THE EXPLORING ART GROUP COMMUNITY ART PROJECT
The latest Exploring Art community artwork to grace Sidmouth’s Wallspace was created as part of The Million Flowers Community Art Project. A project that celebrates the beauty and variety of flowers in Sidmouth.
The project was initiated by artist Maureen Hawkridge and the Exploring Art group of Sidmouth u3a, who led the 'Our Town' community art project in 2022/2023. Maureen’s flower mural idea was inspired by the vision of local benefactor Keith Owen, with one of his suggestions being to fill Sidmouth with flowers. The project was financed by an award from the Keith Owen Fund.
The Exploring Art group made paintings of flowers to inspire the other participants, and ran flower painting workshops throughout the summer of 2024 which were open to all.
Workshops in local schools were facilitated by Sidmouth School of Art and run by Exploring Art volunteers. The u3a group Painting for Pleasure also contributed paintings, as did Sidbury Art Group and the Friday Painters Group of Sidmouth Art Society, and people working at home. 401 people aged from 4 to 85 contributed their paintings, and the finished artwork contains over 500 flowers, leaves, butterflies and insects. Maureen used Photoshop to digitally collage all the flowers into a finished piece of art.
Louise Cole of Sidmouth School of Art added “Participation is key, it’s such a powerful act, to take part, have a go and learn a new skill, this colourful community artwork is testament to how art and collaboration fosters a sense of shared purpose and community belonging and can create a joyful connection to nature.”
This project was kindly supported by the Sid Vale Association's Keith Owen Fund and Sidmouth School of Art, visual arts charity whose mission is to make Sidmouth the Artwork.
The Sid Vale Association promotes conservation, protection and enhancement of the heritage and natural environment, runs the Sidmouth Museum, and supports initiatives for recreational and cultural activities in the Sid Valley.
In the 15 years since the Keith Owen Fund was established, over one million pounds in grants has been given to organisations within the Sid Valley for a wide range of projects, including some to make a million flowers bloom, such as school and community gardens, community bulb and tree planting, floral displays, wildflower meadows and nature conservation.
Kate Tobin, committee member for the SVA's Keith Owen Fund, says “We are thrilled that so many people have been involved in creating this beautiful artwork inspired by Keith Owen’s vision and wonderful gift to the Sid Valley. We hope it will inspire others in turn and we encourage community groups to get in touch with us if they have a project in mind that might benefit from a grant from the Fund”
The Million Flowers Community Artwork poster is displayed on the Wallspace billboard in the carpark by the swimming pool. Sidmouth School of Art’s Wallspace billboard is a public gallery for everyone. The billboard is a platform to grow confidence, share ideas and create interest: a community space: intriguing, fun and curious.
Maureen also said “The Wallspace billboard is unique to Sidmouth and we are lucky to have the opportunity to display our poster to publicly celebrate the work of the all those who joined in the project and of the people who make the flowers bloom, whether in public displays or in their own gardens.”
More Information
To find out more about the project visit Sidmouth School of Art’s website The Million Flowers Community Art Project | Sidmouth School Of Art
To find out more about the work of the Sid Vale Association visit sidvaleassociation.org.uk
The Sid Vale Association can be contacted by emailing info@sidvaleassociation.org.uk
For more information about Sidmouth u3a Exploring Art group, go to the Exploring Art group webpage
Gallery
Some of the artworks from the Free Workshops...including those from people who say they haven't painted anything since their schooldays!
Click on any image to start the slideshow.
