Flock Together at Downham Market Library
In view of the terrible storm predictions yesterday morning, we did wonder whether anyone would venture out to join our session at Downham Market Library and just as we were unpacking the rain began and hope of a busy session became increasingly diminished. However, some brave souls did venture out- including this cat which was very keen to join us!
It was a small and intimate group, but a great platform for everyone to learn in a friendly and open environment and it didn’t stop Karen from putting us to task.
I of course did my bit about the swans, including a quick ID test and a video of a swan catch- part of which was demonstrated on a willing participant!
1. How to fit a swan jacket:
2. ID photo with distinguishing features and unique leg ring code
Then Karen took to the floor to inform us of our creative challenge.
The first challenge was to select an item to draw, the catch being that we only had one minute with which to draw it. An unexpected outcome was everyone passing round the sugar beet (aka swan food) to smell!
The next was to take it in turns to add to a picture that someone else started, again with only one minute. What was great about this process was to see the pictures develop and that people had such varying degrees of how they judged their artistic ability, but that we all contributed something to create these designs.
Last of which we are all asked to envision how we thought the sculpture might turn out like, the shapes, angles and colours that might be used.
The group may have been small but the achievements of the day were big! I felt that each participant got much more from it than perhaps they do from larger workshops and I was genuinely touched by some of the feedback we got from it. It was exactly what this project aimed to do, connect different people from this landscape with each other and share their experiences of it.
‘I loved this session! A chance to bring together the beauty of nature and expressing that on paper-and all in a free and no-pressure way’-Sheridan Rocher
‘I learnt an awful lot today about swans and Welney’s importance...Learnt that I could be creative too, take part, share in a design even if my skills aren’t that way inclined...a very positive experience.’-Helen Goate
So despite the grizzly weather, it turned out to be quite a splendid afternoon!
The beet
Sniffing the beet...
A sugar beet hat?
Happy customers!
Downham Market Library is a great place not just to hire out books but to download audio books, surf the net or organise a meet up. They often have events for families over the holidays so check out what’s happening and all the wonderful things available at your local library here:
http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/Your_local_library/NCC007490
