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….is
….is a voluntary group that aims to make art accessible to all. It takes
art out of the art gallery environment and places it in public spaces.
Our work is based on Creativity, Community and Nature. We aim to
bring the community
community of Barry together through public art.
Art4u recently created a Friendship Tree in The Knap
Gardens. We would like to give you some information on the
creative project we are offering - setting up your own
friendship tree in your school.
For hundreds of years, people have known the importance of trees. Trees are the supreme
symbols of dynamic growth, seasonal death and regeneration. Reverence for their power goes far
back to primitive beliefs that god’s and spirits inhabited them. This idea evolved in European
folklore into the idea of the ‘Tree-man’ or ‘Green- Man’. For the Celts the tree was held in high
esteem and as something sacred, together with standing stones they became the focal point of many
sacred places. Some people even make some trees special by putting ribbons or personal objects
onto its branches. This could be as a token to someone dear to you or to mark your connection to
the community. Art4u wanted to create a tree like this in Barry so that the people of Barry could
have their own community tree. As well as decorating the tree we also put a ring of stones around it
to mark it as a special tree
Here are some of the items that have been hung on our tree.
Following the success of The Friendship
Friendship Tree set up at The
Knap, Lake and Gardens, in Barry, Art 4 U would like to engage
with local schools on the project. We would like to give a short talk on
the theme of friendship and community to the students and tell them
about the tree.
Maybe the students would like to setup their own tree in their school.
Art 4You could facilitate this.
Art4You is embarking on developing a community of Friendship
Trees throughout the Vale and building links between schools and the
wider community.
The talks would be given by professional artists from the Vale of
Glamorgan.
• A creative workshop from professional artists from the local
community.
• A talk about friendship and its importance, especially in
schools. The tree will become a focal point to remind the
children
children to be a friend to everyone.
• It will engage pupils with the wider community; Art4u would
like to make this happen in most primary schools. This will
make your school part of a more friendly and positive
environment.
• It will encourage creativity and
and the children can take
ownership of the tree after we have gone. It is an installation
project that can be constantly adapted/ added to with the
supervision of the teachers.
• It connects the children with their local Welsh
Welsh heritage by
participating in an
an ancient Celtic custom.
• Your school will always have links with Art4U in the future
and can be kept updated of all our local events and creative
projects.
• It has many links with the current curriculum that could be
incorporated.
In December 2010, Art4U took on its first school for the project. This was
quite a success, and we had great feedback. Contact Emma Evans if you
would like more info on how the project worked for the school.
We began by giving a small presentation to the whole school on a PowerPoint,
explaining in language that all could understand, about the project. After the
assembly, Artist Christie Leat-Bowen led a workshop with Year 4. The
school’s selected tree was very small and fragile and so we accommodated the
work for the tree, making light weight 2D work that could be laminated thus
protecting the work and the tree. See pictures of the day below;
This project is very versatile; depending on the type of tree your
school has it could be very simple or very elaborate!
Ideally your school would need a tree somewhere within the grounds, that is low
hanging or easily reachable by the pupils. If you don’t have one but would like a
friendship tree, there is the option of either a large indoor plant, or a handmade tree.
Art materialsmaterials Art4U is a voluntary organisation and has very little funding.
Depending on the type of project you would like to do (which can be discussed prior
to the visit) you should provide your own materials.
Standard materials should include, Paper, card, crepe paper, scrap materials, collected
and found items (i.e. toilet rolls, cartons, etc) any craft materials your school might
have. Even clay if you have the facilities!
A computer and projector are essential for the presentation, and a laminator,
laminator, scanner
etc also would be great.
The project can be altered to your needs and requirements, so if your art teacher has
any ideas please feel free to let us know and we can include it in the workshop.
Standard ideas for workshops include paintings, collages,
collages, objects made from craft
materials, poems and literary artwork. After the workshop the tree should be treated
as an ongoing object of friendship that needs regular new trimmings, and new students
should mark their place on it too.
Workshops need to be about 2 hours long to be properly established. If you require a
longer time we are more than happy to oblige. We would also require the help of the
class teacher/ LSA in this.
You also need to decide which class/ year group you would like to do
the workshop with us. We can only do one, but we leave you with the
means to finish it off with the other classes.
For more information, or to arrange a workshop date please
contact via the below means;
Contact Christie LeatLeat- Bowen
Christie@art4uwales.org.uk
Or write to;
Art4U
Canon Hill Artspace
Canon Street
Barry
CF62 7RH
To find out more about Art4U please visit our website
www.art4uwales.org.uk
Please let us know if you’re interested and how you would like
your school to participate. Art4U has only trialled this
project at one school (As of March 2011) and is still in the
early stages of this venture so we appreciate any
input/tweaks to our ideas.
Kind Thoughts,