Tuesday 29 May 2012

Come and celabrate the Jubilee


Jubilee garden open for one day
Sat June 2nd 2012 12pm-8pm
199Tachbrook Rd Leamington Spa,
Warwickshire
CV31 3EW





Jubilee Front Garden by Helena Godwin. Community Artist
Replacing the negative space with positive light;
Last year this garden was dark and scruffy, full of litter and weeds.
Whole and broken bottles have been used to symbolise how our society throws away so much that is perfectly good. Something everyday, old, or broken, can have some use or beauty. As a society we often treat people like this.
When the African slaves arrived in America they hung coloured bottle on trees outside their homes to trap evil spirits. They believed the spirits would be attracted to the coloured light and get trapped safely inside the bottles instead of your house. This has gradually developed into the American Folk Art tradition of Bottle Trees.
CD’s have been added to give a bit of modern sparkle for the Jubilee.
The garden is now full of light and colour, so positive it feels like its mopping up all the negative energy from the surrounding area.
Helena has spent a year on this garden so if you have enjoyed her work, please give a small contribution so she can fund more Artwork/events.

Although I have worked closely with the local council on health & safety issues, please be careful in and arround the garden.

Friday 25 May 2012

my front garden's taking shape


Jubilee Front Garden
 Helena Godwin’s, garden make over is a bit different.
The Inspiration for this garden came from bottle trees (an America folk art tradition), combined with this year’s Diamond Jubilee celebration.
The coloured bottles and other recycled objects such as CDs have been placed to give the garden unusual shape, colour, light and texture.
Whole and broken bottles have been used to represent how our society throws away so much that is perfectly good. Many people are totally unable to understand that something broken could have some use or beauty. All too often we treat people like this.
This project has been shaped by its location, Helena has had to use objects of little or no monetary or artistic value otherwise they will go missing. She has also had to work with the local council on health & safety issues.
Helena Godwin is a prolific artist working daily. Helena’s personal situation will help shape her work but it does not limit or define it.
 She cannot afford to rent a space to stage an exhibition, so she has utilised what she does have; a very visible front garden.
Helena wanted to work on a public project this year, but has been rejected by all the official projects, applied for. Helena has funded this project herself  
 If you want to know more; come and meet the artist Sat 3rd June, 12-8pm

Monday 21 May 2012

Workshops for all ages and abilities

Painting for pleasure is a class for adults of all abilities

Fun activities taylored to individual needs

And age

Producing some lovely individual work

And group creations

Saturday 19 May 2012

Queen

Anyone travelling along Tachbrook Rd L/spa, will have noticed a strange dome at the end of my garden
Abstract sculpture "Queen" is being constructed for the Jubilee 

All this bling brings out the 5 year old in me
Picasso spent much of his latter life trying to express that inner child

Just wait till the sun shines

New woven sculpture making an initial appearance

Thursday 17 May 2012

What is an artist to do? Plea for CDs


I need more CDs to finish my display


Does anyone have any unwanted/playable CDs I'm having to buy new ones not really in the recycling spirit of my garden. If you have and are passing I'll leave a tray in my garden, Thanks.
 Are unplayable CDs  recycled?
 I have just been round  to the tip shop and some charity shops in Regent St L/spa's
At best I was regarded with polite suspion, others were very snotty.
Generally colecting CDs is too much bother and a box with a sign takes up too much space.
As I've said before people look blank if you want to use things that a damaged or broken(no pun intended).

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Jubilee Garden Progressing beautifully

CDs add a certain bling.
Lighting up the space
Woven flower is a recent addition to my front garden

I'm moving things round so everything looks at its best
as well as fiting the overal design

The gardenis taking on a life of its own growing round the objects I've placed there earlier in the year.



A bottle tree of my own

Saturday 12 May 2012

A Busy Day with the Scouts

Flag making at Local scout camp

Flags will be on display for the Jubilee Tea party outside the pump rooms 3rd June and again for the Olympics

 they painted the design in cold wax

Before painting colours in the spaces


Tuesday 8 May 2012

frustrated artist



Helena Godwin is a working single mother of two living in a council house on a low income. She is frequently frustrated by the fact “fine art” or serious art appears to be for those who can afford it. As a sculptor caving is all about the quality of materials, for example Helena can only to use interesting materials instead of traditional stone such as marble or Portland stone. She cannot afford to rent a space to stage an exhibition and hasn’t even got a studio to open.

However Helena Godwin is a prolific artist working daily.
Helena’s personal situation will help shape her work but it does not limit or define it.

Sunday 6 May 2012

I'm very upset



I have allowed kids on the trampoline so they had something to do in an area where there is nothing provided but I got an angry neighbour bangs on my door shouting at me to make them stop, I pointed out that these kids will just cause trouble somewhere else., his attitude was good as long as its not near his van which is parked on the pavement next to my garden.
I feel I have to take it down as the council are already on my back about the glass and I cannot afford to loose my home.

I have spent time building a good relationship with these kids trying to give them something positive
I give them chalk and encourage them to be creative.I'm seen as a weirdo for trying to do something instead of moaning about how distructive the kids are in this area.

Wonderful work at Trinity


Students working hard on Friday 3rd May


dragon acrylic on canvas, Ki aged 13
Cartoon, Ki aged 13
Pencil drawing Wire and Plasticine, Miriam


Pencil drawing and Wire, Miriam


Acrylic on canvas, Helena
Art Classes continue at Trinity Catholic School, three night as week
Wed & Thurs 6.30- 9pm
Fri 3.30- 6pm
Adults £10 children £3
These are very small classes tailored to develop your work what ever stage you're at, in what ever medium is relevant (2&3D).
Students range from people that haven't picked up a pencil or paint brush in 20 years to post graduate level.
I ask for no up front payments as I realise that its often hard to find the time & space to do creative work on a regular basis,
Materials;Bring what you have, we’ll discuss what you need and where to get them.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Its been raining

             Its been raining in My Jubilee garden,which is doing the flora and fauna allot of good.
 The willow I've planted is encouraging birds, I spotted a regular young robin having a bath in a blue glass dish. I've always been keen on encouraging wildlife. By placing glass objects in the garden has introduced a lot of little pools I'm interested to see what else turns up over the summer( as long as I don't come down with malaria)


                                 Due to the continuous rain through the whole of April
I have left the garden and I have spent way too much time at home on face book usually avoiding house work as a result last week I've started another blog http://helena-godwinsays.blogspot.co.uk/

"Helena says" is just a bit of fun, I get to frustrated if I take life toooooooooo seriously

an attempt to have a laugh every day.
One day I might turn it into a book. most of Helena says is based on quick photos I take.
 This is for speed this silly blog can't become my whole life ( not till it starts paying)
The cartoons take much longer, so they get slotted in from time to time.
I hope to increase the frequency of the cartoons as I get more practised