Wild About Wight’s exciting new arts project, in association with Quay Arts, got off to a colourful start recently at the historic Sandown Library in The Bay.
Dozens of people joined Isle of Wight artists Hannah George, Babs Gowan, Caroline Underwood and Ian Whitmore, along with the Communities Team from Vectis Housing, to explore East Wight, both natural and built, through a whole range of art processes.
Print-making, clay impressions, collage and drawing were literally on the cards. With mini-postcards for canvasses, Island residents and visitors created art inspired by and literally from what’s on their doorstep.
Rare plant and invertebrate species, our marine life and landscapes, even the Bay’s dinosaur heritage all featured in print and collage, while participants headed out into town to collect clay impressions of street architecture and laminates of wildflowers, helping to create a snapshot of Sandown here and now. Each mini-masterpiece is collected into specially-made envelopes to create ‘alternative souvenirs’ celebrating what makes East Wight unique.
The artists will be running 12 more Wild About Wight workshops in various locations around East Wight from now until March 2019, when the project will culminate in a fantastic art exhibition at Quay Arts, Newport. The grand finale exhibition is timed to coincide with the International Year of the Biosphere. The East Wight ‘souvenirs’, ceramic installations and more will all feature. The alternative souvenir idea is continuing to be developed by its inventor, Sandown artist, Hannah George too.
Maria Wilkinson, Communities Team Manager at Vectis Housing explains:
“We are delighted to be working with Quay Arts and a team of excellent Island artists as part of our Wild About Wight project. Art in all its forms is a brilliant way of helping us to access and learn about nature and local heritage, while the workshops provide an informal, friendly way to meet new people and learn new skills.
“There will be many ways to engage between now and 2019; each of the exciting workshops is free, for all ages and for everyone from our Vectis residents to Island visitors”.
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