Summer Art Workshops

Here are photos from some of the summer creative workshops run at St Aubyn Devonport as part of the Run with the Fire project run by Army of Artists.

Be touched by the presence of God

Army of Artist's Run with the Fire community art exhibition and creative workshops have been attracting local press coverage in the Plymouth Herald. Click here for the latest story, here for a profile of Anita Collins, and here for the original article about their initiative.

Joy Lawrence writes:

"This is my kind of art: beautiful, touching, stunning, understandable – eat your heart out Tate Modern! ...

If you want to be inspired, encouraged, uplifted, dare I say – touched by the presence of God, take a visit to the Run With The Fire Exhibition at St Aubyn's in Devonport."

Opening Night: Army of Artists 'Run with the Fire'

Click here for photos from the great opening night of the Run with the Fire project by Army of Artists and here for details of further summer workshops. This Run with the Fire project is a community art exhibition with creative workshops. It is a creative response to two themes linked with the Olympics – Communities Connecting and Light being passed from one person to another.

Run with the Fire Community Art Exhibition and Creative Workshops

SATURDAY 14th JULY – 5th SEPTEMBER 2012   ST.AUBYN CHURCH  DEVONPORT (incorporating a public library & cafe)

Run with the Fire is an exciting arts project and exhibition engaging churches, schools and community groups across Plymouth.  The Olympic Games will be commencing this summer – a time of excitement and celebration. Two strong symbols are associated with the Olympic Games, which will be used as inspiration for this exhibition.

- The Olympic Games motto is ‘Higher, Faster, Stronger’ and the symbol is made up of 5 rings, each ring representing a continent connecting during the games.

- The Olympic Flame stands for peace, unity and friendship, which is spread as the flame is passed from one torch bearer to another. Lit in Greece, it then sets out on a 70 day Olympic Torch Relay, shining light on the whole of the UK.

Run with the Fire is a creative response to these symbols; celebrating the stories, faith and skills that we pass on from one generation to another, building relationships, embracing life and connecting different communities.

THE BRIEF – Each person or group will start this creative process at the same simple starting point – a hula hoop or a circular disc of some sort. You are invited to creatively transform this Olympic ring into a piece of art which we will then display together representing our many connections. You may want to work on this alone and/or make this a community piece. Think about what you are communicating, the skills you are developing, how you are feeling and what flame you are carrying. Words to inspire – Running with perseverance, training, good news, spurring each other on, hope, passion, flame, power, celebration, warmth, life, passing the baton on, focus, light, energy.  Ideas - You may want to use photography, weave, stitch, knit, use beads, wire, felt, stretch canvas over the hoop to paint on, collage or do calligraphy…
ESSENTIAL DETAILS – Each final piece will be displayed vertically – hung up or stood on the ground against a wall. It can be any size up to a maximum of 1.25 metres in diameter. And it needs to be evident that you have started with a hoop/ring of some sort! Please let us know if you are offering a piece toward Run with the Fire. If you’d like to take part but would rather work with others, then do let me know ASAP as I may be able to organise group workshops.

You can email us at info@armyofartists.co.uk or contact Anita on 07890 201856

Run with the Fire - Part 2

After the success of The Gathering Army of Artists are taking the Run with the Fire concept and running with it. This new project provides them with a timely opportunity to engage with each other and the Plymouth community once again. Here is their brief for Run with the Fire, a project packed with potential on many levels:

"Individuals, churches, schools and community groups are invited to take part in this creative project and exhibition. The Olympic Games will be commencing this summer - a time of excitement and celebration. Two strong symbols are associated with the Olympic Games, which will be used as inspiration for this exhibition.

The Olympic Games motto is ‘Higher, Faster, Stronger’ and the symbol is made up of 5 rings, each ring representing a continent connecting during the games.

The Olympic Flame stands for peace, unity and friendship, which is spread as the flame is passed from one torch bearer to another. Lit in Greece, it then sets out on a 70 day Olympic Torch Relay, shining light on the whole of the UK.

Run with the Fire is a creative response to these symbols; celebrating the stories, faith and skills that we pass on from one generation to another, building relationships, embracing life and connecting different communities.

Each person or group will start this creative process at the same simple starting point - a hula hoop or circular disc of some sort. You are invited to creatively transform this Olympic ring into a piece of art which we will then display together representing our many connections. You may want to work on this alone and/or make it a community piece. Think about what you are communicating, the skills you are developing, how you are feeling and what flame you are carrying. Words to inspire – Running with perseverance, training, good news, spurring each other on, hope, passion, flame, power, celebration, warmth, life, passing the baton on, focus, light, energy. Ideas - You may want to use photography, weave, stitch, knit, use beads, wire, felt, stretch canvas over the hoop to paint on, collage, or do calligraphy…

Each final piece will be displayed vertically - hung up or stood on the ground against a wall. It can be any size up to a maximum of 1.25 metres in diameter. And it needs to be evident that you have started with a hoop/circular disc of some sort!"

The project will result in an exhibition at St. Aubyn’s Church, Devonport (incorporating a public library and café) from Friday 13th July – September 2012.

New community art initiative

We are excited and encouraged that the group of artists behind The Gathering are looking to create a piece of community art around the theme of Run with the Fire.

The Gathering was a contemporary art installation created as a Fringe event during the final week of the British Art Show 7 in Plymouth. It featured around 60 life-sized figures, created by community, church and school groups, to represent the millions whose lives have been transformed by one person. Just over two thousand years ago a comet, or star, moved across the eastern Mediterranean skies to herald the birth of a child. The Gathering reminded its participants of the significance of this historical moment for every individual and for the future of our planet. Over 400 people visited the installation during its brief three day appearance and the feedback was hugely encouraging to those involved.