Blog Highlight 2012

at the beginning of last year I decided to write my blog regularly using it as an on line artist sketchbook/diary. Here are some of the best bits
1) My garden

I love the combination of natural and man-made

Spring I experimented  with recycled everyday objects colour and form

Summer-  CD teepee in the shape of a crown; very Jubilee

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.

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

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

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

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

My Bottle garden contiues to grow

areas of bottles and pots helps keep down the bind weed 

gives the garden colour light and texture,

also some interesting patterns and shapes

 I gave the local kids chalk in exchange for CDs if my project is to survive I need them on my side

and make this piece truly community based