Opening it up

Saying goodbye to the Reno @ The Whitworth which officially ended last Sunday 19-04-20 in Lockdown. Youtube with visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0gO2jOFbsI 

We're joined by Beverley from British Columbia, Canada, and Mike from Ontario, Canada. Boy is Canada on the ball. Pretty impressed with their government. Especially their treatment of addicts. Spain ain't coping so well we learn from Tim. A few new local faces from last week rejoin. We love them. And of course us the staple. The most moving thing many are missing is their grandkids. Youtube where you can put a face to us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwrqDda9RQ0 

Lockdown. Recording on Zoom. Melba has the fab idea to open us up to the Excavating the Reno Facebook Group. 7 join us. That opens up an array of fears, anxieties and coping mechanisms. visual on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfLr1eWSt05clUAbNonydRw

17th of March our Reno exhibition in the Whitworth was forced to close. 20th of March we had a little party in Suzy Mousah's shed: our last podcast 'See you on the other side.'  23rd of March Boris's Lockdown announcement put us into shock.  We're back. Coming to you from Zoom, discussing how Covid-19 lockdown is affecting us: Sabina, John, Karen, Linda, Melba, Carmen, Dionne, and Phil. Be good to hear how it is affecting you. xx Visuals on youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfLr1eWSt05clUAbNonydRw

As the world turns upside down we gather in Suzy's shed to talk, laugh, and enjoy each others company. 

After 18 months of self reflection we drag ourselves out of the shit said about us. As Carmen says "We're like legends" The Reno 12 realise what they've done, what they were, and what they are now. "I can write a book. I will write a book." - Carmen 13.52

Everyone comes out with their artistic aspirations.   

Model, catwalk designer, in care from birth, didn't see black people until he was 5, Polish grandma, Liberian grandad, abandoned mum, psychiatric nurse. "Grandfather died. You were the seed that was on the tree. You were dropped down. And this is your orchard"  - Bill Smart 19:27  

Tenny talks about his life, during, before and after the Royal Marines. And how The Reno at The Whitworth has taken him back to his Moss Side roots and inspired him to dig deeper into his Jamaican/Chinese heritage. 

The Reno 12 reflect on their evolution since preparing for their residency in the Whitworth Art Gallery beginning August 2018, through opening their exhibition March 2019 to now February 2020. Prompting Carmen's epiphany: 'it's from the backgrounds that we came from we're told we're never gonna achieve anything, a parent told me that.' And the groups realisation of just how far they have come and how much they have achieved. Join us tomorrow Valentines day 1 till 4 in the Whitworth to write messages of love to those passed, those living, the Reno, Old Moss Side, and your youth, where we spread the love.