People play
Psst…If you pass by Artworks you can catch a glimpse of Alice’s wonderful Sculpture. It’s big and Pink- you cant miss it!
We are excited to be part of People Play, a new sculptural commission by Alice Irwin at The Piece Hall Halifax, in collaboration with the Art Charity Dean Clough, Yorkshire sculpture park and the Artworks, funded by the Arts Council England. The Peoples play installation will feature nine colourful sculptures taking over the grounds of the Piece Hall along with two more at Dean Clough and at the Artworks.
These contemporary sculptures reference both Irwins use of colour in her printing, etching and sculptures, along with representing childhood experiences with her large imaginary like figures paying acknowledgement to the families and children working in the once vast array of textile mills (both Dean clough’s and the Artworks building being surviving examples of textile mills) which put Halifax on the world map for cloth production. A strong theme that Peoples Play refers to is the importance of play, Irwin has taken into account the long hours so many children worked in the victorian mills of Halifax and still around the world to this day.
“Re-imagining The Piece Hall courtyard as a place for play is an incredible opportunity. The scale of the space is monumental and by adding into this exceptional example of Georgian architecture some contrasting contemporary and colourful sculptures I hope that the piece will resonate at different levels. On the one hand, we’re creating unusual playground for people to enjoy. At the same time, we’re recognising the roles that families and communities have played in the various stages of the cloth trade and ther impact on wider society. I’m really looking forward to seeing how everyone reacts, and interacts, with Peoples Play”
— Alice Irwin
Creative Learning Activities For The Home Inspired By Alice’s People Play
1. Practice drawing some Alice Irwin inspired shapes.
2. Draw your shapes onto a milk bottle with a permanent marker. A biro pen will also work!
4. Tape your shapes onto wooden sticks or make small holes in the shapes and push your stick through. You could try branches from the garden, wooden skewers, straws or lolly pop sticks.
Your decorations can be put in flower beds, pots or in jars on your windowsill
6. Or try with pen and paper!
More Activity Ideas
Can you make the shadows larger or smaller? Have a go at changing your light source!
Can you make different colours by layering the shapes?
Can you make a pattern with your bunting?
Can you use your shapes to make a hanging mobile?
Why not add your decorations to your rubbings? See Sarah O’Boyles other activity here.
People Play Bunting and Garden Decorations
Activity created by artist Sarah O’Boyle
Create some brightly coloured decorations from milk bottles inspired by Alice Irwin’s People Play to bring playful shadows to your garden!
Materials required:
Milk bottles
Scissors
Sharpie pens
Permanent marker/biro pen
Sellotape (optional)
Chalk (optional)
String and Pegs (optional)
About the artist
Sarah O’Boyle graduated from Glasgow School of Art with a degree in Woven Textiles in 1998. After spending 15 years working in education she is now a Halifax based freelance Artist Educator/Textile Designer. She has a passion for drawing and uses natural and synthetic fibres to create 3 dimensional woven structures
with inspiration coming from nature and scientific imagery. She has delivered
workshops at The Piece Hall, Square Chapel, The Artworks and Calderdale Royal Hospital, is employed as a workshop leader for Calderdale Libraries, Museums and Arts and as tutor for the WEA. Her educational work offers creative inspiration to children, families and adults of all ages and backgrounds, with a special interest in Art for Health.
3. Colour in your shapes using Sharpie pens
5. What shadows can your shapes make outside? Can you trace the silhouettes with chalk?
7. Why not make your shapes into some bunting? Hang them with string and pegs.