past year I have also assisted at two Aberdeen Treasure Hub Open Days and arranged for visits from other organisations such as Alzheimer Scotland to the Art Gallery and Maritime Museum.
I am made to feel very much part of a team, who value my contribution. My role is continually being reshaped and developed, with the hot-off-the-press news being the introduction of a Football Memories programme based at the Art Gallery from July. I look forward to continuing in this very fulfilling and rewarding role for quite some time ahead!
Are you interested in getting involved? Check out our Volunteering and Placements page, or contact us to be kept up to date with our latest volunteer opportunities.
The Aberdeen Memories Gazette is a bi-weekly online newsletter highlighting both social and sporting memories, along with a quiz and word search. Contact Alan by emailing ajj1954@hotmail.co.uk to sign up to the Memories Gazette mailing list.
