Clarks Village is giving visitors the chance to be involved in creating an art installation inspired by the Somerset countryside this summer
Talented artist and educator Joy Merron from Frome, supported by the Somerset Art Works team, is taking up residency under the London plane tree in the gardens outside Thornton’s and Radley in Clarks Village. Visitors are invited to join one of the seven free workshops led by Joy Merron and fellow artists Donna Vale and Lisa Cheung in July and August.
The sessions have been designed so shoppers can spend a few minutes or longer, and so that all ages can get involved to help create a magical installation using recycled materials and specially made decorations. Materials are provided and no previous artistic experience is required.
Steve Burge, marketing manager for Clarks Village said: “Somerset is a fantastic creative place and this summer we wanted visitors to have the opportunity to do something different and unique, to get involved and help create a living sculpture. Being an outdoor shopping centre in iconic countryside is core to what makes visiting Clarks Village so special.
“We’re also one of the greenest shopping centres in the UK so we love that Joy Merron’s design will showcase how recycled materials can be used to create extraordinarily beautiful art. We can’t wait to see how the installation evolves during the summer holidays and see the final result of everyone’s involvement at the end of August.”
A large colourful canopy made of strung and suspended recycled bottle tops will semi encircle the tree-trunk and create viewing windows from the walkways onto the heart of the installation – the garden tree. The gentle sound of the bottletops rustling and the light catching the colours of the bottle tops will evoke bunting, the whisper of waves, beach tents and summer celebrations.
On Saturday 22 July and Saturday 29 July visitors can help to plant miniature gardens in recycled bottles that will be suspended at the centre of the colourful canopy. The bottle gardens will burst into life during the summer as the plants, flowers, herbs and greenery grow and provide additional holiday destinations for insects.
On Saturday 5 and Thursday 10 August visitors are invited to make birds, butterflies and insects in the creative creatures workshops from reclaimed materials. The fluttering creatures will adorn the canopy and create subtle sounds with natural movements.
On Saturday 19 August visitors can make flowers using reclaimed materials that will be suspended in the canopy. The beautiful transparent flowers capture the colourful light to add the magical spark to the installation.
On Saturday 26 August visitors can make summer jewels to decorate the installation. Flowers and leaves will be encapsulated in clear and tinted resin ‘drops’ to be strung like ‘fruits’ – echoing a change in the seasons.
For full details of the times and dates of the celebrating summer workshops visit: clarksvillage.co.uk.
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