Hatch Farm art project: creating blueprints for the future
Community and school workshops creating public artworks
Residents and schoolchildren of Hatch Farm estate in West End took part in a free creative walk and workshop event aimed at enhancing a communal open space through public art.
Artists working on the project ran a cyanotype photography workshop with pupils at St James’ CofE Primary School, and members of the local community.
In the morning, artist Felicity Hammond and architect Mat Barnes worked with pupils from Years 4 and 5 to delve into what public art is, and how we can find creative inspiration in the natural environment. Each group collected leaves from trees around the school and made their own compositions for cyanotype photographs – exposing their designs in sunlight to capture contact prints on specially prepared paper which turns blue around the leaf shapes when fixed in water.
Teacher Sarah Callard said: “The children and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this amazing project and it was lovely to work with Felicity and Mat.” And one of the children said: “I wish we could do this every day!”
In the afternoon the artists met with local residents at The Willows to talk about their ideas for the project and where the artwork of sculpted earthworks and eco-resin seating panels could be installed. The group then walked together, collecting leaves on route to Townhill Farm Community Centre to make their own cyanotypes, with impressive results!
The workshops were funded by developer contributions.