B Arts working to celebrate the re-opening of Burslem Park
Posted on | May 19, 2012 | No Comments
THERE’S STILL TIME TO GET INVOLVED IN #STOKE100 on MAY 30
Posted on | May 8, 2012 | No Comments
Sentinel covers launch of Spode site as factory for Stoke100 community parade
Posted on | May 1, 2012 | No Comments
A total of 95 schools, colleges and Staffordshire University have been involved in the project, which has seen them design more than 100 four-metre flags to represent certain countries that are taking part in the games.
The flags are being created by six artists from Newcastle-based B Arts and six volunteers, who will also create 200 carnival costumes.
The factory, in Eleanora Street, is also being used by musicians and dancers to rehearse, and a moveable carnival sculpture on wheels is being made.
Everything that is created will be used in a street parade when the Olympic Torch arrives in the city next month.
Susan Clarke, artistic director from B-Arts, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Stoke-on-Trent, especially the children and young people, to show off their imagination and creativity to the world.
“The city is bursting with creative potential and this is the sort of event where we need to make the most of it, and tell everyone about it.”
The flags have been stitched by B-Arts artist team, using a special technique used in making flag installations for the Manchester Day Parade and the Norfolk and Norwich International Festival.
They will be draped around children taking part in the Stoke100 parade.
The event will see nearly 1,000 school children and 200 musicians and dancers take to the streets to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flame in the city.
The parade will start at the bottom of College Road and take in the route up and in to Hanley Park for the evening celebrations.
The Olympic Torch will arrive in the city on Wednesday, May 30, and leave the following day.
Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development, said: “The workshops will be creating a huge number of the costumes people will get to see on parade on our city’s streets.
“This is a once in a lifetime chance for our city’s children and young people to become part of something that will live long in the memory.”
Among the schools taking part in the project is Stoke Minster Primary, in Boothen Old Road, which had to design a flag for North African country Sudan.
Year four teacher Lemara Jenkinson, who is also the school’s art subject leader, said: “The children came up with lots of different designs for the flag.
“They didn’t know much about Sudan before, so they have spent some time in lessons learning all about the country and that has been very educational for them.”
by Adam Blakeman. Do buy today’s Sentinel as there are more nice pictures in the print than online articles.
Workshops Start for London Road Festival
Posted on | April 26, 2012 | No Comments
As part of The London Road Festival this year, artist Behjat Omer will be working with 6 different groups of people to produce 6 sets of large 2D artworks.
These works will form an Open Air Gallery, entitled “My London Road” from 2nd – 5th June 2012, installed in different locations along London Road in Stoke Town.
The works will be made using photography, painting, drawing, text and collage. The artwork will be photographed and digitally printed on PVC to the size of doors and windows specifically for the 4 day show.
Opportunity for artists or students
Are you an artist who would like to take part in a 4 day workshop to make one set of these site-specific works for the Open Air Gallery?
We are looking not just at what we can see now, but our location extends into the past and the future. What was there before us? What vision do you have for the future of the road you are walking on?
What is your journey? What do you see? and how do you feel? While we are planning and creating the artwork we will take into account the people, streets, houses and shops we see and those we can’t.
Extra
This is a great opportunity for participants to learn some new skills and experiment with a variety of media experience creating a work for a public space – with a guide along the way. Work with high quality materials including; Graphite Powder, high quality paper, hand made brushes, props, and a range of drawing, painting, and materials/techniques.
Location:
West End Village, London Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 5AA.
Dates:
Saturday 28th April, 5th, 12th 19th of May, 10am – 4pm.
Booking
Places are strictly limited so apply as soon as possible.
To book one of the free places on this workshop please email Behjat Omer: baha.baha@hotmail.co.uk
Materials are provided but you can bring any additional materials that you wish to use.
More information and other ways to get involved with the festival:
Go to http://swoca.weebly.com/london-road-festival.html
B Arts turns Spode into carnival factory to help welcome the Olympic Torch
Posted on | April 18, 2012 | No Comments
We’re very excited about Stoke100, our Olympic Torch Relay procession event on May 30 with 1000 children and 200 dancers and musicians. One headache we had from the start was where on earth we could find that was large enough to rehearse such a huge creative team. Stoke City Council have very kindly let us use the Spode Factory site, so watch this space for details of further opportunities to get involved. See the press release and a great piece on the BBC national news website. for the full story.
Tags: Olympic Torch Relay > Participate > Stoke-on-Trent > young people
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Our Photo Blog
Beautiful image from Rachel Grant as part of our project with Burslem Park. See our website for details of workshops on June 2/3.
It’s all starting to feel very very soon #stoke100 (Taken with instagram)
Stoke100 music rehearsals are progressing well.
The #Stoke100 parade band 100Sounds rehearsing this weekend
The #Stoke100 parade features a very special guest. To see who exactly she is you’ll have to be there on the day, but here’s a tiny bit of her to whet your appetite.
Children from Sneyd Green primary school after making their carnival hats for Stoke100, one of 100 schools, colleges and organisations from across Stoke taking part
We launched Stoke100 with a press call today in the epic China Hall at Spode, where participating children and Stoke City Councillor Mark Meredith showed off some of the flags made so far.
Our first complete flag for #Stoke100 on show in the Spode Works China Hall.
We’re now firmly established in the old factory shop at the Spode Works in Stoke-on-Trent where Wendy Meadley is running our flag factory, making almost 100 4m high flags for the Stoke100 community parade on May 30th. Grove Junior School’s Denmark flag features their most famous export!
First flag being made at the new Flag Factory at the Spode building as part of Stoke100 community parade
