Exhibition Explores ‘Ongoingness’

This National Grief Awareness Week (2nd–8th December), we are shining a light on our collaboration with Professor Jayne Wallace through a special exhibition at the hospice.

St Oswald’s Hospice has worked closely with Professor Jayne Wallace, Professor of Craft and Wellbeing and Head of Research and Innovation in the School of Design at Northumbria University, on several projects exploring ongoingness.

“Ongoingness” supports people in maintaining continuing bonds either in anticipation of or after a loved one has died.

As part of her research into ongoingness, Jayne has led several workshops at the hospice for adults and children receiving Bereavement Support. She invited participants to two sessions to decorate clay tiles in ways that expressed their bereavement journeys.

Jayne explained:

“Making a tile is ideal for anyone because it’s not too overwhelming. It’s a relatively small square, but you can do a lot with it. I don’t tell people what to do or what to add, but slowly, they start to think about their grief and begin to add things that are meaningful to them.”

Some participants decorated their tiles with messages and symbols to honor their loved ones, while others used powerful metaphors, such as boulders representing their grief.

Jayne added:

“The workshops also helped people think about what their loved ones would say to them about the things happening in their lives now.”

Feedback from participants has been very positive.

Dorothy shared:

“I didn’t know what to do at first and just sat there for 30 minutes. But then I started thinking about holidays with my husband where he would hold my hand. I began making a hand for my tile and added a wedding ring. I loved it because it represented our everlasting love. Afterwards, I felt even more connected to Paul, which I didn’t think was possible.”

Elaine said:

“Going to the workshop was a big step for me. Being in a group situation was not something I felt comfortable with, but the fact we were concentrating on our tiles helped to make things easier for me. I felt communication was easier as we had a common task. By the end of the first session, I can honestly say I was glad I had gone and I felt that I had benefited from being there.”

Brenda, our Bereavement Support Co-ordinator, added:

“Having something creative to work on really helped people express how they feel—not only by making something so personal but also by talking and sharing with others in the workshops.”

After the exhibition, which helps us understand the emotions people go through when a loved one dies, the tiles will be gifted to the participants.

In addition to the tile workshops with adults and children receiving Bereavement Support, Jayne has collaborated with our Adult Inpatient Service to create silver rings for family members, incorporating personal messages of love and connection.