When you go down to the woods
The woods at Elderflower Fields are places of magic and mystery, adventure and discovery and this year we have created our first Elderflower Fields Art Trail. Discover interactive works of art and have a go activities designed to bring out everyone’s creativity – what ever your age.
So Sussex’s
Schools Without Walls team has worked with local schools and artists to create this exciting Art Trail. As well as discovering the interactive art works there are various spots along the trail where you can experiment with materials to create your own work. Drop in sessions with artists will take place over the weekend so pop along and get creative with clay, experiment with colourful threads and wood, or take a seat on the forest floor and have a go at creating something amazing.
Schools Without Walls – Art Active …Naturally
We’ve had a great time working with the schools below to help develop and support the creative energy of pupils as part of our Art Active…Naturally project. We’re passionate about encouraging and supporting outdoor learning inspired by the landscape and nature of Sussex.
- Priory School, Lewes: pupils have made the giant colourful canopy using wet strength tissue paper to create individual circular shapes joined together to make a beautiful walkway into the woods.
- Harbour Primary School, Newhaven: year 6’s have used plastic bottles destined for recycling to create unique flowers. Each flower is beautiful in its own way but together they create a breath-taking explosion of colour.
- West Rise Juniors, Eastbourne: with the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne and artist Jenny Arun, Year 5 pupils have taken inspiration from the ‘Certain Kind Of Light’ exhibition and made a beautiful chandelier. A cascade of around 300 bottles created in response to David Batchelor’s coloured bottles and Cerith Wyn Evans’ Chandelier.
- Thomas Bennett Community College, Crawley – The Forest School group have constructed giant interactive dream catchers from natural materials with sound which encourage reflection and play.
- The Dharma School, Brighton – building on their practice of stillness through meditation and developing a reflective understanding of life and the world around them; Year 5/6 have created a peaceful sensory chill out area with the sounds of trickling water.
- Lewes New School: pupils have collected old CD’s and re-used them to make the reflective lily pads floating on the pond.
- Birchwood Grove Primary, Burgess Hill: pupils have worked with the talented Forest School teacher Belinda King of King of the Woods and created a tactile curtain which reflects the beauty of the woods.
- Hertford Junior School, Brighton: working with the creative Nicola Gardener from Doodle Time, the children have been inspired by creatures and made the beautiful flags hanging in the trees.
- Sompting Abbotts School, Sompting: Year 6 students have reflected on their school’s special place in the South Downs where they play in the woods and regularly build cosy ‘adult free’ dens and have recreated one for us. Woven into the structure is a shredded painting they’ve made of their sea view from the school.
Also on the Arts Trail:
Follow the trail to discover the latest interactive creation from artist & musician Richie Crago. You are invited to come and play with the electronic instruments and Richie will be performing live sets on the installation throughout the weekend. Artist Emily Warren (The Stealthy Rabbit) has collaborated on this project and created some wild and wonderful creatures that are hiding in the trees around the festival. Can you spot all of Emily’s creations?
A fallen tree has grown back to life, and is now transformed into a magical creature that is ready to ride. At its roots stands a giant butterfly shimmering…inviting children and parents to investigate further and climb upon regal saddles. Explore your imagination as you take your seat, looking down upon the lake and off into the woodland. Local artist Natalie Keegan has created art for Body and Soul, Big Chill, Latitude and Into The Wild festivals.
See you in the woods!
