Time Tardis - Once Upon A Town
2021- current
The Tme Tardis is a community art project, in partnership with Positive Placemakers with funding from Historic England and Arts Council and was part of 'Once Upon A Town' created in Ormskirk. I worked with a community group of neurodivergent individuals and support volunteers as the lead artist, together we created a series of diorama installations that encourage conversations about Ormskirk’s history and illuminated the past. A red K6 1930’s phone box showcases important periods of Ormskirk’s history. The phone box is positioned next to the clock tower in the centre of the town. The artwork was created by a series of zoom workshops due to the restrictions imposed by the restrictions in place (Covid 19).
Involvement in this project brought so much positivity and purpose to the group through creativity and social connectivity. Having the opportunity to participate in a creative journey, make connections with others in the small group, as well as making something tangible for the wider community was an opportunity to help build confidence and promote positive feelings of wellbeing. All of the group were excited and extremely proud to see their work on public display.
Threads Of Her Past - Out Of The Gates
2019
‘Threads of her past’ was part of Out Of The Gates exhibition at The Chapel Gallery Ormskirk, that celebrated the important diverse roles of women in WW1. I worked with a group of individuals from Learning Stars community group to investigate women munitions factory workers and land girls to create three imaginative garments inspired by these women and their lives.
Garment one features elements from the life of Ellen Preece a local young women who worked in National filling station Number 2 in Aintree Liverpool. She was one of the hundreds of women that risked their lives in the factory filling shells with toxic TNT in dangerous conditions. She gave her life for her country as she died in a factory explosion towards the end of the war. The piece features yellow neckline and cuffs symbolising the toxic chemicals that seeped into the women’s skin and internal organs turning them ‘canary’ yellow. The garment is filled with embroidered photographic images of munitions workers like Ellen, propaganda posters encouraging women to “do their bit for the war” and adverts for beauty creams and potions to prevent the ill effects of the chemicals.
Garment two comments on the hazardous conditions women working in the munitions factory had to endure every day they worked. Creating a digitally printed fabric decorated with sombre coloured WW1 shells of which many are intricately embroidered in red to symbolise the warning of danger. The scorched hemline speaks of the many explosions and loss of live.
Garment three focuses on the land girls who worked tirelessly to provide food for Britain during the hardship of wartime. The garment references an aerial map view of Ormskirk 100 years ago with the main roads into the town and the old rail track to Skelmersdale and into Liverpool. Green leafy crops cover the surrounding land, some of which are still grown today, creating a patchwork effect of green. A group member's family who have farmed for generations in this area advised for research of this garment.
Out Of The Shadows
2018
This thoughtful and dynamic body of work “Out of the shadows” to celebrate and commemorate WW1 in its centenary year was exhibited in an Art trail and was located in participating businesses in Ormskirk Town Centre. Working as lead artist with Learning Stars Community group and Galloways charity in partnership with the WEA and The Chapel Gallery and funded by the National Lottery.
We found so much inspiration from research into the roles of animals in WW1 and the artwork of war artists, we gathered information from study visits to galleries and museum. This investigation motivated many artworks from dog masks to models of carrier pigeons. Poppies also featured in our expression of remembrance using ceramic and papier-mâché techniques to create 3D oversized poppies. Also stitched textile postcards embellished with personal messages from the front, as well as painting a huge backdrop and creating props for the performance event performed by the drama and dance groups.
Businesses showcasing artwork;
Freshfields Animal Rescue 29 Moor St, Ormskirk L39 2AA ‘Dogs in Wartime”
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Charity Shop, Ormskirk, L39 3BW “Poppies”
Fox & Dagger Tattoo 2 Church Walks, Ormskirk L39 3QS “Messages from the front”
Smith C & Co 25-27 Railway Rd, Ormskirk L39 2DN “Messenger pigeons”
