“Delight in Disorder” the current exhibition by 16 ArtSpace members opened on the 9th July at the Nuneaton Museum and Gallery. The show is an exciting mix of paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, ceramic pieces and assemblages which reflect the individuals’ responses to this George Eliot inspired theme.
The Museum and Gallery are open 6 days a week (closed on Mondays) and is just a 40-minute drive from Loughborough. The Museum is on the edge of a large park and has a café which makes it an ideal place to visit over the summer holidays.
The willow Earth and workshops based around it, initially part of the May 27th ‘Sculpture in the Woods day’, were successfully staged at the Timber festival over the 5th-7th July. We were able to rebuild the earth structure at Timber and run an extended set of workshops there. Visitors were encouraged to write positive healing thoughts on ribbons of muslin to hang in the ‘Earth” – these became symbolic roots to protect the Earth as well as acting like prayer flags to take these messages away on the wind. Adults and children took part in this, writing, then tying their message in the Earth. Over the weekend more strips were added to the installation, a space where visitors could go inside, read positive thoughts and contemplate our place in nature.
It became particularly beautiful in the evening as the sun set through the willow, illuminating the colours in the muslin, as they moved in the wind. We installed some of the tree spheres from the outwoods in adjacent trees, and ran 2 drop in workshops to make small willow earths. These ran over both afternoons and proved very popular. In the mornings we held sewing workshops, sewing meditative words on prayer flags to take away. Both these were for adults and older children, or families working together. Around 130 people wrote on muslin, 60 people made a willow sphere and 10 people sewed prayer flags.
ArtSpace workshops at the Into The Outwoods Sculpture Trail were declared a great success. Despite the challenging weather at the sculpture trail opening event, around 700 visitors, adults, children and families, worked together and enjoyed getting creative willow weaving, felting, monoprinting, making woodland mobiles and weaving yarn. Hundreds more attended the ‘Sculpture in the woods day’, with workshops taking place at 5 locations along the trail.
Here are a few photographs to remember the occasion ……
Over six weeks this spring an estimated 20,000 – 30,000 visitors experienced the ArtSpace ‘Into The Outwoods Sculpture Trail’.
Nita Rao completed 20 days working as ‘artist in residence’ in the Loughborough Outwoods. In addition 13 commissions were given to local charnwood artists, mostly ArtSpace members, to add to Nitas’ residency work to make a mile and a quarter long trail.
Continue on this blog to take a virtual walk along the trail and see what some of the visitors thought ……
Click here to visit Nita Rao Art to see some of her more ephemeral work from her residency.
“Wonderful seeing a very familiar site a fresh. Great for dealing with anxiety. Loved the variety and sensitivity to natural surroundings”
Keeper of the Woods – Nita Rao
“I loved the stunning willow sculptures. They all looked magnificent against the wooded surroundings. I also loved spotting the tree men. It made me look up at the trees and their structures above me. I also loved the Earth sculpture with the ribbon messages to help protect our Earth. It was inspiring. I look forward to next year’s event. This event has brought so many people into the woods and together. It encourages creativity and togetherness. Thank you“
People of the Trees –
Nita Rao
“I enjoyed all the sculptures but particularly liked looking for the 42 tree people, have been twice & only found 34, will need to go again!”
Jack Russel – Lisa Denham
“Wonderful to experience sculpture in such a beautiful setting. Inspiring and thought provoking and my two year old grandchild loved looking for the tiny people”
Spirit Of The Woods – Nita Rao
“What a fabulous opportunity to see these pieces placed in natural woodland. Very inspirational”
Caged and Confused – Sarah Green
“This was wonderful. Attempted on Sunday but far too busy. Had the woods to myself Monday evening. Gorgeous thanks”
People of the Trees –
Nita Rao
“We came 2 weeks running even though it was raining didn’t stop us it was brilliant loved it please thank everyone for their hard work”
Centipede –
George Turner-Denham
“Thank you to everyone, we love the trail and looking forward to next year”
Peacock –
Lisa Denham
“We thoroughly enjoyed the sculpture trail and highly recommended friends and family to visit. Looking forward to next year’s art installations. We thought it was absolutely amazing!! Well done to everyone involved!!”
Peacock – Lisa Denham
“Great that the trail was able to engage the children, the discovery. The sculptures fitted so well with the setting”
Ashes to Glazes – Erica Middleton
“Great that so many families were engaging with it”
Ashes to Glazes – Erica Middleton
“Lots of activities, friendly people, open community vibe, creative. I adored ‘back to nature’ and loved ‘Persephone returns’. I really enjoyed it.”
Owl –
Lisa Denham
“Clear labels, wonderfully organic, blended in with woodland colours, eclectic designs, love the spider webs”
Owl – Lisa Denham
“Bringing nature & art together, was beautiful. Got to meet some of the artists and take part in a trail with them”
Taking Root – Nita Rao
“Loved the varied sculptures and also that most you could touch or walk through”
People of the Trees –
Nita Rao
“the sculptures seemed part of the surrounding nature”
Aspire – Rooted in the Earth, Reaching for the Stars –
Nita Rao
“We saw the woods in a new way. Workshops great. Wonderful and engaging as a family”
Aspire – Rooted in the Earth, Reaching for the Stars – Nita Rao
“All superb. Excellent that it was so good for adults and not just geared for children”
Persephone returns -Jacqueline Palmer
“Wonderful the way the artworks complimented the beautiful woods and the pieces that really made you think about our impact on the natural world”
Persephone returns -Jacqueline Palmer
“Loved the whole experience – finding things hidden away was great”
Persephone returns -Jacqueline Palmer
“Quality, variety, interest, creativity. An outstanding event”
This Tenuous Earth -Jacqueline Palmer
“Wonderful diversity of sculptures, very thought provoking”
People of the Trees –
Nita Rao
“Suitable for all ages including children”
Woodland Webs – Judith Eason
“Every little thing was an absolute delight”
Woodland Webs – Judith Eason
“great sculptures – the ‘little people’ made you look up and look in places you normally don’t see!”
Woodland Webs – Judith Eason
“Wonderful to experience sculpture in such a beautiful setting. Inspiring and thought provoking”
Nita Rao – willow sphere
“Apart from the beautiful artwork I have to say that looking for tree people was excellent fresh air fun for young and old alike”
Circle of Renewal – Nita Rao
“Great sculptures in a lovely spot. Workshops were V good”
Framing The Woods -MakeSpace Step-Up project
“Wonderful to experience sculpture in such a beautiful setting”
Framing The Woods -MakeSpace Step-Up project
“Inspiring and thought provoking”
Framing The Woods – MakeSpace Step-Up project
“Looking forward to next year’s”
Changing Times – Susheel RaoChanging Times – Susheel RaoOpen Cycle – Nita Rao
“We thought it was absolutely amazing!! Well done to everyone involved!!”
Open Cycle – Nita Rao
“fantastic walk through Into the Outwoods Sculpture Trail today. Well worth a visit”
People of the Trees –
Nita Rao
“‘people of the trees’ made us look upwards thereby gaining so much more of the experience of walking the trail”
Leaping Horse – Jo Sheppard
“I loved the stunning willow sculptures”
Leaping Horse –
Jo Sheppard
“Wonderful to experience sculpture in such a beautiful setting. Inspiring and thought provoking”
… Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle, Susan West
“Great that the trail was able to engage the children, the discovery. The sculptures fitted so well with the setting”
Back to Nature – Sue Barry and Susan WestBack to Nature – Sue Barry and Susan WestBack to Nature – Sue Barry and Susan West
“Wonderful to experience sculpture in such a beautiful setting. Inspiring and thought provoking and my two year old grandchild loved looking for the tiny people”
Gaurdian Angels – Nita RaoGaurdian Angels – Nita RaoChanging World – Nita RaoChanging World – Nita RaoTree Sphere installation – Nita RaoTree Sphere installation – Nita RaoTree Sphere installation – Nita RaoPeople of the Trees –
Nita RaoWomen May Hold Up Half The Sky – Alison Folland“Made you look, made you stare” – Pam Everard“Made you look, made you stare” – Pam EverardUnity Of Time – Nita Rao
“Great that the trail was able to engage the children, the discovery. The sculptures fitted so well with the setting”
Unity Of Time – Nita Rao
“We came 2 weeks running even though it was raining didn’t stop us it was brilliant loved it please thank everyone for their hard work”
