Newsletter Autumn 2017
The Nettles Volunteer Group
page 2&3
Imaginarium performance
page 4
Woolly Spires
page 5
William Pye Water Scultpure
page 6
Upcoming event highlights
Ridges & Furrows
page 7
page 8
Find out more online by visiting artsNK.org artsNK provides high quality, meaningful arts experiences for people across the North Kesteven district, Lincolnshire and the East Midlands
Inside Out: The Nettles Volunteer Group The Nettles is a public natural outdoor space in Sleaford, situated along the river Slea next to the Leisure Centre. The Nettles Volunteer Group, a small community group, maintain and enhance this beautiful peaceful area at their monthly meetings; aiming to provide an inviting, inspirational and safe outdoor space for the local community and visitors to enjoy. With the regular support of artsNK, working in partnership with Hill Holt Woods and NKDC, the living willow sculpture is maintained, many plant species have been introduced, habitats have been created, seating, mosaics, stone carvings and sculptures have been installed and multi arts participation days have been held. The Nettles Volunteer Group have recently been awarded £2000 of funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery for a new community project. ‘See & Hear’ is an exciting intergenerational project that will involve a group of young people working with the members of the Nettles Volunteer Group to record their ongoing work, stories, wildlife and anecdotes about the space on video, helping to share the brilliant work they do (see events section for more details about the training days). Ahead of the project’s beginning we spoke to some of the Nettles volunteers about what they enjoy about volunteering and why they think having a green space like the Nettles is important. Group members we spoke to were: Diane Maltby, Ann Hughes, and Mick Steele, plus countryside ranger Jamie Shortland from Hill Holt Wood who supports the group at their monthly volunteer days.
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What do you enjoy about working at the Nettles? Diane I like working as part of a group, getting to know new people and feeling like you are making a difference. I enjoy gardening and working outdoors so the volunteer group seemed a good thing to join when I finished work and was looking to do something in my local community. There are sometimes days in winter when I don’t feel like coming if the weather is bad but I always feel better for doing it afterward, and being outside does me good. Ann I became a volunteer when I moved to the area - I didn’t have my own garden so thought it would be nice to work outdoors. It’s good to see the results of your hard work, such as when plants have grown from seedlings to maturity. Being a Nettles volunteer has led me on to doing lots of other creative activities such as the Glassumimass glass lantern project, and MosART mosaic group.
Images: Front page: The Nettles Volunteer Group, photo Electric Egg. Below: Volunteer Ann Hughes working on a mosaic at The Nettles.
Community
artsNK Newsletter Autumn 2017
What do you think are the benefits of having a green space like the Nettles in Sleaford?
What would you like to see at the Nettles in the future?
Jamie
Jamie
Local greenspace on everyone’s doorsteps is something that should be in all town and cities. They offer a chance for relaxation, to get back to nature and escape the hustle and bustle of a busy life.
My background is in wildlife conversation, I’d like to bring more wildlife conservation amongst the art, with art that could be practical – such as bird houses. I’d also like to see the group using more of the products we find on site to create artworks, such as the willow and hazel trees.
Diane I think all of us need to be outdoors in the fresh air more than we are. I enjoy seeing families with young children coming through and enjoying the space.
Below: Top; volunteer Diane Maltby at a Nettles Meeting. Bottom Left: Mick Steele using the mower at The Nettles. Bottom right: artwork at the Nettles. Photos: Electric Egg.
Community
artsNK Newsletter Autumn 2017
Mick Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of problems with vandalism in the last eighteen months, so we’d all hope we experience less of this in the future, and see all groups of people treating the space with respect. We need people to help us over the winter on our volunteer meetings, there is a lot of work to do, for example cutting back the large willow screen, so if you have some free time and enjoy working outdoors come along and help!
The Nettles Volunteer group meet monthly (on the second Monday of each month) and are supported by artsNK and Hill Holt Wood. If you would like to join the group, or are interested in finding out more leave a message on the group’s facebook page: www.facebook.com/ NettlesVolunteerGroup or contact Marion Sander Marion.sander@litc.org.uk Young people aged 16 – 25 wishing to be involved in the See & Hear project should book a place by contacting Marion Sander on the above email address. See page 7 for details. See & Hear training days organised by artsNK on behalf of the Nettles Volunteer Group with funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery.
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Imaginarium performance at Doddington Hall The artsNK Dance team worked with professional Circus Director Zaq Andel of Birmingham company circusMASH to create a spell-binding new piece of outdoor aerial dance theatre in the Gardens at Doddington Hall at the beginning of September.
Aerial Classes Did you know artsNK’s run weekly termtime Aerial classes for adults and young people at One NK, North Hykeham, The South Holland Centre, and the Peter Paine Centre in Boston? Visit www.artsnk.org/take-part/danceclasses to find out more
The ‘Imaginarium’ performance was a stunning finale to the six week Summer of Imagination event at Doddington Hall. Using dance, theatre, aerial hoop and aerial silks (long pieces of material which they wrap around themselves) the dance team performed in a magnificent cedar tree in the gardens. The performance took inspiration from the gardens themselves as well as work produced by other artists during the Summer of Imagination, with themes of imagination, wishes and fairytales. Visitors young and old were captivated by the half hour piece. Members of the artsNK dance team performed alongside more experienced participants from artsNK’s aerial classes, which run at One NK, North Hykeham, the South Holland Centre, and the Peter Paine Centre in Boston. Visit our www.artsnk.org to view a short video of the performance.
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Images: Aerial performers in Imaginarium at Doddington Hall. Photos: Instinctive Photography
Culture
artsNK Newsletter Autumn 2017
Woolly Spires Woolly Spires, artsNK’s long running project to create knitted versions of Lincolnshire parish churches, came to an end this summer. The two final knitted churches to be completed as part of the project, St Wulfrum’s church, Grantham and St Mary’s church (Stow Minster) Stow joined woolly versions of
landowners who made their fortune on the backs of the county’s iconic breed of sheep, the Lincoln Long Wool. The churches were all knitted by local community groups using wool from Lincoln Long Wool sheep.
Culture
artsNK Newsletter Autumn 2017
The exhibition at Lincoln Cathedral was the first time all six Woolly Spires were shown together, and they proved very popular with visitors. “I congratulate all the knitters of course, but above all I marvel at the extraordinary skills of the people who worked out what to knit – what stitch, what length, what pattern, and all the while keep the proportions right etc. Who would have thought it could be done?”
St Denys, Sleaford; St Mary & St. Nicolas, Spalding; St Botolph (the Boston Stump); and St James, Louth, in a special exhibition at Lincoln Cathedral during August. Originally commissioned by The Collection, Lincoln, Woolly Spires took its inspiration from the fact that many of Lincolnshire’s churches were funded by wealthy
Visitor to the Woolly Spires at Lincoln Cathedral The completed Woolly Spires are now touring, and are on currently on display at 20:21 Visual Art Centre in Scunthorpe until Saturday 13th January. www.facebook.com/woollyspires
The Woolly Spires on display at Lincoln Cathedral.
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William Pye Water Scultpure relocated William Pye Water Sculpture was relocated from outside Cogglesford Mill to provide a centre piece to the re-landscaped courtyard at North Kesteven District Council offices in Sleaford this year. British sculptor Pye, was commissioned in 2002 to create a piece under artsNK’s “Wellsprings and Waterways” scheme, celebrating the role water has played in the formation of the local landscape and settlements. The stainless steel cuboid sculpture features water flowing down its sides.
space a more contemporary and open feel and providing a suitable setting for the relocated sculpture. Placing the William Pye water feature at the centre, so it can be seen from the street, Jeni developed some wonderful planting schemes including striking grasses and different seasonal flowers for the surrounding herbaceous borders. She also created the decorative metal bicycle shelter installed in 2016 which depicts a canopy of trees with birds. The planting is looking wonderful at the moment, so if the sun is shining next time you are passing why not sit and take a few minutes. Images: Left and top right: The William Pye water sculpture in the courtyard at NKDC. Bottom left: The metal bicycle shelter created by artist Jeni Cairns at NKDC.
It was originally sited in the river Slea outside of Cogglesford Mill, but unfortunately suffered from technical issues due to a build-up of leaves and algae. The relocation of the sculpture will allow more people to appreciate this work by a significant British artist. The courtyard area was designed by artist and garden designer Jeni Cairns, giving the
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Culture
artsNK Newsletter Autumn 2017
Upcoming event highlights See & Hear Project at the Nettles A community project offering FREE training for young people (16 – 25)
»» Recording People’s Stories Thursday 26th October, 10am - 4pm (lunch provided) with Danny Pedler (Historian) Learn a variety of interview techniques and how to record people’s stories.
»» Creating Video Clips Monday 13th November, 10am - 4pm (lunch provided) with Electric Egg (Film, Animation & Photography specialists)
Terry O’Toole Theatre We are pleased so support the Terry O’Toole Theatre in North Hykeham. See below for upcoming highlights and visit www.terryotooletheatre. org.uk for the full programme.
Community
artsNK Newsletter Autumn 2017
Box Office: 01522 883 311
»» What Once Was Ours Thursday 16 November 7.30pm Terry O’Toole Theatre, North Hykeham A powerful production created against the background for Brexit that explores how politics and national values impact upon the complex lives of one family.
Learn how to use tablets and free software to create brilliant video clips. Record, edit & share.
Age Guide: 12 years+ Tickets £12, Concs £10, U16s £7.50
See page 1 for more details about the See & Hear project.
»» Imbalance, Joli Vyann Wednesday 22 November, 7.30pm Joli Vyann integrate exciting acrobatic skills with athletic dance in this energetic and thought-provoking performance that explores our obsessive dependence upon technology.
»» Riverside Walk and Draw with Kombisketchtour Saturday 28 October, 10am - 12pm or 1 - 3pm Along the River Slea in Sleaford. For adults and children aged 8+ / £5 for either session Join us for an artist led walk along the river Slea, using a variety of drawing materials and techniques to capture the season. The walk will start at NCCD and continue to Cogglesford Mill, stopping at the Nettles and Lollycocks field along the way. Participants will make their own accordion style book filled with sketches to take away with them. Open to all levels of ability, all children (8+) must be accompanied by an adult. Organised by artsNK, Please book through the National Centre for Craft and Design on 01529 308 710.
Tickets £12, Concs £10, U16s £7.50
»» A Winter’s Light Friday 15 December 7.30pm Terry O’Toole Theatre, North Hykeham A delightful seasonal programme of music from quartet Hark Hark, featuring traditional carols, rollicking good tunes and irreverent humour about the less spiritual side of Christmas. Tickets £14, Concs £12.00, U16 £7.50
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Ridges & Furrows Plans for the Ridges & Furrows Arts & by the images, stories and memories Heritage trail are moving forward, with the collected throughout the project will be full route now mapped out. The trail will placed in various locations throughout run between The National Centre for Craft upper and lower Waddington next year. and Design in Sleaford and Terry O’Toole Visit www.ridgesandfurrowstrail.org Theatre in North Hykeham, continuing to find out more about the project onto Whisby Nature Park. The walk will and the walking trail. run along the Lincolnshire Edge passing through many villages and sites of interest in the NK district View along the Lincolnshire Edge, by volunteer walk leaders Phil Gresham and Nick Grimshaw along the way. Look out for the official launch of the trail in Spring/ Summer 2018. Heritage trails for North Hykeham, Waddington and Welbourn are also currently being developed with maps to be available soon. Permanent art commissions in Waddington are currently being developed by artist duo Grennan & Sperandio. A series of three dimensional ‘emblems’ which are inspired
Contact Us If you would like to get in touch please contact: Nick Jones, Visual Arts Manager: Nick.Jones@litc.org.uk
General Enquiries For general enquiries email: artsnk@litc.org.uk or tel: 01529 410 595
Community
artsNK Newsletter Autumn 2017