Bunting @ Goldsquad

We spent a great session with the GoldsQUAD ladies at QUAD creating bunting for our Spring Fest in the Derby Arboretum.
We used different printing techniques to create a leaf and flower pattern.

Bottle top mosaic @ Flamsteed Centre

Here are some of the lovely bottle top mosaics we have been creating with the Flamsteed Dementia Group in Ilkeston.
We have used words to describe the group.

Mosaic @ Flamsteed Centre

We are working at Flamsteed Centre in Ilkeston, with a lovely group of older people with dementia.
We have been creating artwork using different mediums in a mosaic style.
So far we have created button mosaics, bottle-top mosaics and paper square collages.
We will be installing the work at Ilkeston Hospital over the next few weeks for an exhibition.

Anti-Slavery Banner @ Derby Cathedral

We were asked to work at the Children's Summit at Derby Cathedral in January. It was the first school’s modern slavery summit in the country as this year it is the 210^th anniversary of the signing of the 1807 Act of Abolition of the slave trade,

The Derby & Derbyshire Modern Slavery Partnership is considered one of the best anti-slavery groups in the country. It event included The Arkwright Society and professors from Derby University Social Justice as well as Derby City Council.

We worked with several schools to create a banner for Derbyshire based on the design of a banner created last year by artist Maria Amidu. Her banner depicted the 1807 Act of Abolition with the signatures of the most prominent campaigners and was displayed in Parliament last year. Both banners will tour the county, and anyone can sign the new Derbyshire banner to take part in tackling modern slavery.

 

Luminate Lantern & Light Festival 2016

Wow, what a wonderful festival we had last Saturday. 

Friends of Derby Arboretum, Spiral Arts, Rotary Club of Derby and Derby City Council Parks hosted a magical Lantern Festival on the historic Derby Arboretum as part of its community celebrations.

They were celebrating the park in its anniversary year of being open to the public for 175 years.  They invited the local community and people of Derby to come along and they had a great turnout of over 150 people joining the Lantern event.

The event started at 5pm with local families and friends gathering at the Orangery in the Arboretum. Lanterns made from willow and tissue paper, were distributed to everyone and they stepped out into the night air to watch the first dance from the Morris Team ‘Chip off the Old’.

The procession began towards the Boar statue accompanied by magical music from violinist, Helen Hitchcock together with ‘Chip off the Old’ Musicians. The procession trail wound its way down the paths towards the fountain which was covered by twinkling tealight candles. The Morris team danced their way around the park, towards the Community Garden and then led us back to the Orangery. The crowd were pleased to warm up with hot soup and rolls and more magical music and dancing. The lanterns made a beautiful display outside of the Orangery building, they will remain on display in the Orangery until Friday 11^th November.

‘Such a lovely event, the lanterns looked beautiful, we really enjoyed taking part’ Lesley Marshall ‘Chip off the Old’ Morris dancer.

‘We were very pleased with the success of the event, the whole community got involved, and it was lovely to see all ages joining in. It was a great way to celebrate 5^th November. I hope this event becomes an annual celebration bringing the community together. The Friends of Derby Arboretum are working hard to make the park a welcoming, inviting place to enjoy and meet.’ Jenny Anthony, Creative Director Spiral Arts

Lantern making

We were busy making lanterns at St James Juniors, at Madeley Youth Centre as well as drop in sessions in the park.
They all made our Luminate lantern festival look wonderful.

alter~KNIT~ive @ QUAD

We spent 3 weeks working with knitters and crafters to create pieces for our yarn bomb around QUAD. Over 30 people attended our drop-in sessions at Grove Lodge and at the QUAD cafe. The work will be displayed until 21 October, to accompany the showing of the film 'Yarn'.