Weaving Wool Together: A Community Craft Project

 

 

Weaving Wool – A Community Craft Project

Artist Katie Gander is working in collaboration with the general public and volunteers from Agecraft and Sustainable Sussex to make a large-scale mixed media and textile piece.

About 

Working alongside Liane from Sustainable Sussex, Katie will facilitate collaborative  workshops at Sompting Community Farm and other venues from June – August 2022. Using the wool from sheep at the farm, workshops will be offered free of charge to share skills in shearing, washing, carding, dying and spinning. Some of these techniques enable participation in the creative journey. The wool will then be collaboratively woven, knitted, stitched and felted in different ways to make a large-scale artwork. Including a giant weaving frame.

Some of the art work made will be displayed at an outside creative space at the farm. Other parts of the work created will be incorporated into a larger piece and expanded on by the artist Katie who has been working as a community shepherd with Sustainable Sussex since  November 2021.

The theme of the artworks created will be ‘Reconnecting Communities’. As the Covid Pandemic starts to settle down and group activities are once again possible, there is an opportunity to find new and innovative ways of collaborating and connecting creatively. By using the wool from the sheep and discovering its versatility, participants can reflect on how things have changed for them over the last couple of years and express their responses through contributing to the art work.

Agecraft has recently been constituted as a Community Interest Company and is well  established as a community organisation that has run intergenerational projects in Lancing  and Sompting since 2015. Agecraft was commissioned by the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust in  2019 to deliver a community engagement project for the EPIC river restoration scheme in  Sompting, this included working creatively with local schools and the elderly to explore the  farming heritage of the area and encourage local participation with the creation of the  Sompting Brooks Nature Trail, this is now finished and open to the public. Katie is the project  manager for Agecraft and an artist who completed an MA in Inclusive Arts Practice at the  University of Brighton in 2019.  

Sustainable Sussex is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO no. 1182997).  Sustainable Sussex supports people who find accessing the workplace difficult, this includes  people with mental health difficulties, learning disabilities and those in long-term  unemployment. They provide welcoming spaces, diverse experience and education, and  community connections to help people grow and share their skills, knowledge and passion.  Their projects include Sussex Chilli Farm where volunteers are responsible for sowing  seeds, all the way, to selling high quality value-added products at markets and fairs.  Sustainable Sussex is currently working in partnership with Sompting Estate to create  Sompting Community Farm, Nature Trail and Orchard. Activities are varied to attract  a wide range of people and include food growing and cooking, animal care and management, nature and wildlife conservation, meditation and well-being activities, crafts  and building opportunities.

Key Dates

Launch event – Friday June 3 // 13.30 – 16.00 // Fen Farm, Test Road, Sompting, BN15 0EW

Natural Wool Dyeing and Spinning Workshops

Wednesday June 15 // 13.30 – 16.00 // Fen Farm, Test Road, Sompting BN15 0EW

Saturday June 18 & Saturday July 2 // 14.15 – 17.15 // Harriet Johnson Centre, Loose lane, Sompting, BN15 0BG

Getting Creative with Wool Workshops

July 27, August 3, August 10 & August 17 // 13.30 – 16.30 // Downs Barn, Lambleys Lane, Sompting, BN14 9JX

Display of Wool Craft Art

Saturday October 8 //  11.00 – 13.30 // Fen Farm, Test Road, Sompting BN15 0EW

 

To find out more and book your place please email Katie at agecraftsussex@gmail.com

 

Contact

Facebook: www.facebook.com/agecraftsussex & www.facebook.com/SustainableSussex

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weavingwooltogether/

 

Getting Creative with Wool Workshops Poster
Natural Wool Dying and Spinning Workshop