The idea
At the heart of Parkmill sits our beloved Gower Heritage Centre, a place of filled with festivities and local wisdom.
Behind the old mill and a small skip across the leat, you will find a hidden greenhouse. And this is where we plan to build our project.
Imagine a grow-space full of nature's curiosities; plants for printing, deep earth pigments, organic dyes and all the tools you need to delve into the world of ecological art practices.
The space will be hosted by We Are Woven. A project I have dedicated my heart to over the past year.
We will run workshops that seek to inspire expression, including days out foraging, creating land art and gathering treasures that we can then unravel back at the studio. Every leaf, petal, soil and mineral is just waiting to be heard.
We plan to launch on the first day of spring with an exhibition of botanical creations and an open invite to all... So please come along and be part of the magic that your donations helped to make happen!
What we'll deliver
- Transform a forgotten place into an educational space for art projects
- Raise new plant life and share the delights of growing
- Deliver a summer full of nature-based activities
- Host seasonal celebrations and open days for our local community
- Provide botanical representations of Gower's diverse landscape
- Encourage collaborations with local organisations, schools and other artists
Why it's a great idea
There is a language that is created within these art practices, between a curious heart and the land beneath our feet. The insights we discover as we slow down, grow into a natural affinity for the earth.
The activities I have developed help raise ecological awareness and promote the value of wild green spaces, through the exploration of organic materials.
They make art inclusive and accessible to all by using inexpensive sensory materials such as flowers and soils.
Creativity also holds a key to connecting with our inner worlds. When we immerse ourselves in reflective activities, we learn to listen more carefully to our wellbeing and dive more deeply into our true nature as human beings.
These benefits can be shared with young people as tools, or with grown-ups as a way of remembering.
And having a space like this in our community means we can create a sanctuary for all of those feelings. A place to play, to learn, to create, or simply admire petals dancing on paper.
Steps to get it done
- Repair greenhouse roof
- Construct benches, drying racks and decking
- Pot natural dye plants and start germinating seeds
- Plant pollinating flower bulbs outside greenhouse
- Install sink, fan and lighting fixtures
- Set up work spaces, classroom area and equipment storage
- Create exhibition for studio open day
- Launch spring timetable of community workshops
The Gower Heritage Centre is like a living, breathing museum and every year it experiences it's own evolution. With foundations rooted in history, local advocates for the landscape and a growing collective of artisans who gather there... We Are Woven is proud to able to contribute to such a thriving community hub!
