Explore Lifelong Learning blog

'A Process' - A Film by Fabiola Lambert

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:56:19 GMT

A short documentary film about the Explore Practical Art & Craft Group

In the Autumn of 2024, a young film maker approached Explore about making a documentary film. With a specific interest in our Practical Art Group and with an observational (rather than marketing) approach, we were immediately intrigued and excited - reassured by her creativity, professionalism and dedication we welcomed Fabiola and her camera, and there the story began....

Our Practical Art & Craft Studio group are a regular part of our programme, with a unique format combining tutor-led and group-led sessions. Each series begins with instruction and inspiration around a particular theme, movement or artist, taught by artist and educator Jenny Alderson at the Hatton Gallery. The group then continue to work on their individual pieces and projects, within a supportive group environment, before gathering again with Jenny to discuss their work in a constructive group crit. The group welcomes all Explore members and can incorporate all levels of experience; professional and trained artists, those who have enjoyed art as a hobby or those who haven't picked up a paintbrush since leaving school.

Filmed over a typical five-week series, Fabiola has captured the love of learning so valued at Explore; the grappling with and sharing of ideas, the quiet reflection and contemplation, the self-determination and camaraderie of independent artistic communities such as ours.

Please enjoy Fabiola's film via the link below and learn more about the process behind A Process, through the words of the film maker and the group itself.

A Process - A Film by Fabiola Lambert

Fabiola Lambert - Film Maker
'This film observes the value and intricacy of ‘a process’ and explores 'the journey' every process must undertake to get from beginning to end. A Process reveals how, as individuals/groups, we discover, share and develop new levels of self -awareness via the journeys and experiences we undertake.

The observation follows the group members for five weeks. Through participants’ creative endeavours, the sessions develop into the journey of what a process entails. Session 1, Jenny introduces the group to themes of composition and inspiration from relevant artists. Sessions 2, 3 and 4 are group only and we see members experiment and create their own artwork. Session 5 marks the end and Jenny re-joins; she leads a critique and reflection on the finished pieces members have created. This represents a completed process. It makes an inspirational observation, capturing how the journey of both group and individuals creates art from start to finish and shows how, during the process, communication, self-reflection and relationships develop between members.

Observational Cinema pioneered a new approach for documentary presentation. Anthropology sparked a turning point as Paul Henley explains, ‘’philosophical and aesthetic ideas about nature of cinema, first led to the emergence over the late 1960s and early 1970s of the approach to ethnographic filmmaking, eventually known as Observational Cinema’’ (2018, p.193).

Being a young filmmaker, still with lots to learn, this film has consciously made me feel a more empathetic observer. Being the director, it was important I always held in mind how to carefully represent each shot of chosen imagery, and soundscape. The relationship between the story and images, and how they correspond together, is fundamental. Being conscious about ethical considerations in documentary filmmaking is another factor directors must acknowledge.

I was able to maintain my initial aims of filming this project via all handheld camerawork, and showcasing five clear sequences to represent a process and journey from start to end within art making. Therefore, I learnt that composing a successful observational film, will involve the filmmaker being consciously empathetic. As well as showing great awareness of the people involved in the project, and diagnosing all filming scenes afterwards in the post production stage.

It has been a real honour to work alongside the Explore Arts and Craft Group, and to have the amazing support of Nancy, who has been working with me behind the scenes in organising this project.'

Margaret Adams - Explore Member and Artist

'Fabiola came to our group to make a film of our art group as we worked. On the first session she sat to one side and listened whilst Jenny introduced our new project. Jenny introduced Fabiola who immediately put us at ease with her gentle manner and friendly smile as she explained her approach and reassured us that anything we weren’t happy with would not be included.

Over the next few weeks Fabiola quietly set up her camera and captured moments of us arriving, working, chatting and sharing moments looking at each other’s work; supporting each other. Her approach meant often we forgot she was there and the resulting film was a beautiful, sensitive record of our art group.

Fabiola is moving on to progress in her film making career, but we will always remember her fondly and have hope that the friendship we made can continue.'

With special thanks to Fabiola Lambert, Jenny Alderson and all our Explore Art & Craft Studio members; for all their work, both as part of this film and always.

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