TRANSFORMING FROM STARDUST - Residency and Workshops
 

In 2016, I was Artist in residence at the Langley Academy, supported by Arts Council funding, creating fibre-optic light art installations and workshops, inspired by William Herschel’s work in Slough. William Herschel was an eighteenth century astronomer, based in Slough. His discoveries have shaped our understanding of the universe.  Inspired by Herschel’s discoveries, and the Journey of the Universe Film and Book by Brian Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker, I obtained a Grants for The Arts Award from the Arts Council England. Working in partnership with Jenny Blay, Head of Museum Learning at The Langley Academy.  By linking Herschel’s work with his discovery of infra-red radiation and modern fibre-optics, the residency explored the interplay between art, science and museum learning for community inspire a greater sense of belonging and cultural heritage for Slough residents of all ages.   I created a series of fibre optic sculptural based light installations that draw on themes of astrophysics and aim to connect people with universal creative processes. 

 

These sculptures were a springboard for developing a series of workshops for children, young people, and adults to facilitate creative expression about the universe and our place within it.  We ran 19 workshops which triggered the development of other projects across science and art.  This was followed by a further exhibition of the installation with a series of workshops in March 2017 at the Langley Academy Science.  With further funding, there is the possibility to further develop the workshops, create smaller portable sculptures and virtual reality films for education across arts and sciences to make the programme more widely available beyond Slough via an inspirational training and a programme guide.

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THEME OF EACH SCULPTURE

Flaring Forth: Birth of the Universe, a baby, a creative idea; new direction, infancy, Spring, Dawn.

Emerging: Galaxy formation, youth, evolving ideas, Golden section, Fibonacci sequence, Spring-Summer, Morning.

Radiance:  Star formation, adulthood, coalescence, Summer-Autumn, Afternoon.

Reprocessing:  Supernova, elderhood, breakdown, death, decay, base elements released back into the universe as materials for recreation, Winter, Night.

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RESPONSES TO THE INSTALLATION (age groups in brackets):

"I was really amazed about the 4 sculptures in the tent. It looked very different to other sculptures which you might find in a museum.”

“Very cool” (5 – 11), “really beautiful and shiny” (12-15), “Woah stars!“ (16-20), “Really attractive and exciting” (20-24), “Visually stunning” (40-49), “Ethereal, subtle, immersive” (50 – 64), “The blue swirly one is like a peaceful tornado.” (5-11), “The first one reminds me of a jellyfish.” (5-11), “Softens thinking – allows being” (50 – 64), "peaceful and calm” (5- 11), "happy" "curious" "as if I am in the universe, floating around" "as if I’m in a dream”  (12-15), "Soulful / spiritual” (40 -49), “It was a great experience. It makes me want to jump.” (5 –11)          

It makes me want 

“… to explore the processes used and maybe use them myself in DT” (16-19)

"to design” (16-19)

“to draw the same thing," "make art too.” (12 – 15)

“ to explore more about the foundation of stars.” (12 – 15)

“to learn more about space, galaxies, the universe” (16-19)

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