One Day At A Time Boys Posted On 5th December 2023 To Magazine & Stories

Sharing Our Experience

One Day At A Time Boys is an arts project that has run for the past 3 years in Damien John Kelly House (DJK), a recovery community for men based in Liverpool 15. Offering a program of support based in the arts, sport and culture. We celebrate our community, explore individuality whilst documenting our personal growth and shared experience. Applying recovery values of willingness, honesty, and open mindedness within a creative setting. Marrying up the transferable benefits and lessons creativity brings and teaches us about ourselves and our recovery.

©Mike

Creative Mediums

We cover a range of creative mediums however photography is at its heart of what we do. The project started with photography and its presence is felt daily. As 17 men share their experience of life visually through our group chat. We meet every Thursday for the art group. It is here where space is created for residents to take a deeper dive into art, photography and collaboration.

The First Significant Purchase

Over the years I've been successful in some funding opportunities ensuring that each resident has their own camera. The camera we use for the most part is a Canon EOS 300, this is the first camera I got given by my Mum for christmas so its homage to her really that I chose this to start other peoples photography journey. The camera itself is perfect for learning on and I couldn't recommend it more; it is super accessible with the automatic functions it offers. It also allows for exploration into more technical shooting if residents take photography up as a new interest and hobby. A Lot of the lads who have taken to photography often progress to digital cameras for their own personal use and continued documentation of all things DJK . Often being the first significant purchase of their recovery.

Jolted Back In Time

Film photography stays at the heart of what we do. There are a number of transferable lessons that come with shooting on film that can apply as lessons in recovery. The first being the amount of time that passes between taking the photos and being able to view them. This period of time between taking and seeing the photograph allows for conversation, reflection and when framed within the context of a recovery community. What the individual feels has changed in themselves in between. How, due to this gap we are invited to briefly revisit the moment we captured the image. Jolted back in time to view not only the photo taken but ourselves. Embracing the mistakes as learning along the way.

©Ben

Anything's Possible

Having received the community grant from ILFORD it’s allowed a freedom for the lads to shoot without restriction, to make mistakes and not to have to worry about what it will be. We operate from a place of there being no good or bad in expression just that we express. And that's exactly what we have been doing. We develop, scan and bulk roll all our own film in house, making it as cost effective a process as possible. Allowing for participation in every stage in the photographic process bar having a darkroom. Which one day may become reality. To think that when we started I'd be writing a blog for ILFORD I wouldn't have believed it! Anything's possible.

A Solid Creative Culture

The whole project's aim is to allow a space where creativity can be accessed and be stepped into. My role as the facilitator of this space is to allow the lads to lead in their own interests. For the whole thing to be a collaborative effort. To create a solid creative culture that exists in my absence. For the residents. By the residents. Photography and art are for us all. For a long time I believed the opposite. How wrong I was. To give voice to the residents who make the project what it is, here's what a few of the men from Damien John Kelly House have to say for themselves.

©Jonny

Inspirational Quotes From DJK House Members

Mark

“Photography is something I’ve always been into, but due to addiction I obviously never went forward with it. Since moving into DJK and getting my own camera, I’ve found myself taking shots of whatever stands out for me. We do a weekly art group at DJK, which at the start I was asking myself “What am I doing here” … after sticking it out, I’ve noticed I really enjoy it and the fact we all do it together as a group makes it even more better. The ideas we come up with as a group blow me away, and we all get stuck in which is important, we all play a part.” Mark

John

“Art group gives me an outlet for my creative thinking which I have spent most of my life putting to one side. It is an open minded environment which encourages everyone to ‘just give it a go’ without fear of ridicule over what you want to say or do. Nobody’s ideas are ever dismissed.” John

©John

Jonny

“Over the last year, getting stuck into our art classes has really opened my eyes and mind. The group dynamic of men in recovery, who have previously lived in madness and the chaos of addiction, now finding beauty in art and photography. Sharing ideas and experiences, turning these into art blows my mind every session. I’m now finding myself writing, sketching and taking photographs documenting my life and journey. I’m really grateful for the opportunity and believe it has changed the way I view the world.” Jonny

©Johno

Neil

“Art has allowed me to connect with myself in an unprecedented way. Seeing the world through a lens has broadened my horizons. Who’d of thought expressing myself in the Arts would satisfy that hole in the soul that absolutely nothing could fill.” Neil

©Liam

Wesley

“Our weekly art / photography group with Sam has changed how I feel about art. Sharing ideas, walking through the city, taking photographs and discussing perceptions and techniques has allowed me to feel a part of a community and help build my self confidence.” Wesley

Kai

“When doing art/drawing and taking photos it gives me a sense of ease and comfort in a peaceful way along with a fun enjoyable element.” Kai

©Mark

Jim

“Sam creates with his art group a comfortable place where being good isn’t important but taking part and just saying yes is!. What comes out of it, is pieces of creative work we didn’t know we were capable of, or had forgotten how to try. Thanks Sam x” Jim

A Look at a new perspective

'In this body of work, A Look At A New Perspective, the lads have responded by selecting images and writing on the role photography has in their community, what it means to individuals and how it helps to tell their story.

Photography can be a tool for building trust, creating comfort and challenging discomfort. It can bring about a sense of agency and pride. A Look At A New Perspective is precisely that. Encapsulating what we do in art and in our recovery: we take a look, step into unfamiliarity, get out of our comfort zone, and every time we do, our comfort zone gets bigger. We learn together, celebrate together, love together, create together and recover together.

Art saves, it allows new passions to develop, it binds the community and helps form a solid sense of culture. One Day At A Time Boys invite you to take a look, too. '

https://openeye.org.uk/whatson/a-look-at-a-new-perspective/

Here is a link for book -  https://sambatley.bigcartel.com/

Thank you once again from me and the lads to everyone who voted for us, shares and supports the project.