When we went into social distancing, and then lockdown, I was due to visit my Mum for Mother’s Day, she lives in a care home 4 hours drive from me. Instead of making the trip on that Sunday I photographed the many rainbows that had sprung up in windows around Bristol.
In the following week news of the situation in care homes became darker and darker.
The rainbows stand for something so hopeful and positive. The support for the NHS will not be lost on my Mum after she spent 40 years in their service.
I wanted to recognise and credit the creators of the rainbows and spread the hope they’d given me to more people. As I worked on the project many of the kids told me that they were making Lego that day, exactly what I used to do with my Mum.
This project is as much about the reflection in the window as it is about what’s behind it and is dedicated to Kate Skipp.
This is Indy, with his rainbow. He drew it with the help of a step ladder. He’s really happy to be spending time with his mum during when he has to be indoors. He’s also a very cool young man who made me my own rainbow, which I’m displaying in my window.
Millie, Sophia & Maddie coloured the bricks all the way across their adjoining houses. It made it look like one home, bringing them together.
“Be HAPPY ALWAYS” Gabe.
(There is no planet B)
“Even though we have the crona virus to deal with, we can still have a smile on our face with a rainbow” Ave.
Huey had just made a Lego space ship that he’s holding, so that we could go up to space. It reminded me that I used to make Lego with my Mum, which I’d leave strewn over the floor.
HOPE. Frank.
George from Rainbow says ‘STAY HOME’ as Freida does exactly that.
Xander. We LOVE YOU BS3!
When Finn found out that somebody wanted to take a photo of him in the window he’d created, he was very excited. He asked if it would be ok if he dressed up as a super hero. I was greeted by... Spider Man.
Ivy & Erin, it took them two days to make their rainbow. For them, home schooling is better than real school but they miss their friends.
Toby & Lara are still going to school because their Mum is a Dr. When I met them after the school day they were really tired because they’d been doing ‘sports’ all day. They lit up when they got to the window. They worry about their Mum working in the NHS.
Theo made his rainbow at school and found the shiny paper in a drawer. Today he’s making a Lego police ship which has 3000 pieces. He once counted up to 1000, he started at breakfast time and it took him until lunch.
“IT’S GOING TO BE OK!”
Remy coloured in Sonic the Hedgehog and Etienne coloured in Knuckles. They’re creating a ‘lockdown journal’ to record what they’re currently living through, and they might put these photos in it too.
NHS / LOVE
Indiana is standing where ‘The Captain’ the spaniel normally sits, he’s had to move. Indiana taught me that the photographer needs to be ready, because she was as soon as her hands hit the window.
Ella and Alix have used their window to celebrate Dad’s birthday and thank the NHS. On my second trip to their house Alix was wearing rainbow gloves, jumper, leggings and sunglasses.
Hopi making Lego in his window.
Athy made his rainbow in two pieces before he put it in the window, Branwen’s rainbow was smaller and might be in a drawer somewhere... Athy was fascinated by my camera and wanted to know how much it would zoom in and out. I described it to him but said I’d have to come back to show him, another time.
Lawton & Teddy
It only took Alice ten minutes to make her rainbow. We had to be very careful and stay well away from eachother because someone in her family is a Dr and was self-isolating.
“It’s been amazing actually meeting so many local people as a result of it. The reaction has been way bigger than I expected! I’m now friends with all the neighbours.” Seb.
