Winter 2017/18

Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

Artist activity at the Heritage Hub

In our Summer E-newsletter Gloucestershire Archives was delighted to announce it had received funding from Arts Council England to work with 5 artists. We wanted this collaboration of heritage and art to bring together the local community, members of the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub network and our partners with the artists to create beautiful eye-catching public artworks. These artworks will tell the story of Gloucestershire’s history and be inspired by its people, heritage and geography.

In the months since the summer there has been a flurry of activity as the artists have begun their research. They have been having a wonderful time hearing stories, collecting memories and looking at photographs. The artists have visited care homes in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, talked to our partners including the Friends of Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucestershire Family History Society, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire and Avon Local History Association members. The artists have also visited the Archives taking time to talk to staff and look at some of the wonderful documents, amazing maps, photographs and archived material kept at Gloucestershire Archives.

'Had a fascinating day at Gloucestershire Archives yesterday doing research on various types of maps...we are really enjoying the research side of this project!' TomatoJack Arts on Facebook www.facebook.com/TomatoJack

Natasha Houseago

The very large oak tree trunk lying on the ground in the community garden is the raw material for the new vertical sculpture to be carved by Cheltenham based sculptor Natasha Houseago. The oak tree was sourced from a country estate in Oxfordshire.

    

Natasha is sealing the ends to keep the moisture in and worms and critters out.  

Natasha will be on site for about 12 weeks in the summer and during this time visitors to the Archives will be able to watch her carve and talk to her about the emerging sculpture and her process. www.natasha-houseago.co.uk

TomatoJack Arts

Angela Williams and Lynda Knott (TomatoJack Arts) are Berkeley based mosaic artists and if you have visited the Jenner Museum recently you might have seen their beautiful obelisk standing in the middle of the museum’s herb garden.

Angela and Lynda have met with members of Gloucestershire Local History Association many of whom have sent photos and stories about their local community. They have worked with three care homes in Berkeley, Tockington and Westbury on Severn.

                            

   

Staff and residents in the care homes with the beautiful plaques and coasters made during their sessions.

   

Angela photographing one of the beautiful maps in the temporary search room here at Archives with John Putley, Hub Facilities Manager, looking on.

Angela and Lynda will be in residence at the Archives during half-term - Tuesday and Wednesday13th and 14th February. Visitors to the Archives will be able to drop in and have a go, learn about the mosaic making process and talk to the artists about their ideas for the mosaics they are designing and making for the community garden. We hope you can make it.

www.tomatojack.co.uk 

Julia O'Connell

Julia O'Connell, our textile artist, also visited a care home, this time in Chipping Campden.

 

 Julia is looking at the beautiful embroidery and lace made by one of the residents.

        

Like all of our artists, Julia has spent time at the Archives taking in the atmosphere, talking to staff, exploring the strong rooms and looking at the new space where the artwork will be sited.

Julia has also been experimenting with a laser cutter. Using the Gloucestershire family History Centre logo and text from A Song of Gloucestershire by F.W.Harvey, she has laser cut and engraved on fabric. She particularly liked the effect of the cut out words and how it mirrors the disintegration of iron gall text in old manuscripts (middle photograph).

                            

     Fabric being cut by the laser cutter                   Laser cut letters                                                The GFHS tree engraved on fabric

www.juliaoconnell.co.uk

Imogen Harvey-Lewis

Imogen Harvey-Lewis, our illustrator will be designing two murals for the Archives. One will be sited in the new entrance to the Heritage Hub and the other will be on the outside wall at the front of the building.

     

Imogen presenting her first ideas to the Friends of Gloucestershire Archives, volunteers and staff.

In the new year Imogen will be working with young people and staff at Kingsholm Primary School, Gloucester as part of their University modules. Children there will help her design the mural for the outside wall.

As soon as the builders have finished Imogen will be on site painting the mural. Visitors will be able to see her in action, talk to her about the mural and her work.

www.imogenharveylewis.co.uk

If you would like more information about the project or would like to get involved email kim.kenny2@gloucestershire.gov.uk 

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