LiveInShawe
LiveInShawe is a community initiative based in Wythenshawe, Manchester, that focuses on providing a platform for local artists and creatives.
The project is part of a collective called "Common Unity," with the primary aim of promoting the art and expression of people in the community.
LiveInShawe is best known for its open-mic events, which feature a wide variety of performances, including music, poetry, and storytelling.
LiveinShawe
At the Liveinshawe open-mic event, I sat in the corner of the venue, with my focus entirely on the emotional heart of the room. The space was filled not with loud music but with the quiet power of spoken word and personal stories. As a live illustrator, my pen moved in sync with the pauses between verses, capturing the rawness of the performances. I wasn't just sketching figures; I was documenting the atmosphere—the intense concentration on the faces in the audience, the vulnerability in a poet’s posture, and the palpable sense of community that hung in the air. My illustrations became a silent tribute to every voice that was heard, a visual record of a community finding strength in sharing its stories.
