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I’ve had a long but fun day working in my local Arndale shopping centre working with shoppers to help re-create a painting by L.S. Lowry!

In the shopping centre entrance, we set up easels, mini canvases and acrylic paints and invited people to have a go at painting sections of ‘Coming from the Mill’ by Lowry. There were 63 sections in total, which were placed together like a jigsaw puzzle to create the entire painting. The finished artwork will be exhibited at The Lowry in Salford Quays next to the original painting from next week. To see an image of the original, click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/coming-from-the-mill-162324

I worked alongside artist Tasha Whittle, staff from the BBC and also The Lowry to help make the painting happen. It was an interesting space to place an art activity and there were certainly lots of enthusiastic painters. Some spent up to an hour having a go, and many got really into it. I don’t think I’ll forget the experience of a group of us cleaning a load of acrylic filled palettes and brushes in the Arndale toilets, in front of a big queue of shoppers though!

Your Paintings is a joint initiative between the BBC, the Public Catalogue Foundation and participating collections, galleries and museums across the UK. It encourages people to take an interest in painting and also promotes the UK’s national collection – some 212,000 oil paintings.

For more information about the project click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/

It’s catch-up time! Here are 9 lovely photos to provide a glimpse of what I’ve been up to – creating and delivering the Mini Art Club sessions at Manchester Art Gallery over the past three months.

We’ve been interpreting and responding to some lovely artworks from the brilliant ‘First Cut’ exhibition on the top floor. It’s been a great opportunity to focus on some beautiful paper artworks large and small.

In November our ‘Shape Shifters’ session responded to the beautiful, intricate and shapely work of Sarah Bridgland. In December, we went into outer space taking the theme of ‘Navigating Nebulae’ from artist Andy Singleton’s amazing large-scale paper-cut swirls. Finally, in January, we explored and built our own ‘Forest of Wonder’, whilst being inspired by Manabu Hangai’s lovely hand-made leaves and installation.

I’m suffering from some serious paper cuts now!

Links:

http://www.manchestergalleries.org/

http://www.manchestergalleries.org/whats-on/exhibitions/index.php?itemID=92

https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterArtGallery

http://www.sarahbridgland.com/

http://andysingleton.co.uk/

http://www.hangais.com/art_web/eng/e_frame/f_set.htm

The Art Works was the second phase of a community arts project working on behalf of Lime Art. I worked with textile / surface designer and educator Hazel Hewitt to engage a group of adults who attend a weekly job club at a college in Wigan. The aim was to create a programme of 6 sessions spread out one evening a week from October-November, in order to provide the opportunity for job club attendees to learn new skills, increase their confidence and have an outlet for self-expression.

Our workshops quickly evolved into a creative, drop-in social space for a small number of core participants. As opposed to taught sessions, it became clear that participants wanted to try out new techniques such as printing, mark-making, sewing, paper-construction, etc. The project evolved as a safe space to express feelings and personal issues through creative activity, rather than work in a prescriptive manner to create an end product. The approach was participant-led as it emerged that each participant had a particular idea or interest and wanted to develop this individually.

As an example, one participant who was initially reluctant to join as he was only there “for job club”, revealed a former interest in photographing local landscapes, building dry stone walls and making charcoal! His enthusiasm and confidence increased as he brought shoe boxes full of photos to sort through, edit and select. We facilitated this process of editing, selecting and curating an exhibition of photos. We also suggested ways to mount, frame and potentially sell the photos, encouraging him to recognise the value and quality of his photographic ‘hobby’.

Although aimed at adults only, a couple of dads decided to bring their children along to the sessions. This altered the dynamic of the group as the children were energetic, easily excited and enthusiastic to try out lots of different things. They confidently worked their way through the range of materials in a more exploratory manner. It was perhaps a good thing that there were two artist-facilitators present as it meant that one of us could engage the children, whilst the other could give more attention to the adults, who regularly asked for one-to-one assistance.

We felt that we only touched on the surface of what we could offer in terms of developing individualised projects. Unfortunately, 6 x 3 hour sessions didn’t seem enough for the group to really become absorbed. Project momentum only seemed to pick up halfway through and participants couldn’t always arrive on time or attend every session. At the end, participants expressed their desire for the sessions to continue as a regular, social, drop-in creative space – a place where they could work, talk and have lots of tea and biscuits! It also became clear that they felt like things were suddenly ending, just as they were building confidence to try new things.

This programme of activities followed on from another project led by artist Johnny Woodhams during the summer, in which another group worked together to create plans and artworks for an outdoor shelter to be installed within the local community area. This group will be building and installing an outdoor gazebo, which will function as a shelter, alternative gallery/performance and multi-purpose space within a community garden. The structure is due to be installed in spring 2013 and it is hoped that, from this, the groups will come together in order to decide on a programme of creative, community activity…. watch this space!

Links:

http://www.limeart.org/

http://www.hazelhewitt.com/

http://www.johnnywoodhams.co.uk/

For the ‘Inside Outside’ slideshow and sounds, click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michikofujii/sets/72157631311504422/

‘Inside Outside’ is a series of workshops I developed with artist Sarah Marsh. Inspired by the artworks from the Turner Monet Twombly exhibition at Tate Liverpool, England, Sarah and I developed a creative and experimental programme over four weeks in August.

Each week the workshop focused on a different season, connecting to key themes in the exhibition, such as the floating world, fire and water, the vital force, atmosphere and loss. The workshops also encouraged the exploration of colour palettes, textures and materials through different processes.

Each week the workshops offered opportunities for open-ended activity, the chance to add to an evolving artwork and also something to make and take home.

The views over the Mersey from the studio window formed a poetic connection with the watery worlds of Turner, Monet and Twombly as the light and atmosphere change dramatically throughout the day. The sound of the sea through speakers added another layer to this exploration of fluid landscapes, marks, colour and emotions.

Links:

http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-liverpool

http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-liverpool/kids-and-families

http://www.evelynarts.co.uk/

Phew… I’m on a roll! Here’s a selection of images taken in the ‘Rags to Riches’ summer family workshops at Manchester Art Gallery as part of the We Face Forward festival across Manchester.

Inspired by Nnenna Okore’s artwork ‘When the Heavens Meet the Earth’, we have been challenging ourselves to transform waste materials into wondrous works of art. Okore uses a range of natural materials which she deconstructs, decays, dyes, reforms, etc. She works with natural materials such as paper, clay, burlap and natural dyes.

Over the past couple of weeks in the gallery, we have been focusing on line and form, producing drawings and experimenting with newspaper in the gallery in front of the artwork. Downstairs we’ve been working with a range of waste materials to create colliograph prints. We also had a lot of fun exploring different ways to shape clay using key words as prompts… what fun!

Links:

http://www.nnennaokore.com/

http://www.wefaceforward.org/artists/nnenna-okore

http://www.wefaceforward.org/venues/manchester-art-gallery

http://www.facebook.com/ManchesterArtGallery#

http://www.manchestergalleries.org/

After a long and lovely weekend working at the Just So festival at Rode Hall Parkland Cheshire, I’ve finally found some time to load up a few pictures.

Hidden in enchanted woodland, ‘Away with the Fairies’, my Tent of Surprise revealed a paper forest (literally!) growing inside the tent. With baskets filled with surprises to rummage through, families were able to explore objects through all the senses. Torches revealed paper-cut shadows and bugs (both imaginary and real!), pots of perfumes or potions conjured up responses, emotions and memories, children listened out for noises and the feely basket was full of surprises – including a real frog that had accidentally landed in there and gone to sleep! Perhaps it was the fairy queen who had been out casting spells…

Links:

http://www.justsofestival.org.uk/

http://www.justsofestival.org.uk/away-with-the-fairies-at-a-glance/

http://www.facebook.com/justsofestival

This month’s ‘We Face Forward’ Mini Art Club session responded to the artist Piniang’s semi-abstract collaged paintings ‘Flood in the Suburb 1 and 2′ and ‘Power Cut in the Suburb’. Piniang (real name Ibrahima Niang) is a multi-media artist who works with a fusion of materials. The paintings in this exhibition depict the architecture of Dakar and somehow capture the chaos of an overcrowded city after a flood or power cut. Here, Piniang is concerned with population growth and urban development out of control.

Families visited the exhibition virtually in the dark, accompanied by the frenetic beat of the drum played by Danny Henry. We then headed down to the studio to mark-make and explore various recycled materials, focusing on the colour palette in Piniang’s work. We later constructed (and knocked down) a fragile cardboard city, and danced to the beat of a chaotic city, led by the amazingly versatile Danny.

What a fast, colourful, frenzied and fun morning!

Links:

http://www.wefaceforward.org/venues/manchester-art-gallery

http://www.wefaceforward.org/artists/piniang

http://www.facebook.com/ManchesterArtGallery#

http://www.mancky.co.uk/?p=3896

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR8-EWcRo08

Here are some lovely pictures taken from weekend 2 of my paper workshop at the Hepworth this weekend, working alongside sculptor Liz Pontin:

Artigami! Enjoy!

Links:

http://lizpontin.com/

http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/

Here are some photos taken this weekend at my new paper construction workshop ‘Arti-gami’ at The Hepworth Wakefield. Sculptor Liz Pontin and I worked together to develop a new workshop which encourages people to play with paper and try out new paper sculpting techniques, drawing inspiration from Barbara Hepworth’s sculptures.

Families are invited to build their own interpretations of Hepworth’s sculptures and maquettes. They are also invited to play more open-endedly with paper to find different ways to form and manipulate it. Taking the idea of Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture garden, families can add their paper sculptures to make the garden grow. They can also explore the shadows of their paper constructions.

Arti-Garmi runs from 11am – 4pm on the following dates this summer: 4th, 5th, 13th – 17th August and 8th, 9th September:

http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/whatson?page=3&month=&year=&category=&audience=

It’s been a long and colourful week working on our Junk Palace project at Manchester Art Gallery!

Drawing inspiration from We Face Forward artist Pascale Marthine Tayou’s ‘Poupées Pascales’ – 16 unique dolls hidden all around the art gallery for this summer’s ‘We Face Forward’- we created two exciting studio spaces for participants to explore the world of found objects and materials in novel and interesting ways. I worked alongside visual artist Sarah Marsh and fashion designer Mary Ononokpono of Mononoko fashion to develop the concept for the workshop. We came up with some excellent ways of fashioning plastic bags, newspaper, old electronic parts and west african fabrics into chunky accessories, jewellery and other such wonderful forms!

I also tailored the session to create today’s Mini Art Club – Mini Junk Palace for little ones aged 0-5 years, to explore a beautiful, colourful, tactile environment. A big thanks to artist & filmmaker Jess Wild for supporting today’s session along with volunteers Liz and Sabeena. Also thank you to Jali Nyonkoling Kuyateh for playing the Kora and lending us one of his CDs to fill the Junk Palace with beautiful music!

Links:

http://www.pascalemarthinetayou.com/

http://www.wefaceforward.org/artists/pascale-marthine-tayou

http://www.evelynarts.co.uk/

http://www.msafropolitan.com/2011/08/msafropolitan-boutique-interview-series-mary-onokpono-of-mononoko.html

http://www.manchesterfashion.com/c/19/223/mononoko-conscience-culture-couture