Bedford residents are invited to a new and exciting exhibition, curated by Caroline Wendling as part of the Take Part Queen’s Park project, at The Higgins Bedford from 2 April to 12 June 2022.
Archipelago, will be on display at The Higgins, and it will celebrate the vibrancy of Queen’s Park using film, embroidery and clay. The film was shot in Queen’s Park with contributions from Queen’s Park residents.
Elaine Midgley, Bedford Creative Arts’ Director, said: “Take Part Queen’s Park is an art project both inspired by and created with members of the community of Queen’s Park in Bedford. Caroline has been working in Queen’s Park since 2020, exploring the area with walks, and holding workshops at Queen’s Park Academy, the community centre and Presentation House (Stonewater – Independent Living Accommodation for elders).
“Caroline has engaged residents of all ages with the creative arts through this project and has invited participants to share their sense of place and community with the wider residents of Bedford through this exhibition.”
Caroline is one of three resident artists who has been working in Queen’s Park to explore the culture, talents and memories of residents and present their stories through new works of art. Caroline’s work is about ideas of place and the feeling of belonging. She explores history, local myths and invites people to reimagine local sites. She put those feelings into material form, via the clay pots and embroidery that make up part of the Archipelago exhibition.
Caroline said: “Queen’s Park is like an archipelago [a group of islands]– a place where people who each have their own cultures and traditions come together to form one unique, vibrant and unified community.” Caroline Wendling.
Residents who took part in the workshops said:
- “I had no idea I would enjoy doing embroidery so much, my mother would have been really impressed.”
- “I really enjoyed the embroidery workshop my daughters loved being taught by you.”
- “It was so relaxing and calming I will do more embroidery at home.”
- “Manipulating the clay reminded me of my childhood living near the river in Bangladesh, as kids we would always make things out of clay.”
Delivered by Bedford Creative Arts in partnership with The Higgins Bedford and funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Harpur Trust, Arnold Clark Community Fund and housing association bpha.
To find out more and to book your free entry please visit https://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Exhibitions/Archipelago_Take_Part_Queen’s_Park.aspx
