IN the first few weeks of the Covid lockdown, as Glasgow navigated an uncertain and unsettling way of life, the first issue of Platform’s newsletter dropped through letterboxes across the north east of the city.

The arts centre, based at The Bridge in Easterhouse, was looking for ways to stay in touch with local people, especially those who had little or no online access.

“Like many other venues, we moved a lot of services online but for many such activity was not possible or not of interest,” explains Platform’s Artistic Director Matt Addicott.

“And so we turned to the post…”

Glasgow Times: Matt Addicott. Pic: Coulson & Tennant.

The centre sent out materials - wool, pens, paper, paints, sketch books – and stamped addressed envelopes, to encourage people to create something at home, and send it in.

“Offering a space for people to share and connect with one another is at the heart of what we do and so the mail art project was an attempt to fill this gap,” says Matt.

“At times my flat felt a bit like a post office with hundreds of envelopes, address labels and stamps everywhere. Although printing, folding and posting was a bit of a slog at times, receiving so many beautiful, creative and inspiring responses in the mail made it more than worth it. The project certainly gave me purpose and hope during the dark months of lockdown.”

Glasgow Times: The exhibition runs until June 18. Pic: EUAN ROBERTSON

Now, a collection of those responses has been curated into an exhibition, Everything Will Be Fine, which will be displayed in Platform until June 18.

The project ran for 18 months and around 250 people, of all ages, took part.

Simmi Saini, who is nine, moved to Glasgow from Uganda with her mum Mary, and two little brothers, five years ago.

“It was fun to share my work with others, and to see what they have created, and if it is like mine or different,” she says. “I drew lots of nature, lots of butterflies. Now the project is over, I am still going to Platform, to drama on a Monday.”

Glasgow Times: Kit with one of her artworks. Pic: EUAN ROBERTSON

Former nurse Kit McKeown drew on her own experience for her artwork, depicting a ‘modern perfect nurse’.

“She has multiple arms and a bionic constitution to deliver the endless exhaustive demands,” says Kit, 81. “I tried to be in touch with the hard times people had to endure during the Covid horror and isolation.”

Glasgow Times: Kit's 'modern perfect nurse'. Pic: Euan Robertson

A fan of Platform’s Art Factory classes, Kit had been disappointed when they moved online during lockdown. The mail art project was a godsend, she says.

“The newsletter always arrived on a Friday – a day marked with excitement and anticipation for a good read,” she smiles. “It heralded a joyful start to the weekend.”

In addition to articles and poems – one inspired by a guided tour of the Eastern Necropolis, others by Confucius and the NHS’s plight during the pandemic – Kit drew beautiful artworks, full of nature, humour, history and poignant comment on everything from modern nursing to war.

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One of her artworks even made it to London’s Southbank Centre, which was also running a mail art project.

“I ended up as a poster girl on display up and down London, Brighton, Manchester and even in a touring exhibition across Europe,” she smiles. “I felt humbled and yet excited. I guess it helped to boost my confidence, as I am no artist.”

Kit admits she was “a wee bit sad” when the newsletter ended after its 25th issue in late 2021.

“The good news is that classes have returned in person,” she smiles.