White flower launch

SAVE THE DATE

White Flower Field Art Project

Inspired by the Tower of London poppies, an installation designed by local artist Sarah Farrell-Roberts will fill one side of The Square in Barnstaple this November to mark 40 years of the Women’s Refuge. Handcrafted by women all over North Devon and further afield, it will be a moving tribute to victims of domestic abuse – and you’re welcome to join in

Sarah Farrell-Roberts says she clearly remembers attending the Petal Launch ceremony in Barnstaple last year. ‘It was a moving experience,’ she says. ‘People shared poetry and readings and everyone took a handful of petals which we scattered into the river as we all gave thought to the men, women and children affected by domestic abuse.’ This year, Sarah has been invited to design a whole art installation called the White Flower Field Art Project for NDADA’s 40th anniversary. For the project, we have appealed for people to get involved and help handcraft 4,000 white flowers to be displayed in The Square in Barnstaple. ‘A pair of open hands will be nestled amongst this field of white flowers,’ explains Sarah. ‘The hands represent the support that is there for victims and the relief they can feel once they have broken their silence.’ The number of flowers represents the number of enquiries received each year by specialist domestic abuse services in Devon, and is also an estimate of the number of individuals the North Devon Women’s Refuge has helped over the past 40 years. Inspired by the poppies at the Tower of London last year, the installation will be in place from November 9–27, so it will be there for National Domestic Violence Awareness Week which starts on November 23 with the NDADA annual Petal Launch ceremony, when the whole community is invited to scatter petals into the River Taw in remembrance of victims of domestic violence. ‘As the White Flower Field Art Project moves on and the number of flowers grow, there are so many different individuals and groups making them up and down the country, from a range of materials – clay, plastic, wool, cotton, netting and more,’ says Sarah. ‘The flowers are unique and varied, which is significant as there are no stereotypes in how or where abuse occurs.’ We need to make 500 flowers every month up to October to get the installation ready in time for November. Flowers need to be 10cm x 10cm, and can be made out of any material you choose – provided it will withstand the weather conditions of November (so no paper or cardboard, and nothing with bits

Sarah Farrell-Roberts’ art studio in Westleigh decorated with some of the first white flowers that were made.

that might blow away). Wool, felt, fabric, clay, porcelain and recycled plastic will all work well. Flowers must be all white (no coloured stamens), but you can design any kind you like, either based on something real (e.g. a daisy, poppy, rose) or something imaginative. Detailed specifications for flowers and groups you can join are available in an information pack, which you can get on request at whiteflowerfield@gmail.com.

‘I hope all these flowers in one place will show victims there is help for them,’ says Sarah. ‘They should stand proud and feel no shame and, looking across the sea of flowers, realise that they are not alone.’ Flowers can be delivered to the re:store charity shop in Barnstaple – just pop them in a bag or box marked ‘White Flower Field Art Project’ – please include your name and details. If you can’t get them to us in Barnstaple, deliver them to Simone Kesseler at Mystique, Graynfylde Drive, Bideford, EX39 4AP. The White Flower Field Art Project will be accompanied by an exhibition at Barnstaple Museum for the month of November, where you can purchase a white ribbon in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Week.

‘The flowers are unique and varied, which is significant as there are no stereotypes in how or where abuse occurs’

If you would like to join in and make some flowers, request an information pack by emailing whiteflowerfield@gmail.com or find us on Facebook – search White Flower Field Art Project for NDADA. To join our annual Petal Launch on November 23, email admin@ndada.co.uk for details.