Pop(py) Art: In Remembrance
Over the last few months I have been honoured to have a small part in a truly wonderful art and education project for Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
Over the last few months, hundreds of school children have been working with local artist Laura Stenhouse and creating their own poppies, made from recycled drinks bottles. The project mixed heritage, history, art, sustainability and recycling with the act of remembrance.
Each child, and families in public events, has made their own poppy, and these are now on display in Conwy Castle.
Today I visited the site with some of the ‘exhibiting artists’, to see their amazing display on this very special day.
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- Poppy Dragon on the castle bank, facing the medieval town
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- Poppies outside the castle
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- The poppies were made by local children out of recycled drinks bottles
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- Artist Laura Stenhouse and I
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- Conwy Schoolchildren surround their artwork
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- The giant poppy made from poppies was located in the East Barbican of Conwy Castle
Press Release prior to the event, on Cadw website
Hundreds of poppies by local children to be exhibited at Conwy Castle
The installation, led by local artist Laura Stenhouse, will be ‘planted’ around the castle, and will include poppies forming the shape of a red dragon.
The display will appear on the castle embankment facing the historic Welsh walled town, to remember the Welsh soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country.The exhibition is the culmination of months of workshops with schools from the Conwy area and the local community.
The poppies have been made from recycled bottles, and the wooden frame for the dragon artwork has been created by Llandrillo College woodwork department.
Artist Laura Stenhouse said, “I’m delighted to have worked with the children of Conwy to create a piece of art in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives fighting for their country. “Conwy Castle is a fitting and majestic place to play host to this beautiful piece of community art, and the exhibition will leave a lasting impact, not only on the exhibiting artists – the children – but also on the local community.”
Ken Skates AM, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “This community art project, taking place during the centenary commemorations of the First World War, has given local children the opportunity to participate in something incredibly special that will leave a lasting memory of the sacrifices of previous generations.
“The display will be visually stunning, set against the backdrop on Conwy Castle, and will be appreciated by visitors to the town, as well as the local community.
”Work to installation the poppies will be begin in early November ahead of Armistice Day (11 November), and the exhibition will end on 21 November.
Source: Hundreds of poppies by local children to be exhibited at Conwy Castle
