Out Of The Classroom And Into The County!

Just before the summer term drew to a close and classrooms up and down the country spilled out into the summer I took my characters out of the museum to into the community.  From Liverpool to Bolton, Middleton to Milnrow I had every area covered in my mission to mesmerise the people of Lancashire.
Year six pupils from schools across Liverpool took part in the fast paced performance ‘Oh What a Lovely War’.  They were evacuated, boarded a train, entered the dank and dingy atmosphere of the Anderson shelter, and even joined the home front, all without leaving the room.  

The Pupils adored meeting Margret the land girl, but when Mrs Dylan introduced them to local sheep farmer Mr Hingginsbottom, an evacuee host they were less than impressed.  Who wouldn’t want to spend sleepless nights slept on a hay stack at the back of a barn?  Kids, these days, they’ve got it made!  I took on each character making the pupils laugh, jump, cower and ‘pay attention’ in fine 1940s manner, even if all the characters looked peculiarly similar...

Back on the road again, another costume change and another character as I entertained Year Ten pupils taking part in a Further Education residential at Bolton University.  Elegantly dressed and simply eloquently spoken I played the part of Head of Music, wife to the murdered Head teacher at Hassalholf High School.  Cryptically guiding pupils (many a melodramatic hand to forehead and bemoaned sigh) through clues and information I helped them weave their fragments of knowledge together and find the dastardly culprit.  Lots of dramatic outburst, hot gossip and scandalous accusations rebounded through the day, proving just the right amount of entertainment to engage tired teenagers at the end of their four days away.

But it wasn’t just children and young people who took part in the dramatic events of June and July.  One blistering hot Sunday in early July, I polished my boots; I picked up my cane and scowled a sour glower as I went in search of communities to take part in the infamous ‘Miss Grim Victorian Schoolroom Experience’.
Running the session as part of a day of acting and celebration to mark Middleton’s New Heritage Trail  over 80 adults and children in total entered Middleton’s Old Grammar School.  Immediately they were escorted back in time as I ‘taught’ them the rules and practice of a Victorian classroom.  Even the Mayor was quaking in his boots as his idle chatter was met by an instantly silencing stare from Miss Grim.

Apprehension mounted as more ‘inadequate pupils’ failed to meet the  high standards of the classroom, the finger stocks and close proximity of the cane soon put heed to nervous laughter.  But, I’m told fun was to be had by all, and once the real ‘Miss Grim’ (or a far sunnier Cat) emerged at the end of the session the relief was palpable in the room!

So, Art.Works doesn’t just deal with pictures and painting (which I’ve also been doing with schools this term), and the characters may not just be kept closeted away in the classroom.  Be warned readers, next time you attend a heritage open day, the dunce hat might just be one you!

Stories behind the School’s Silks

So does art really offer a therapeutic release? If you came to Brownhill Learning Community last week you may have thought so.

Brownhill is a small specialist school, based across three sites in Rochdale. It works with pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. According to the school’s mission statement Brownhill:

‘Tolerates a wide variety of behaviours (but does not accept them as inevitable and unchangeable)’

And yes, there may have been secure fencing, there may have been aggressive outburst from beyond the art room walls, some disgruntled looks as the lads entered the room. But once inside pupils participated and produced some amazing silk painting.

Last month pupils across each learning site explored themes of UNICEF’s ‘Rights and Responsibilities’, and they animatedly illustrated the conventions. From
dripping clean water taps to secure and safe housing, the charter was brought to life through their considered depictions. I had the daunting task of sieving through the images, selecting pictures to draw onto six delicate silks.

And last week we brought the simple silks to life, they simply bound with colour and texture! Each fragment of the silken canvas’ painted with such care and consideration it makes Michael Angelo look like a cow boy decorator!

So don’t just mar each ‘bad lad’ you see hanging round the street corner with the same brush, he might just be a dedicated artist committed to creating some sensational silks...

An Easter Egg-travaganza in the Park

Easter activities sprang into action on Tuesday when Littleborough Library
played host to an egg-citing afternoon of craft, play and explore.

The kids where queuing around the door as the sun enticed people to Hare Hill
Park. Families and friends were ready and rearing to go, taking part in the
Great Easter Egg Treasure Trail, weaving around the gardens, into daffodils and
through the tulips.

Carefully crafted Easter bonnets where displayed with pride. The judge looked
on with nervous apprehension, as the bonnets became even more elaborate as
the afternoon progressed, the thought of so many expectant eyes desperate to
be crowned best bonnet loomed ever closer...

Children and adults alike delighted in crafting a beautiful Easter bunny or chick
pen topper with Art.Works, fashioning fabulous designs ready to add a little
sparkle to their writing tasks back home. From polka-dotted chickens to patch
work bunnies, the library became littered with more paper pets than there are
lambs in the Littleborough landscape!

The enjoyable afternoon was rounded off as I was given the tricky task to
judge the Easter bonnet competition. As the crafters waited patiently I tip-toed
around the hats noting delicately weaved ribbons, fluffy chicks springing out
of eggs and even a fancy fence following the brow of the bonnet. Competition
was though; the children crossed their fingers while the judge looked for the
nearest emergency exit! Never before have I felt the eyes of of so much nervous
anticipation waiting beyond the windows of the judging room.

But as the winners were announced and the bonnets applauded all had to agree
each and every hat was a fantastic piece of inspiration. And, what with the
treasure trail, the creative craft, the face painting, the quizzes, the prices, the
teas, the coffees, the orange squash everybody trailed out of Hare Hill Park
simply brimming with the joys of spring. What a simply cracking afternoon!

Six Splendid Silks

Splendid! Surely it’s the only way to describe such a sensation week at Holy Trinity Primary School in Littleborough. Nowhere else would you see such super children, such dedicated designers, such enthusiastic artists, such a happy facilitator.

As the sky finally allowed the sun to break through, and bright daffodils crept through thawing ground, I walked to work with a spring in my step, creating six splendid silks with the eager pupils. Having drawn up their designs over half term I enjoyed working with children across the school to create silks which shine brightly with creative care and attention.

Before half term pupils of Holy Trinity designed the beautiful silk banners to illustrate each season of the church’s calendar. From Advent to the Epiphany, Lent to Easter each season was brought to life through the pupils’ animated designs.

Over three days the pupils selected gracious shades to sweep across the silk learning how to blend, mix and merge inks across the delicate silks. Only such avid care and attention could result in such truly inspiring banners which illustrate the liturgical calendar.

Kean to enhance the intricate banners I then enjoyed sewing the silks onto backing material ready to hang in time for the next church celebration, Lent.

And the only downside of the project? Handing back the beautiful banners to the school! Thanks to all the gifted children who took part, their church service will shine all year round.

Have a Hammer over Half Term

So, half term, a time for sitting back, reflecting, watching the rain drum against the window pane?  Excuse me!  I don’t think so, and nor do the participants in Art.Works half term fun packed arts sessions either I’ll have you know!

I’m pleased to announce last Monday saw the members of St Andrew’s Parish, Dearnly brave the weather and come crashing into the church corridors, quite literally!  Over 30 members took part in a mass mosaic making workshop.  While some may think the church is a place for quiet contemplation and solitude the parishioners made the walls reverberate with their laughter, their industrious tile cutting and constant tea and coffee supplying.  Where else could you find a sixty year old grandmother brandishing a hammer (and safety spectacles I might add) on one side of the room, and a teenage Grandchild dutifully brewing up on the other?

We had an amazing amount of fun, as young guided the old and old chastised the older in a bid to create one cracking mosaic.  We may not have finished the board quite yet, but I for one am looking forward to another session, safe in the knowledge that I’ll receive a delicious slice of homemade cake to keep the energetic activity, and enjoyable chitter chatter,  flowing.

And that’s not all!  Thursday saw the creation of over 25 hand printed bags and T shirts as Art.Works delivered a printing workshop for Woodland’s Primary Half term activity programme.  It didn’t take long for the inventive youngsters to scribble down their ideas to create some sensation prints.

From t shirts splashed with puppy dog paws to bags which flaunted oceanic scenes in the sea, children created a great diversity of designs that would make even the buyers of Topshop squirm with envy! 

So, all this, and drawing up the designs for six lectern silk paintings recently commission for Art.Works, half term may not be a holiday, but for Art.Works it’s always brimming with fun!

Starting the Year with a Bang!

And a crash, and a whollop! Yes, all those who are keen followers of the blog will know I’m talking about mosaic making, full steam ahead!

It’s been over a year in the planning, but thanks to the dogged determination of Friends of Littleborough station’s (FOLS) Stuart Carmichael, the biggest mosaic to date is making all the right  noises along the Calder Line.

Back in 2009 FOLS approached Art.Works to make a mosaic, brightening up the platform for Littleborough’s train travellers.  Together we approached various funding bodies, and thanks to Stuart’s persuasive persistence funding came through thanks to the Yorkshire bank, STEAM and the Pennines Township.  Then the fun could really begin.

During the Autumn term local schools and community groups scribbled down their Milltown memories, all hoping to be included in the mosaic’s final design.  From canal barges chugging along the Rochdale canal to Sladen mill, one of the final factories of LIttleborough.  From quaking ducks to the village’s viaduct arches, the budding artist were keen no local landmarks would be left on the slag heap.  And the result?  It’s chugging along nicely thank you very much.

During January pupils from Alice Ingham, Holy Trinity and St Andrew’s Primary Schools have crashed and smashed tiles, they’ve meticulously fitted them together again to create a beautiful platform picture.  Their carefully produced masterpiece is guaranteed to  cheer any  bleary eyed Monday morning commuters.
But it’s not over yet!  

Art.Works is pleased to be running the final mosaic making session over half term with people just like you!  Art.Works and FOLS want locals to come together and make their mark.  

We will be running a community mosaic making session on Monday 21st February from 10am at St Andrew’s Church Hall,. Arm Road, Dearnley OL15 8NJ.  So why not come along to set your tile, make sure that next time the train’s delayed you’ll be proudly standing on the platform admiring your perfect picture.

For more information about the mosaic making session on Monday  21st February contact Cat Jessop: art.works.coop@gmail.com

Mobile: 07816168981

Festive Felting Fun.

Stuck for a last minute Christmas gift for creative kids? Always fancied felting but not managed to attend one of our workshops? Never fear, Art.Works is here. Like a little Christmas elf swaddled in a woolly jumper and tinsel (and that’s just to keep out the cold!) I’ve been busy creating the perfect crafting kits for creative kids and adults alike.

Art.Works’ ‘Funky Felt Making Kits’ are a great introduction to felting and inspire an imaginative afternoon willed with fabric, soap suds and more giggles than the jokes in your crimbo cracker (guaranteed!).
Felting is an ecological art form, mixing fibres to form shapes and pictures. It’s a hands on process which, with a little elbow grease, compresses material together, transforming a wool fibre into a trendy fashion accessory.
Each kit contains a full colour step by step instruction booklet and all the resources needed to make a beautiful button broach. All you need to provide is a mat, a flat surface and a twinkle of energy.

Kits cost just £10 (plus postage and packaging) each and are available to mail order. To make sure you receive your ‘Funky Felt Making Kit’ before Christmas place your order by Friday 19th December. Just drop me a line either via email: art.works.coop@gmail.com or phone: Cat Jessop: 07816168981 and I’ll wrap up your kit with a dusting of festive cheer, chuffed with the knowledge that someone somewhere will be making a masterpiece this Christmas.

Alternatively kits are available to buy from the following stockists:

Gallery Ten, Rochdale
Pumpkins Interiors, Littleborough
The Crooked House, Littleborough
Touchstones Arts and Heritage Gallery, Rochdale