Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Name: Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Location: Birmingham

Created by: Sally Chinea

We need to be more grateful than ever to all key workers. During these unprecedented times we are asked to stay at home in order to keep ourselves and loved ones safe while keyworkers continue to work harder than ever to keep us all fed, connected and safe. Heroes are not those who fly in the sky or wear capes, but the ones who are by our side in difficult times. We are all in this together, and together we can beat this.

Sally’s artistic practice explores boundaries and preconceptions, in particular the distinctions between craft, fine art and gender stereotyping. She enjoys using craft practices, particularly the ones that are traditionally associated with women and domesticity, to create contemporary art, with a love for site specific creation. She also works with communities and within the education system, running workshops and art projects using creative ideas based on repurposed, recycled, reused, reclaimed, upcycled art.

Ocado is the world’s largest online grocery retailer, stocking over 40,000 products and the only place you can buy M&S Food online. Whether you’re looking for well-loved household brands, great-value Ocado Own Label, organic ingredients, or home and lifestyle items – there’s an Ocado just for you, all delivered by their friendly drivers in handy 1-hour slots. Ocado is committed to sustainability and have the lowest food wastage of any other British grocer at just 0.04%.

These are the things

by Anonymous

2:44 | Read By John Thomson

Wild in Art invited people from across the UK to submit real-life stories and poems about key workers for a chance to be included in the Gratitude installation. Visitors to the installation can listen to stories and poems from adults and children, that pay tribute to all key workers, from doctors on the front-line to shopkeepers and delivery drivers, carers and teachers, via the Gratitude App and via the Gratitude website. The stories have been recorded by a host of well-known voices, to help us tell the story of this unprecedented time.

Transcript

Hi, This is John Thomson and I will be reading a story for Gratitude, a wonderful public art installation, which commemorates and celebrates the stories of this extraordinary moment in time and pays tribute to all of our key workers from across the country.

Hi, This is John Thomson and I will be reading a story for Gratitude, a wonderful public art installation, which commemorates and celebrates the stories of this extraordinary moment in time and pays tribute to all of our key workers from across the country.

The pandemic highlighted every day acts of heroism in surprising places, and this poem recognises one group of people that we all came to rely on in lockdown: the supermarket delivery drivers along with all the people working behind the scenes, who kept the essentials coming so that the rest of us could stay safe and indoors.

The Poem

‘These are the things’

A wise woman once said, “There are more important things in life than delivering asparagus and bread”. Until suddenly there wasn’t.

2020, what an experience – everything turned upside down,
No pasta or flour, not a square of loo paper all over town!

Sitting rooms, bedrooms and hallways became workspace,
At times, the kitchen was the only safe place.

So much banana bread –“Fancy a slice?”
(Well, share a desk with a partner and it pays to be nice!)

When you’re stuck at home, having a full fridge makes it easier.
Our dinners became bigger, sweeter and cheesier.

So drivers like Cheryl, Mario, newbie Sean, heroic Wayne, Delivering in lockdown – sun, sleet, snow and rain
And on Easter Sunday for the first time ever
Done with a smile, in it together!

The Contact Centre, the voice of us all,
Standing tall and answering the call,
Drivers Marcus and Chris helped a local homeless shelter,
The whole team played an absolute belter!

At 8pm on Thursdays, passing people at their door
Clapping, banging and cheering for those giving so much more –

These are things that got us through those long days morning ‘til bed, Grateful to play a part with all who helped, to keep the people we love, safe and fed.

Ocado is proud to support Gratitude and honour all delivery drivers and distribution workers. 2020 was a big year for its ‘You Give, We Give’ charity voucher scheme, with your generosity enabling over £8 million to be donated to charities tackling food poverty across the UK. Since January 2021, ‘You Give, We Give’ has raised over £3m, which continues to help and support its charity partners.

Thank you for listening to this story. For more stories and information on Gratitude, please visit: www.thisisgratitude.co.uk

Read full transcript

This Is Gratitude Art Trail