On Friday 27th September, 6 - 9pm at Wolverhampton Art Gallery a special guest attended in support of the local community.
Each month there is an event called "Friday Lates" in the Georgian Room where the Wolverhampton Art Gallery is "taken over" by a community group. This month, to celebrate Recovery Month, it was the turn of the Good Shepherd, whose mission is ending homelessness, supporting recovery and creating pathways out of poverty.
The Good Shepherd have been collaborating in an Arts Council England funded project with SUIT, Recovery Near You, Wolverhampton 360 and the University of Wolverhampton over 9 months with artists and poets. The event was one of hands on workshops, live paintings by Matt the Artist, music, a documentary film screening and spoken word performances.
Ian Henery was one of the poets and had been involved with the workshops that had been held at the Newhampton Arts Centre.
Surprise guest was Robert Plant, former frontman of legendary rock band Led Zepplin.
"He just walked into the gallery and everyone was acting normal" said Ian Henery. "Robert Plant is a remarkably humble man who expressed genuine interest in the artists, poets and community volunteers that made the event so special last night.
I wanted to do more than shake his hand and say "thank you for the music and the soundtrack of my life" so I recited this poem to him - a found poem composed of song titles of Led Zepplin songs.
And he laughed.
I made Robert Plant laugh".
Led Zepplin Poem
(found poem)
In the evening
Song remains the same.
When the levee breaks,
Stairway to Heaven -
Kashmir -
Whole lotta love.
Ian Henery
