About this Kane FM story
I am an artist, working predominantly with self-portraiture photography and moving image. I had produced a lot of work throughout the pandemic, but it became very isolating after a while and I was eager to find a job that integrated me into the field I wanted to progress in, which is art and fashion.
The kickstart position with Kane FM presented itself to me in a serendipitous way at a job fair. I was whisked away to meet Jenniann and immediately offered the job, starting work for Kane soon after. Jenniann was very warm and genuine in her approach with me, not only an employee but as an individual. She made clear that, although the position was to create content for the radio through the website and social media, she also wanted to help me grow in my chosen field with the kickstart money towards my development.
I was very taken with a certain aspect of the radio, called MindWaves, which is a project run by Jenniann. Jenniann works with young people with learning differences and wellbeing challenges, with the aim to help them build confidence through the medium of electronic music and radio. This project supports young people through some of the most difficult transitions in their lives and helps them to progress into education or employment. I wanted to draw attention to this aspect of the radio, so I pitched the concept of an art exhibition in support of MindWaves, sponsored by Kane FM. The exhibition was called Scream of the Butterfly, held at the New House Art space in Guildford and featured my own work alongside a curated selection of international artists who use their mediums to sublimate personal experience, or reflect that of others, exploring complex psychological states and raising awareness for mental health. Butterflies are often associated with a whimsical beauty, but one rarely considers the brutal process the creature goes through to become that way. Caterpillars retreat into their cocoons and within the darkness begin to digest themselves, a painful act which we do not see. After the metamorphosis, we observe the light and delicate butterfly float off out of the abandoned carcass of its past self.
I felt this was reflective of what a lot of individuals experienced in the pandemic, and how, with the right support, you can turn something dark into the fuel which may propel you into a brighter future. After the exhibition and as my time with Kane was coming to an end, I was offered a job by the New House Art Space as the Gallery curator and Studio manager. I am very grateful to Kane for helping me on my journey.
Lauren Thompson - Guildford