Lewisham Art Hub Weaving Workshop
Client: Lewisham Services For Schools
Location: Forest Hill School
The Blühen Studio was asked to curate a weaving workshop for primary and SEN school teachers working in the London Borough of Lewisham.
During the workshop, the participants received personal demonstrations providing weaving techniques, exploring the many ways for children to experience weaving personally or collaboratively across all year groups. one-on-one guidance from myself to help inspire each teacher to create lesson plans to boost the arts for students, encouraging growth in fine motor skills and eye hand coordination.
The workshop focused on teaching techniques and ideas that were sufficiently easy for non-specialists, and included creating artworks with materials that could be easily found or cheap to purchase. In addition, I incorporated ideas that could be adapted for EYFS and up to Yr6 and secondary, and ways in which weaving techniques could be used across the curriculum.
“Weaving is a valuable activity full of rich learning potential for any age, With a little thought and innovation you can find a multitude of ways to get your students weaving.” - Amber Roper
Mixed Media Workshop
Client: The Bethlem Gallery, South London and Maudsley (NHS)
Location: 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning Centre/The Bethlem Gallery
In collaboration with The Bethlem Gallery, The Blühen Studio curated three mixed media art workshops. The workshops were specifically open to people in the community with a lived/living experience of accessing mental health services, and those supporting others who have a lived/living experience.
The aim of the workshop was for the attendees to express their feelings and ideas regarding places of support for mental health in their own artwork: utilising techniques and practices taught by Amber. (Off-loom weaving, collaging & yarn wrapping).
The discussions, ideas and artworks were then used as sources of inspiration for Amber to shape the development of artworks commissioned for the New Douglas Bennet House (a new, purpose-built mental health facility that will house acute adult inpatient services including four specialist wards and a psychiatric intensive care unit in South-East London.)
This has been a really fantastic workshop. Amber has been really generous in offering us ideas and new skills to try out. Thank you so much to all who made this possible!
Thank you so much Amber. Inspiring, friendly & passionate about sharing. It was amazing to come together and sharing skills and techniques, making lovely things and getting to know new people. A really, really lovely day.
Print, Weave, Sculpt/Hoop Weaving Workshop
Client: Accumulate London - Art School for the Homeless/UAL: Insights
Location: University of the Arts London, Camberwell College of Arts
In collaboration with Accumulate London, The Blühen Studio was asked to deliver a workshop for their art students; creating geometric woven designs on Craft Hoops, exploring shape, colour & texture. The hoops would then form a woven, sculptural structure to be exhibited as part of the student’s final piece.
The workshop focused on the creative potential of those at hostels, and encouraged creative expression whilst providing them with skills that could be used for both personal and professional development and enjoyment.
"Helping the participants with their pursuit into higher education within the arts, through exploring off-loom weaving, was a thoroughly rewarding experience." - Amber Roper
Everyone just loved getting creative with colour!
Fantastic people, brilliant sessions, fabulous work. It’s amazing what can be achieved individually and together!
Collage & Yarn Wrap Workshop
Client: The Brady Art Centre/A Team Arts Education (A youth arts organisation based in Tower Hamlets providing free creative projects in Art, Design, Fashion and Textiles for young people 11-19 years old)
Location: The Brady Art Centre, London
The Blühen Studio was invited to host a mixed media art workshop alongside The Experimental Weave Lab, UAL Insights & A Team Arts Education: a youth arts organisation ,providing creative projects in Art and Design for young people 11-19 years old within the London borough of Tower Hamlets.
Exploring creativity, innovation and curiosity lay at the forefront of the workshop, concluding with each participant having something tangible to take home with them.
I really enjoyed the Collage & Yarn Wrap Workshop. Amber was so friendly and really helpful showing me her techniques. It was fun to learn some new skills.
Really fun and interactive workshop. I'd never tried weaving before and was able to pick up the technique quicky and create a woven artwork. I will definately be weaving more often now!
Lewisham Art Hub Weaving Workshop
Client: Lewisham Services For Schools
Location: Childeric Primary School, London
The Blühen Studio was asked to curate a weaving workshop for primary & secondary school teachers working in the London Borough of Lewisham. During the workshop, the participants would receive personal demonstrations on weaving techniques, and one-on-one guidance from myself to help inspire them to create lesson plans to boost the arts for students in the borough.
The workshop focused on teaching techniques and ideas that were sufficiently easy for non-specialists, and that included creating artworks with materials that could be easily found or cheap to purchase. In addition, I incorporated ideas that could be adapted for EYFS and up to Yr6 and secondary, and ways in which weaving techniques could be used across the curriculum.
The workshop was really useful. Amber showed the group different weaving techniques that could be easily taught to all of my students. The techniques taught could be easily transferred across different mediums, and I love the incorporation of using found materials which encourages recycling and resourcefulness. The workshop was really inspiring and gave me lots of ideas for lesson plans, really brilliant!
Great workshop, Amber delivered it really well! Everything was easy to digest & was fun testing out some of the techniques. When's the next one? :-D