Making The Trent Valley Cabinet of Curiosities
Photo of a Dabchick taken by photographer Richard Styles from ST6 Photography Group
Fran explored these questions with the crafty hands group at House of Bread in Stafford. Together they thought about things that help to make us feel safe or anchored and our own connections to the river and to nature. In the first session Fran was joined by artist Holly Johnson and the group created a selection of small mascots inspired by worry dolls to take away along with decorated pouches to keep them in. In the second session the group explored the themes in more depth - alongside designing their quills, creating mini-nests and taking part in sensory story telling with Esther Brennan.
Nest building - gathering materials and testing ideas!
Fran Buxton and House of Bread Stafford
Hope and survival-A nest as a time capsule of the river
Artist Fran Buxton was inspired by the seasonality and nesting habits of Dabchicks. Dabchicks or Little Grebes are a waterbird who build nests that appear to float on the river’s surface but are actually tied to submerged roots or branches so as not to drift away. Fran used this idea to explore with participants what other hidden anchors connect us to place - how do our own stories and experiences anchor us? And how do our heritage stories intermingle with the ecological heritage of the non human communities of the Trent Valley?
UPCOMING WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Across July our artists will be working with groups in Stoke on Trent and Stafford
We will also be running a drop-in open workshop as part of August Climate Cafe - Saturday 1st August 10-3pm and scheduling some additional open workshops more details coming soon.
In the meantime! Transforming the Trent Valley are running a series of River Monitoring Walks you can sign up for here
This project has been commissioned by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, as part of the Trent Valley Past and Present Project. It is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
Find out more about the wider project here: https://www.thetrentvalley.org.uk/projects/tvpp/
