The purpose of this blog is to document various stages of this intergenerational art project. I feel honoured to have been invited to run the project alongside SAW and Carymoor. It combines so many important issues - art, education, community interaction, our environment and having fun!
In preparation for the Taster Session, I visited Carymoor to research, gather resources including some wonderful photos taken by in-house photographer, Jules and produced several drawings of wildlife at the Centre. Frances (Chief of the Trust) gave me a grand tour of the nature reserve - developed on an old landfill site - so that I was more informed about their ethos.
10 volunteers participated in our first session on 29th July - aimed at exploring and developing ideas for a site-specific sculpture at Carymoor Environmental Centre.
The project got off to a great start, with some wonderful discoveries and joint creative designs for the final sculpture. Starting with a tour of the site, Julia (Community Conservation Officer) led us through a multitude of butterfly species, iridescent damselflies and a close-up view of a huge wasp spider - magnificently poised on its fine web. Having previously visited the site I was already smitten. The message of Carymoor is quietly resounding - a peaceful haven of rebirth and sustainability.
Following our blissful walkabout, we got down to the business of discussing and designing the artwork that will become a permanent attraction at Carymoor. Mind-mapping led to smaller group discussions, with participants collaborating on ideas and presenting some excellent outcomes. Carymoor staff and I eventually decided on a design by Chrisi, Katie and Debbie representing a dragonfly emerging from its previous life - suggesting old to new, rebirth and the cycle of life - to rise up from the pond at the entrance to the Centre.
Everyone worked so well together and all participants eventually had a chance to make a simple 2-d wire form - to be continued in Workshops on 12/13th August, when the Dragonfly structure will also be available to start work on.
All working busily on individual wire structures at the end
An actual nymph cast and illustrations of dragonfly metamorphosis were the inspiration behind the final design, conceived by Chrisi, Debbie and Katie
Chrisi, Debbie and Katie discussing their ideas for the site-specific sculpture
Smaller group discussions were formed, to come up with ideas for the final site-specific sculpture
Mind-mapping...
Our tour included a look across the vast landfill area
The infamous wasp spider (one of many) - a very popular spider at Carymoor, viewed by hundreds of people!
Intergenerational chat on our walkabout!
