Clay at Cannon

Today we were back at one of our favourite sites, Cannon Hall, where we were very excited to be amongst the first to work in the newly renovated glass studio within the walled gardens for a pottery workshop. Such a beautiful setting for a truly relaxing afternoon.

UPLIFTERS described the therapeutic feeling of being on the wheel:

“It’s tactile, you can switch your mind off, relax, and go with the flow.”  

For many UPLIFTERS this was a first experience of working with ceramics and it did not disappoint. It was a relaxing activity to focus the mind and learn new skills, which made for a memorable day.

We love the opportunity to work in partnership with heritage sites across the Green UPLIFT programme and with more coming up at Cannon Hall we can’t wait to come back!

Landart!

We've had a great couple of sessions of Landart with esteemed land artist, James Brunt.

The first in Barnsley's picturesque Locke Park where UPLIFTERS created their own individual pieces from the nature around them. The second along the former canal in the Dearne Valley Park where we collaborated to create one large piece of landart using twigs, fern, ivy and flowers.

Thanks for sharing your expertise James! What a perfect blend of art and nature.

Here's a few snapshots of just some of the beautiful pieces created...

Creativity & Wellbeing Week 2022

This week we’ve been celebrating Creativity and Wellbeing week, a national initiative that raises awareness of the positive impact that creativity can have on our wellbeing.

What began as a small celebration of arts and health in London in 2012 has developed into a national open festival with a mix of online and in person events. Held in partnership between London Arts in Health Forum and the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance, this year’s theme was ‘Get Creative Get Outdoors’, a theme perfectly at the heart of our Green UPLIFT programme.

We celebrated ‘Creativity and Wellbeing Week’, in true signature, Green UPLIFT style, by taking creativity outdoors to Barnsley’s beautiful community Carer's Garden with our Green UPLIFT, ‘Sculpture Garden’.

Creativity was in full bloom in the garden as we were joined by Sculptor Michael Disley who led us in a stone carving workshop. It proved a wonderful activity to focus the mind. For many, it was their first experience of stone carving, as such a new skill was acquired. There was a great sense of achievement on the production of some beautiful carvings. The creativity continued with Leilah 'Dragon Willow' who led the group in making bird feeders. All the while we shared picnics in the sunshine with the conversation and cuppas flowing in equal measure! The evening finished with live music and a drumming workshop which brought everyone together, tapping out rhythms to create one group beat. 

It was a fabulous day highlighting just how valuable creativity is for our mental health and the positive impact it has on our wellbeing, the ethos right at the core of Creative Recovery.

Amongst the nature of the Carer's Garden and in good company, moods were lifted as we danced to the beat of our own drum.

Green UPLIFT's Galore! A catch up on recent events...

 

It's been a busy few weeks on the UPLIFT calendar with
green UPLIFT’s galore!

We started the month with ‘REWILD THE MIND’, an UPLIFT that took us to Goldthorpe
Embankment. 

Once a place for fly tipping, the Goldthorpe Railway Embankment Project has turned this dark and dirty, disused piece of railway embankment into a useable area for all the community to enjoy, and we certainly did! 

Telling the story of it's restoration and recovery through community collaboration, we were joined by Liane from Discover Dearne as well as friend of the UPLIFT project, poet, Winston Plowes. Connecting the nature of our surroundings with a sharing of words, UPLIFTERS were led on an insightful and peaceful poetry stroll with Winston and Liane in an area unfamiliar to most.

"I’ve never been before, I’d love to come back. I’ve learned about different reserves and it makes me feel more connected to nature being here. I’ll take away that horrific stuff can happen, but you can always make something beautiful."

 

 

Next on the bill was ‘Wonders of the Wetland’

A beautiful Green UPLIFT at the RSPB Old Moor, featuring a wetlands art trail of community made installations.

Working alongside artists from ‘Handmade Parade,’ UPLIFTERS were involved in a workshop prior to the event to build our own willow structure to be displayed on the reserve. 

In the beautiful Spring evening, as we watched the sun go down over the reserve, UPLIFTERS enjoyed the perfect blend of creativity and nature as we interacted with stilt walkers, giant puppets and artworks in this captivating spectacle across the wetlands. Spotting fish in the lake and dragon flies in the bushes we admired the beautiful installations made by the children of local schools. Kids and adults alike also enjoyed the bug making workshop led by Green UPLIFTERS.

Great pride was taken in the collaborative piece created by Green UPLIFTERS, titled ' A Moment of Calm'. Made from a willow structure, the piece features a giant head, very tranquil and serene in quality, with brightly coloured bugs escaping from the top. A representation of our idea of peace. Out on the Wetlands, in nature is a time to rest our heads, relax and debug, and it’s safe to say we all did that.

‘Wonders of the Wetland’ was simply wonderful! A lovely time was had by all!

 Green UPLIFT is go!

Our action packed green UPLIFT programme is now in full swing and we’ve had a lovely few events to kickstart the calendar!

UPLIFTERS enjoyed a heartwarming evening around the campfire as we gathered together for our ALLOTMENT SOCIAL. 

The afternoon was spent green fingered with a spot of gardening and crafts, festivities then spilled into the sunny Spring evening with beautiful acoustic sounds from Ryan Lauder and chip butties which just hit the spot!

UPLIFTER’s were in the expert hands of artist Emma Condor as they learnt to cast pewter on the open fire, creating beautiful trinkets and memories of the day.

SHAPES & LANDSCAPES was next on the bill, with a relaxing afternoon at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Inspired by both natural and sculptural forms, YSP provided the perfect setting for strolling and sketching. Amongst good company and with lots of laughter, UPLIFTERS enjoyed the perfect blend of art and nature. 'Shapes and Landscapes' was a lovely offering of an an alternative and creative Saturday stroll and a little moment of peace. 

“I enjoyed the day so much I was crying happy tears in my car on the way home. A happy day.”

We've enjoyed lots of lovely moments so far and we're only a few UPLIFT'S in, with a whole lot more to come!

If you’d like to get involved in the Green UPLIFT programme and receive your calendar of free events, text the word ‘UPLIFT’ to 07916282064.

 UPLIFT your spirits, rewild your mind, only the curious have something to find.