Living Garden: Workshops
JANUARY – OCTOBER, 2021
From January 2021, THE LIVING GARDEN is a programme of activity in collaboration with The Friends of Spode Garden, developed by artist Anna Francis and supported by AirSpace Gallery. The programme will aim to use all of our human senses to explore the material qualities of the garden, as a space for humans to come together, experience nature, relax in a green environment and connect with trees, plants and wildlife.
THE LIVING GARDEN project will see a series of Public Workshops and Events over the course of the project.
WORKSHOP #6
THE WINTER WORKSHOPS
PRUNING with ZDENEK VALKOUN-WALKER and
CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING with LOUISE ADAMS
21st and 28th NOVEMBER
Full Details and Tickets Booking HERE
WINTER PRUNING WORKSHOP
Sunday, 21st November
The Spode Rose Garden group is pleased to partner with Zdenek Valkoun-Walker, Head Gardener at Dorothy Clive Garden, on a special Winter Pruning Session. In this hands-on session Zdenek will talk through the theory and provide a practical demonstration on how to correctly prune roses, fruit trees and wysteria, before supporting the group in a practical pruning activity in the Spode Rose Garden.
This is a free workshop, but places are limited.
Refreshments will be provided, but please bring your own tools (secateurs), and gloves, and wrap up for the Early Winter weather.
About Dorothy Clive Gardens: Located in the woodland quarter of Staffordshire close to both the Shropshire and the Cheshire borders, The Dorothy Clive Garden has delights and surprises whatever the season. The garden was first developed by Colonel Harry Clive in 1940, to provide his ailing wife – Dorothy – with a ‘series of interesting walks’ as she battled with Parkinson’s disease.
CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP
Sunday, 28th November
The Spode Rose Garden group is pleased to invite our friends and followers to join us in the garden, for the final workshop of the year, delivered with Louise and Mark from Stockton Brook Studios.
Come along to our festive event and make a wonderful natural Christmas Wreath from scratch. You will twist hazel into a wreath and be able to decorate it to fit your door. All the materials are provided ... festive greenery foraged from the garden, beautiful ribbons and Christmas decorations to enhance your design.
Mark and Louise both love traditional Christmas customs and look forward to a creative afternoon with you.
Bring your friends to a fun start to Christmas. Tea, coffee and mince pies will keep you going as you weave your beautiful Wreath with lots of help and guidance.
WORKSHOP #5
WEEKENDER
with VARIOUS ARTISTS
18 & 19 SEPTEMBER, 2021 12–4pm
FREE
The Living Garden Weekender at The Spode Rose Garden is an opportunity to discover this beautiful community green space, via the plants and inhabitants found there. Workshops and hands on activities will reveal the material resources of the garden, and show the garden as a space for play, discovery and making.
Dyeing with Plants with KATRINA WILDE
Plant Magic with FRANCES DISLEY
Propagating Roses with HELEN MORGAN
Yoga with ESPI
Sign Writing with REBECCA DAVIES
Painting and Drawing with LOUISE ADAMS
For full details click HERE
WORKSHOP #4
HOW TO...
with VARIOUS ARTISTS
31 JULY, 2021 12–4pm
FREE drop-in day
Urban green spaces have become ever more important in terms of health and wellbeing, and we are just beginning to understand the expanded role that city green spaces play in supporting the better health of city dwellers. The Living Garden project is a programme of activity for The Spode Rose Garden in Stoke-upon-Trent, to really understand the resource assets of this beautiful garden.
Our HOW TO event is an opportunity for people to visit the garden and pick up some new skills. We will have hands on activities for all ages to take part in and try; both horticultural and creative. Plus there will be a PLANT SALE and JAMS and CHUTNEYS By Beryl available: all to support the Spode Rose Garden.
HOW TO…
CATCH A BOTANICAL BEAST with Jenna Naylor
Join artist Jenna Naylor as we spend time exploring the Spode Rose Garden and gather the natural materials to shape your own botanical beasts. She will briefly explain the methods she uses within her art, and show you ways the garden could spark ideas for your own creature. What will your botanical beast look like? Suitable for all ages and abilities, we will use tools such as pocket microscopes, writing and drawing to think about what you find inspiring in the garden. Jenna will then demonstrate how you can use the natural materials gathered to create your own unique botanical beast. During this challenging time, the importance of natural and green spaces for our wellbeing has become even more apparent. Jenna will show you different ways you may be inspired by the Spode Rose Garden and how this and many other green spaces can become a source of creativity.
WORK WITH MEDICINAL PLANTS with Frances Disley
Nature Cure Residency artist, Frances Disley invites you to spend a bit of time getting to know some of the medicinal plants within the garden. Then learn a little about making simple home remedies from these plants including how to infuse plants with oils and how to use these oils to make a simple balm.
PROPAGATE A PERENNIAL with Helen Morgan
Creative Practitioner and gardener Helen Morgan will share her many years of growing knowledge, to show us how to propagate our perennials, and grow from cuttings, and will also share her knowledge in a hands on activity to plant a biennial seed to take home.
MAKE A FLAG with Letting in the Light
Join Local art group Letting in the Light and bring your ideas to help create a design for flags that will be used during Heritage High Street Action Zone events which will take place in Stoke over the next 3 years.
During the workshop participants can take photo’s of elements of the rose garden which they will transform into designs. This fun hands on activity is suitable for all ages.
Plus lots more Hands On How To Demos from our Friends of Group.
Come along and hear about how you can get involved in the garden, or just spend some time in this peaceful green space.
WORKSHOP #3
MOTH NIGHT
with JOANNE MILLS
9 JULY, 2021 7–9pm
A chance to discover the nighttime garden, search for winged visitors and take part in a raku workshop with ceramic artist Jo Mills.
Moth Night is the latest sensory workshop to take place in The Spode Rose Garden as part of The Living Garden project with AirSpace gallery.
For this special twilight event we will explore the garden, seeking out the garden's nighttime pollinators, while also taking part in a magical raku firing workshop.
Ceramic artist Joanne Mills has been undertaking a project in The Spode Rose Garden, to develop a permanent responsive artwork, which will be installed ahead of the British Ceramics Biennial Festival, September 2021. This Moth Night is a chance to hear about the Ceramic Moon Planters Jo has been working on, and to experience the garden at night.
Urban green spaces have become ever more important in terms of health and wellbeing, and we are just beginning to understand the expanded role that city green spaces play in supporting the better health of city dwellers. The Living Garden project is a programme of activity for The Spode Rose Garden in Stoke-upon-Trent, to really understand the resource assets of this beautiful garden.
We will be observing covid safety regulations during the workshop, adhering to social distancing and as a result, numbers for this hands on workshop are very limited.
WORKSHOP #2
COLOURS OF THE LIVING GARDEN
with SARAH FRASER
25 MAY, 2021
A hands-on workshop experimenting with natural elements from the Spode Rose Garden to create coloured ceramic slips.
In this workshop with Sarah Fraser, you are invited to explore materials found in the Spode Rose Garden and on the historic Spode works site to make slips (liquid clay) for decorating ceramics. Working with bone china, clay dug from the garden and a small selection of oxides, you will learn about different ceramic materials and the colours that they produce. Through your own experimenting, you will mix your own slips and test them on a test tile and small test piece. All materials will be provided. You will take part in a one hour and 15 minute workshop - select time slot when booking.
This experimental session is suitable for all abilities, but may be particularly interesting to artists working with clay and ceramicists.
Sarah Fraser studied visual arts at University of South Africa, she developed her ceramics skills through community learning and working in shared studio spaces in London and Manchester. She has a PGCE in lifelong learning and has worked with the British Ceramics Biennial leading on community projects out of the studio at Spode since 2019. Her current work explores architectural ceramics and the relationships between people, clay, the environment and everyday life. She is interested in the idea of collaborative processes of designing architectural forms which resonate with people’s stories and experiences.
@_sarah_fraser
Urban green spaces have become ever more important in terms of health and wellbeing, and we are just beginning to understand the expanded role that city green spaces play in supporting the better health of city dwellers. The Living Garden project is an opportunity to develop a programme of activity for The Spode Rose Garden in Stoke-upon-Trent, to really understand the resource assets of this beautiful garden.
Through a series of workshops which activate the garden, and events which bring people in to consider the garden as a resource throughout 2021, the garden will be revealed as a true space of collaboration, development and creativity.
Supported by Arts Council England, The Living Garden is a programme of activity in collaboration with The Friends of Spode Garden, developed by artist Anna Francis and supported by AirSpace Gallery.
Look out for future workshops for the garden via AirSpace Gallery website and Social Media Platforms.
This workshop will happen in an outdoor garden space, with social distancing measures and covid secure considerations observed. There will be a maximum of 6 participants in the group.
WORKSHOP #1
THE SMELL OF THE ROSE GARDEN
with A LIBRARY OF OLFACTORY MATERIAL
JANUARY 23, 2021
A multi-sensory online event, transporting you from the depths of Winter to the Spode Rose Garden, at the height of Summer.
This first workshop as part of The Living Garden project will explore the history and physical qualities of the garden via the sense of smell. Collaborating with Clara Weale of The Library of Olfactory Materials, this online workshop will enable us to be transported to the beautiful summer garden, even in the depths of winter, via our computer screens and pre-posted workshop materials.
During the workshop we experienced a range of scents, and learned about the history of these perfume materials, a history of the Spode Rose Garden via a series of evocative and connected texts, as well as exploring together the thoughts and impressions that arise. To visit and download Anna Francis' specially created text from the evening, click HERE
Clara Weale is a scent designer based in Glasgow. She works to connect people to this often overlooked sense, through participatory projects, installations and workshops. Clara is the Director of A Library of Olfactive Material, a resource for scent education, exploration and experimentation.
THE LIVING GARDEN project will see a series of Public Workshops and Events over the course of the project.
WORKSHOP #6
THE WINTER WORKSHOPS
PRUNING with ZDENEK VALKOUN-WALKER and
CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING with LOUISE ADAMS
21st and 28th NOVEMBER
Full Details and Tickets Booking HERE
WINTER PRUNING WORKSHOP
Sunday, 21st November
The Spode Rose Garden group is pleased to partner with Zdenek Valkoun-Walker, Head Gardener at Dorothy Clive Garden, on a special Winter Pruning Session. In this hands-on session Zdenek will talk through the theory and provide a practical demonstration on how to correctly prune roses, fruit trees and wysteria, before supporting the group in a practical pruning activity in the Spode Rose Garden.
This is a free workshop, but places are limited.
Refreshments will be provided, but please bring your own tools (secateurs), and gloves, and wrap up for the Early Winter weather.
About Dorothy Clive Gardens: Located in the woodland quarter of Staffordshire close to both the Shropshire and the Cheshire borders, The Dorothy Clive Garden has delights and surprises whatever the season. The garden was first developed by Colonel Harry Clive in 1940, to provide his ailing wife – Dorothy – with a ‘series of interesting walks’ as she battled with Parkinson’s disease.
CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP
Sunday, 28th November
The Spode Rose Garden group is pleased to invite our friends and followers to join us in the garden, for the final workshop of the year, delivered with Louise and Mark from Stockton Brook Studios.
Come along to our festive event and make a wonderful natural Christmas Wreath from scratch. You will twist hazel into a wreath and be able to decorate it to fit your door. All the materials are provided ... festive greenery foraged from the garden, beautiful ribbons and Christmas decorations to enhance your design.
Mark and Louise both love traditional Christmas customs and look forward to a creative afternoon with you.
Bring your friends to a fun start to Christmas. Tea, coffee and mince pies will keep you going as you weave your beautiful Wreath with lots of help and guidance.
WORKSHOP #5
WEEKENDER
with VARIOUS ARTISTS
18 & 19 SEPTEMBER, 2021 12–4pm
FREE
The Living Garden Weekender at The Spode Rose Garden is an opportunity to discover this beautiful community green space, via the plants and inhabitants found there. Workshops and hands on activities will reveal the material resources of the garden, and show the garden as a space for play, discovery and making.
Dyeing with Plants with KATRINA WILDE
Plant Magic with FRANCES DISLEY
Propagating Roses with HELEN MORGAN
Yoga with ESPI
Sign Writing with REBECCA DAVIES
Painting and Drawing with LOUISE ADAMS
For full details click HERE
WORKSHOP #4
HOW TO...
with VARIOUS ARTISTS
31 JULY, 2021 12–4pm
FREE drop-in day
Urban green spaces have become ever more important in terms of health and wellbeing, and we are just beginning to understand the expanded role that city green spaces play in supporting the better health of city dwellers. The Living Garden project is a programme of activity for The Spode Rose Garden in Stoke-upon-Trent, to really understand the resource assets of this beautiful garden.
Our HOW TO event is an opportunity for people to visit the garden and pick up some new skills. We will have hands on activities for all ages to take part in and try; both horticultural and creative. Plus there will be a PLANT SALE and JAMS and CHUTNEYS By Beryl available: all to support the Spode Rose Garden.
HOW TO…
CATCH A BOTANICAL BEAST with Jenna Naylor
Join artist Jenna Naylor as we spend time exploring the Spode Rose Garden and gather the natural materials to shape your own botanical beasts. She will briefly explain the methods she uses within her art, and show you ways the garden could spark ideas for your own creature. What will your botanical beast look like? Suitable for all ages and abilities, we will use tools such as pocket microscopes, writing and drawing to think about what you find inspiring in the garden. Jenna will then demonstrate how you can use the natural materials gathered to create your own unique botanical beast. During this challenging time, the importance of natural and green spaces for our wellbeing has become even more apparent. Jenna will show you different ways you may be inspired by the Spode Rose Garden and how this and many other green spaces can become a source of creativity.
WORK WITH MEDICINAL PLANTS with Frances Disley
Nature Cure Residency artist, Frances Disley invites you to spend a bit of time getting to know some of the medicinal plants within the garden. Then learn a little about making simple home remedies from these plants including how to infuse plants with oils and how to use these oils to make a simple balm.
PROPAGATE A PERENNIAL with Helen Morgan
Creative Practitioner and gardener Helen Morgan will share her many years of growing knowledge, to show us how to propagate our perennials, and grow from cuttings, and will also share her knowledge in a hands on activity to plant a biennial seed to take home.
MAKE A FLAG with Letting in the Light
Join Local art group Letting in the Light and bring your ideas to help create a design for flags that will be used during Heritage High Street Action Zone events which will take place in Stoke over the next 3 years.
During the workshop participants can take photo’s of elements of the rose garden which they will transform into designs. This fun hands on activity is suitable for all ages.
Plus lots more Hands On How To Demos from our Friends of Group.
Come along and hear about how you can get involved in the garden, or just spend some time in this peaceful green space.
WORKSHOP #3
MOTH NIGHT
with JOANNE MILLS
9 JULY, 2021 7–9pm
A chance to discover the nighttime garden, search for winged visitors and take part in a raku workshop with ceramic artist Jo Mills.
Moth Night is the latest sensory workshop to take place in The Spode Rose Garden as part of The Living Garden project with AirSpace gallery.
For this special twilight event we will explore the garden, seeking out the garden's nighttime pollinators, while also taking part in a magical raku firing workshop.
'Raku generally refers to a type of low-firing process that was inspired by traditional Japanese raku firing. Western-style raku usually involves removing pottery from the kiln while at bright red heat and placing it into containers with combustible materials. Once the materials ignite, the containers are closed. This produces an intense reduction atmosphere which affects the colors in glazes and clay bodies. The drastic thermal shock also produces cracking—known as crackling since it is deliberate. The original Japanese style of raku is an outgrowth from Buddhist influences in life and especially in the tea ceremony.'
- Spruce Crafts
- Spruce Crafts
Ceramic artist Joanne Mills has been undertaking a project in The Spode Rose Garden, to develop a permanent responsive artwork, which will be installed ahead of the British Ceramics Biennial Festival, September 2021. This Moth Night is a chance to hear about the Ceramic Moon Planters Jo has been working on, and to experience the garden at night.
Urban green spaces have become ever more important in terms of health and wellbeing, and we are just beginning to understand the expanded role that city green spaces play in supporting the better health of city dwellers. The Living Garden project is a programme of activity for The Spode Rose Garden in Stoke-upon-Trent, to really understand the resource assets of this beautiful garden.
We will be observing covid safety regulations during the workshop, adhering to social distancing and as a result, numbers for this hands on workshop are very limited.
WORKSHOP #2
COLOURS OF THE LIVING GARDEN
with SARAH FRASER
25 MAY, 2021
A hands-on workshop experimenting with natural elements from the Spode Rose Garden to create coloured ceramic slips.
In this workshop with Sarah Fraser, you are invited to explore materials found in the Spode Rose Garden and on the historic Spode works site to make slips (liquid clay) for decorating ceramics. Working with bone china, clay dug from the garden and a small selection of oxides, you will learn about different ceramic materials and the colours that they produce. Through your own experimenting, you will mix your own slips and test them on a test tile and small test piece. All materials will be provided. You will take part in a one hour and 15 minute workshop - select time slot when booking.
This experimental session is suitable for all abilities, but may be particularly interesting to artists working with clay and ceramicists.
Sarah Fraser studied visual arts at University of South Africa, she developed her ceramics skills through community learning and working in shared studio spaces in London and Manchester. She has a PGCE in lifelong learning and has worked with the British Ceramics Biennial leading on community projects out of the studio at Spode since 2019. Her current work explores architectural ceramics and the relationships between people, clay, the environment and everyday life. She is interested in the idea of collaborative processes of designing architectural forms which resonate with people’s stories and experiences.
@_sarah_fraser
Urban green spaces have become ever more important in terms of health and wellbeing, and we are just beginning to understand the expanded role that city green spaces play in supporting the better health of city dwellers. The Living Garden project is an opportunity to develop a programme of activity for The Spode Rose Garden in Stoke-upon-Trent, to really understand the resource assets of this beautiful garden.
Through a series of workshops which activate the garden, and events which bring people in to consider the garden as a resource throughout 2021, the garden will be revealed as a true space of collaboration, development and creativity.
Supported by Arts Council England, The Living Garden is a programme of activity in collaboration with The Friends of Spode Garden, developed by artist Anna Francis and supported by AirSpace Gallery.
Look out for future workshops for the garden via AirSpace Gallery website and Social Media Platforms.
This workshop will happen in an outdoor garden space, with social distancing measures and covid secure considerations observed. There will be a maximum of 6 participants in the group.
WORKSHOP #1
THE SMELL OF THE ROSE GARDEN
with A LIBRARY OF OLFACTORY MATERIAL
JANUARY 23, 2021
A multi-sensory online event, transporting you from the depths of Winter to the Spode Rose Garden, at the height of Summer.
This first workshop as part of The Living Garden project will explore the history and physical qualities of the garden via the sense of smell. Collaborating with Clara Weale of The Library of Olfactory Materials, this online workshop will enable us to be transported to the beautiful summer garden, even in the depths of winter, via our computer screens and pre-posted workshop materials.
During the workshop we experienced a range of scents, and learned about the history of these perfume materials, a history of the Spode Rose Garden via a series of evocative and connected texts, as well as exploring together the thoughts and impressions that arise. To visit and download Anna Francis' specially created text from the evening, click HERE
Clara Weale is a scent designer based in Glasgow. She works to connect people to this often overlooked sense, through participatory projects, installations and workshops. Clara is the Director of A Library of Olfactive Material, a resource for scent education, exploration and experimentation.
