This page details some of the projects and workshops I have been part of as well as the exciting upcoming opportunites I have to look forward to:
*2012*
January has been a busy month so far with plans for Hazlehurst Craft Studios now very much underway. We have all been feverishly working on applications for arts funding, it's a long process but we all have our fingers crossed for a positive outcome. I should probably tell you who "we" are, Hazlehurst is currently made up of four artists; Carys-Anne Hughes, Cathy Rounthwaite, Maria Tarn and Myself. We are working together to establish an affordable, collective space for artists in Halton as well as offer creative workshops for the local community. It's been really exciting so far and we haven't even got to the good bits of moving in and creating work in our new space. We have secured our premises in Runcorn, Halton a delightful building in much need of some care and attention, but with a beautiful historic feel. We have a Twitter page now (@HazlehurstCraft), so its best to visit there for regular updates and we hope to have our website up and running soon. Besides this, I had my first morning back with the Years Ahead Craft group, and it was lovely to be back and stitching with the ladies once more (see latest blogpost for images on their wonderful stitched creations.) I have also managed to find myself two part-time jobs working at Halton Lea library and the Brindley Arts centre, so all in all it's about to get a lot more busy, but I'm definitely not complaining. Happy 2012 everyone!
*Bad Blogger*
It has certainly been quite some time since I last picked up my electronic paper and pen. Nevertheless, during this impromptu absence and with autumn just around the corner I am very pleased to say that I will now be running my very own weekly craft workshops at the Women's centre. I will also be leading sessions with the arts group Year's Ahead, along with two other very talented artists and have recently been told that a piece of my work has been selected to appear in this years Warrington Open exhibition. Myself and fellow artist Carys Hughes are also well underway with our work for the Hazlehurst Studios (but I will tell you more about that at a later date.) It's going to be a busy couple of months and a lot of hard work, but this said I can't help thinking... It's nice when things come together.
*Badges at Braythorne*
This Saturday I will be running a small bee badge making workshop for children and adults at The Honey House in Otley. For details on visiting The Honey House be sure to have a peek at their website: http://www.braythornebees.com/
*Urban Canvas - 27th, 28th and 30th June 2011 *
Currently working on a 3-day collaboration with Urban Canvas to produce some wonderful pieces of street art with local primary schools in Widnes - Blog posts and pictures to follow shortly.
Creative Runcorn, Treaure Hunt with Beth Barlow and Jason Sheppard, June 2011
Working alongside artists Beth Barlow and Jason Sheppard, we helped a vibrant class of year 6 children to create some wonderful 3-dimensional pieces out of found objects in Runcorn. The completed structures are to be used to embellish a working robot which will explore empty shops in and around Runcorn town centre. The workshop took place inside a disused garge which added to the experience of working with a selection of fascinating bits and pieces. It was a wonderful day and the children seemed to really benefit from the hands on activities. It was interesting to note how an abandoned object had been given an entirely new and creative purpose. Below are a very small selection of the beautiful pieces created from what others may have initially overlooked!
*Treasure Hunt*
I am working alongside artists Beth Barlow and Jason Sheppard this coming Friday (17.06.11) on a treasure hunt as part of Creative Runcorn. Have a look at their collective page: http://workingtitleuk.ning.com/
*2012*
January has been a busy month so far with plans for Hazlehurst Craft Studios now very much underway. We have all been feverishly working on applications for arts funding, it's a long process but we all have our fingers crossed for a positive outcome. I should probably tell you who "we" are, Hazlehurst is currently made up of four artists; Carys-Anne Hughes, Cathy Rounthwaite, Maria Tarn and Myself. We are working together to establish an affordable, collective space for artists in Halton as well as offer creative workshops for the local community. It's been really exciting so far and we haven't even got to the good bits of moving in and creating work in our new space. We have secured our premises in Runcorn, Halton a delightful building in much need of some care and attention, but with a beautiful historic feel. We have a Twitter page now (@HazlehurstCraft), so its best to visit there for regular updates and we hope to have our website up and running soon. Besides this, I had my first morning back with the Years Ahead Craft group, and it was lovely to be back and stitching with the ladies once more (see latest blogpost for images on their wonderful stitched creations.) I have also managed to find myself two part-time jobs working at Halton Lea library and the Brindley Arts centre, so all in all it's about to get a lot more busy, but I'm definitely not complaining. Happy 2012 everyone!
*Bad Blogger*
It has certainly been quite some time since I last picked up my electronic paper and pen. Nevertheless, during this impromptu absence and with autumn just around the corner I am very pleased to say that I will now be running my very own weekly craft workshops at the Women's centre. I will also be leading sessions with the arts group Year's Ahead, along with two other very talented artists and have recently been told that a piece of my work has been selected to appear in this years Warrington Open exhibition. Myself and fellow artist Carys Hughes are also well underway with our work for the Hazlehurst Studios (but I will tell you more about that at a later date.) It's going to be a busy couple of months and a lot of hard work, but this said I can't help thinking... It's nice when things come together.
*Badges at Braythorne*
This Saturday I will be running a small bee badge making workshop for children and adults at The Honey House in Otley. For details on visiting The Honey House be sure to have a peek at their website: http://www.braythornebees.com/
*Searching, Applying and Hoping*
I have been and still am in the process of applying for lots of things, some creative and some not so much. I am hoping that with persistance and time I might finally begin to get to where I want to be. I will keep you posted if anything remotely exciting comes of it all. On a positive note to end with though, work from Mark Makers will be going on display throughout August in the display cabinet at The Brindley, Runcorn. An assortment of wonderful pieces will be showcased from some of the lovely artists at Mark Makers.*Urban Canvas - 27th, 28th and 30th June 2011 *
Currently working on a 3-day collaboration with Urban Canvas to produce some wonderful pieces of street art with local primary schools in Widnes - Blog posts and pictures to follow shortly.
Creative Runcorn, Treaure Hunt with Beth Barlow and Jason Sheppard, June 2011
Working alongside artists Beth Barlow and Jason Sheppard, we helped a vibrant class of year 6 children to create some wonderful 3-dimensional pieces out of found objects in Runcorn. The completed structures are to be used to embellish a working robot which will explore empty shops in and around Runcorn town centre. The workshop took place inside a disused garge which added to the experience of working with a selection of fascinating bits and pieces. It was a wonderful day and the children seemed to really benefit from the hands on activities. It was interesting to note how an abandoned object had been given an entirely new and creative purpose. Below are a very small selection of the beautiful pieces created from what others may have initially overlooked!
*Treasure Hunt*
I am working alongside artists Beth Barlow and Jason Sheppard this coming Friday (17.06.11) on a treasure hunt as part of Creative Runcorn. Have a look at their collective page: http://workingtitleuk.ning.com/
*Exciting News*
I was kindly awarded the 'Non-painting' prize this Friday at the Brindley as part of the 7th Halton Open Exhibition. It was a lovely evening and to receive the recognition I did for my work, well that was simply wonderful. I am hoping to put the money I was presented with towards some new art supplies. Happy times.
* Upcoming Exhibition *
7th Halton Open at the Brindley, Runcorn will feature a piece of my embroidered work. Follow this link for further information: http://www2.halton.gov.uk/thebrindley/content/whatson/exhibitions/
Previous Projects:
Creative Runcorn, shadowing artist Carys-Anne Hughes, April 2011
Working alongside Carys Hughes we engaged with members of the local community to run a series of
workshops which sought to challenge individual perceptions on knitting and craft. As part of the project we visited one of the local schools to deliver a finger knitting project and even spent a morning on the bus knitting. The project culminated in a huge display of knitted panels across the bus station in Runcorn Old town allowing art to become more accessible to the public and to brighten up an area of Runcorn.
The below photographs highlight some of the knitted pieces that were on display. All the panels were created by locals within the Runcorn community.
The Bluecoat Gallery, (Volunteering) Liverpool, June 2010 - June 2011
I regularly volunteer with Explore; a family based art group that has been developed in response to the current exhibition programme at the Bluecoat. In this role I am relied upon to engage and guide children, devising new and exciting ways to approach the activities. Undertaking this role has been highly fulfilling and has allowed me to have fun, be creative and form new friendships.
'Say It With' at Manchester Art Gallery, December 2009 - April 2010
Volunteering with Manchester Art Gallery and START Manchester on a 16-week project. Working closely alongside adults who have experienced mental health problems, the focus of these weekly sessions were to use specifically designed workshops to generate a sense of well-being through the medium of art. As a key member within the team I was expected to work independently as well as with others to assist individuals in various written and art based tasks. The role also incorporated preparatory research towards the planning and devising of tasks that were designed around the current exhibition at MAG.
'Hulme Sweet Hulme' with Lynn Setterington, May - June 2009
Assisted artist Lynn Setterington on a community-based project in Hulme, working with groups of primary
school children to produce a range of mixed-media pieces for an exhibition on maps at the Zion Arts centre.
Pendine Park Care Home - assistant arts co-ordinator, July 2006
Working in a supervisory position, I engaged with the residents of Pendine Park over a two-week period and assisted them with simple art tasks.
DMK Arts Service, frequent occasions during the period September 2001 - June 2003
Working alongside artist Dorothy Kenworthy I engaged with children of different ages and artistic abilities in
schools across the North-West. I assisted with preparation of art materials as well as one to one and group
based tuition of art/textile workshops.
'The Big Draw' - Gallery Oldham, October 2008
'The 62 Group' - Assisted with the preparation and handling of work for the selection committee as part of the exhibition 'At a Tangent' at Gallery Oldham, November 2010
