The Big Draw, the world's largest drawing festival is now in full swing, running from 1 October to 2 November 2014 – and Forest Gate, London E7 has two great events happening over the next two weekends. Both events are in keeping with this year's theme 'It's Our World', a celebration of our environment.
After
'Create a Swarm' on Saturday 11 October, the fun continues on Saturday 18 October with 'Create a Woodland Gallery' presented by Children's Gallery and
The Herbarium Project. You can find more details on
The Big Draw website here >
The idea of this event is to create an outdoor gallery using a variety of experimental approaches to drawing. Take inspiration from the earth, forest and nature and use the tree's branches as a platform to hang your drawing creations.
Use the wet clay to make your own pencil to draw with, collect insects and draw from nature, make giant tree rubbings and draw with scissors, or blow paint or ink around the page to make amazing trees that you can decorate with 'leaf glitter'.
A variety of paper and drawing materials will be available plus artists' expertise to assist with drawing techniques. This includes local artists and creatives Nicola Cunningham,
Sonya Patel Ellis,
Rocco Turino and
Tom Ellis.
All work will be hung from the trees to celebrate the surroundings and the community involved, so come and see even if you think you don't want to draw.
To find us, head to Wanstead Flats off Dames Road – just follow the signs to 'The Woodland Gallery', located in the little copse of woods between the 'Helicopter Park' by Jubilee Pond and Sidney Road, Forest Gate E7 0ED. Fingers crossed for fine weather, although the organisers hope to continue rain or shine – just wear appropriate clothing and they'll adjust the activities to suit.
It's all happening on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 3pm, so see you there!
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: CHILDREN'S GALLERY
Children's Gallery is a place for children of all ages to create and exhibit their work, founded by artist and early years teacher Nicola Cunningham. Events, gatherings and art sessions have so far been held at the
Wanstead Tap in Forest Gate and continue with The Big Draw on Wanstead Flats. Look out for more events in the future.
Contact: Children's Gallery
Email:
nichumbug@hotmail.com
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: THE HERBARIUM PROJECT
The Herbarium Project is a platform for the creative exploration of links between nature, art, science, books and culture, created by writer, editor and visual artist Sonya Patel Ellis. The project officially launched in March 2014 with an exhibition of botanically-inspired works by Ellis at
CoffeE7 in Forest Gate, London E7, including a herbarium of her garden pressed over a year (see review
Time Out). Since then, Ellis sells works through local emporium Number 8 Forest Gate, has collaborated with local artist
Eleanor Pearce on an event to raise funds for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, has given talks to the WI and made herbaria of various locations in the neighbourhood. When not making books for various publishers – including
Nature Tales: Encounters with Britain's Wildlife – she is also involved with the
Forest Gate Community Garden, creating and maintaining their
website and
blog. This is the first of hopefully many collaborations with Children's Gallery.
Contact: Children's Gallery
Email:
sonyapatelellis@gmail.com
Website:
www.theherbariumproject.com
Blog:
http://atlherbier.blogspot.com
Twitter:
@sonyapatelellis
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/sonyapatelellis
It's amazing what a wealth of talents we have within our growing number of Members: photographers, artists, teachers, carers, architects, retirees, website designers, gardeners... and a Reader in Environmental Geochemistry at Queen Mary College, Dr Kate Spencer.
First up is local artist Eleanor Pearce's 'Create A Swarm!' at CoffeE7 (7 Sebert Road, Forest Gate, E7 0NQ), a collaborative drawing experience, exploring the wonderful world of the bee and creating a swarm of amazing bee drawings in the process. You can find more details on The Big Draw website here >
