My contribution to the Penn Wood project has been to create a ‘Room in the Woods’. This has been done using all natural biodegradable materials, in keeping with the ethos of the Woodland Trust of only using natural biodegradable materials for any artwork produced as part of the project. The piece was constructed using 6 split hazel hurdle panels which, on one side had been ‘plastered' with earth and glue and then lime washed to produce a surface which could then be drawn into and painted. The panels were erected in a circular shape in a slightly hidden position from the main track. Each panel was then drawn into with trees being the subject matter and then painted with egg tempera paints, please see the slide show below, which shows the imagery inside and the structure from the outside. My aim was to have a structure, which from the outside looked like natural woody material and blended with the landscape but inside was a complete surprise to viewers – a bit like  when cave paintings are stumbled upon unexpectantly.

I also set up an  interactive aspect for visitors to the wood, whereby I  left some small pots of paint and coloured pens in the ‘Room’, together with luggage tag style pieces of paper threaded onto string and instructions for visitors to make leaf prints and write their comments, which could then be hung in the roof of the structure. This was particularly successful as the photographs show. Judging by comments left in the ‘Room’, visitors felt it was a special place for them to visit on their walks. Children are regular visitors and seem to love the place.

 

 

 

Art in Penn Woods Project

 

2. 2006 Tree Banner Printing at Aston Rowant Nature Reserve

 

I worked with English Nature for their Fun Day on the Nature Reserve in July this year. I worked mainly with children to produce a set of tree banners, whereby the children drew into Press Print plates and then inked up and printed their images onto banners, these banners were then hung in the trees at the side of the field.

 

3. 2006 Tree Banner Printing at Chiltern Sculpture Park

Again I worked with English Nature but this time at the Chilterns Sculpture Park as part of a day, which was designed to bring people to the Sculpture Park and give them an opportunity to speak to exhibiting artists. As children were expected to be there with parents, I provided a tree banner-printing tent for them on this occasion.

4. 2005 Arts Facilitator for Local Lottery Funded Project at the English Nature Reserve at Aston Rowant – Entitled  ‘DRAWING ATTRACTIONS’

During May 2005,  I facilitated a series of drawing days at Aston Rowant Nature Reserve. This project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and was entitled ‘Spotlight on Multiart at Aston Rowant’. This drawing activity at Aston Rowant targeted local ethnic communities in High Wycombe, with the aim that the participants from the ESOL (English as a Foreign Language) Centre produce an innovative and colourful piece of artwork that could be used as a new focal point in the car park of the reserve. The work built on existing contact with the Racial Equality Council and the ESOL centre. The end result of the project was a colourful mural, which incorporated the drawings and comments of those attending. The mural was scheduled to go on a tour of libraries in the area and represents the strong collaborative spirit of the project.

 

An article on the project has appeared in the Summer 2005 edition of the English Nature Newsletter for the Thames and Chilterns area and in a prestigious publication entitled 'Drawing Attractions' which has been put together to provide  'A comprehensive store of ides, reports, explanations and strategies for using drawing as a means of engaging prople with heritage (sites) and can be used by educators in a wide range of environments and cultural settings'.

 

Working at Aston Rowant on Drawing Attractions Project

 

 

 © Patricia Lynch 2007 - All rights reserved