MY PLANET
An educational workshop for children where creation and communication are equally important. Each child creates their personal world with elements that can be found in the house, then they explore these worlds in words and stories.
OCEAN SKY
During the pandemic Lilián and Charles played story-telling and writing games with their niece, Mia Gill. She continued writing at school and they put together her poems in a book Cielo de océano (Ocean Sky). The book was featured in Love in the Time of Covid, where you can see the moment she receives the book, and her reading of the poem The Mask.
They have made a film based on her poem The Calm Sea.
PALABRAS PRESTADAS
Based on the Spanish poetry project Palabras Prestadas, which they set up in 2011, parents and children write texts inspired by words chosen by the group. A way to encourage communication and family time.
GIVEN WORDS LABORATORY FOR THE ELDERLY
At the invitation of the psychologist Jacqueline Quintero, Lilián Pallares and Charles Olsen lead a creative writing laboratory with the elderly in the Llar d'Avis Residential Home, Barcelona.
'Although sometimes it doesn’t look like it, we’ve all been children. Lilián and I chose five words that easily lead to memories of childhood, so that each person could explore their own connections. Some of the stories evoked difficult or sad moments of past times in the Spain of their youth, which could be hard to process, nevertheless in the context of listening and sharing each person felt valued and appreciated with the applause from their companions.'
CLUB FOR COFFEE, PLAY & CULTURE
Lilián Pallares led a series of meetings for the elderly in a Club for Coffee, Play & Culture in the Colombian Consulate of Madrid. With songs, stories and writing they reconnected with their roots.
'Seeing how the feelings of homesickness rose to the surface, the love for their country, added to moments of laughter and incredible imagination, made this ‘Club for Coffee, Play & Culture’ a place not only of meeting together but of great friendships.'
Play in the Sun – Workshops
Children, adults, the elderly, we are all creative
During their Juegos al Sol (Play in the Sun) residency at CRA Matadero Madrid in 2020–2021, Lilián and Charles developed workshops with children and their parents, and took part in Madrid – un libro abierto (Madrid – an open book), with painting workshops in primary schools. They have also led workshops with adults and the elderly. These experiences, together with the poetry residency Our Little Roses, have shaped a highly creative and organic approach to their work.