So the school holidays don’t necessarily mean day to day
sunshine, indeed in these northern valleys just a glimmer of the sun’s rays
causes a flurry of excitement. But the
damp dreary days of a Rochdlian summer couldn’t put a downer on the Art.Works
summer if it tried. And just as well as
there was far too much animated play to be had.
From jumping in and out of character to entertain families
at Touchstones to painting the people of the borough to celebrate a fest of
festivals it’s been an action packed month from start to finish.
To set off the summer I ran art sessions in Rochdale’s
Broadfield Park using nature to inspire some amazing artistic displays which we
exhibited outside for passersby to enjoy.
Families had great fun as we discovered the magical beasties that
inhabit Broadfield Park’s willowy trees and deep dark hedges. Weaving magnificent materials together with
our beautiful branches and wild flowers we created the most enchanting of
creatures to ever crawl the planet.
Throughout the summer I hopped back and forth in time on a time
travellers’ yoyo as I took families on a journey into mysterious myths of
Ancient Egypt. From gruesome green gods
to fantastical adorned pharaohs families were ready and raring to go, delving
into Egypt’s beguiling past.
Jump forward a couple of hundred years and I invited the families of Rochdale to hop on
board the Touchstones Express and chug along train tracks back in time to the
Victorian era. We fantasised about
riding donkeys along beaches, we booed and hissed at the Punch and Judy Show
and we dipped our toes into the fresh waters of that well known holiday hotspot
Hollingworth Lake. Come again?
Why, the Victorian bank holiday Mecca of Hollingworth Lake of course! Back in the day it was a hive of activity,
the leisure line bringing visitors in their hundreds to soak up the atmosphere
of Littleborough’s well loved lake. And
all this without leaving the comfort of an education studio...
And back to the present day Hollingworth Lake played hosted
to yet another Art.Works activity on a rare sunny Sunday. Rolling back my sleeves and squeezing my
sponge I painted more tigers, lions and spider men this side of the Hollywood
skyline, helping raise funds for Friends of Littleborough Station (FOLS). Children were transformed from little angels
to menacing monsters as their faces were painted and their new persona
unleashed, with a little helping hand from yours truly. Luckily those who missed their chance I ran
several sessions for different organisations across the borough throughout the
summer, so, if you did happen to see a tiger prowling down the high street
there’s a good chance I’d seen him too!
So who needs the sun to shine when there’s so much colour
and animation in an Art.Works summer of fun.
If we’d had the heat too this blog would be so sunny, you’d have to read
it wearing your shades!
