Figures that Sway

15/08/2023

Last Saturday we had a really brilliant workshop with Ceitidh Mac writing a collective Song for Tynemouth. We are so proud of what we all came up with and the generosity everyone brought to the day. Thank you. Photo's on this gloomy day don't do it justice..

This concludes our series of summer workshops with Tynemouth Priory and Castle we are hopeful to be back and also find ways to develop these projects we've co-authored with some of you further. Sincere thanks to everyone involved this summer!

Rosie & Harriet, Figures that Sway
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08/08/2023

Finally gotten around to sharing photos from our gorgeous day foraging and making natural dye bundles with Katie Pollard on site at Tynemouth Priory and Castle. Despite the initial rain we had a wonderful day and loved seeing everyones unique cloths emerge!
Only one workshop in our summer series left, sign up in the next 2 days to avoid disappointment: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/song-for-tynemouth-collective-songwriting-with-ceitidh-mac-tickets-679264116257?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/08/2023

Gorgeous day Tynemouth Priory and Castle with Figures that Sway Crafty Families workshops! Thank you to everyone that took part!

26/07/2023

'A real gem on a rainy day!' We had such a wonderful, insightful and generous day dreaming up stories with Chris Bostock from A Bit Crack Storytelling on Saturday for our Workshop 'Dreaming About Place'. Thank you so much to everyone who came and gave so much! We've had some wonderful completed stories emailed in and can't wait to hear the rest!

14/07/2023

We had a lovely recce on site yesterday with our upcoming workshop leaders, Chris Bostock A Bit Crack Storytelling, Ruth Brickland and Katie Pollard, and also lovely to see the crocosmia and echinops out in bloom and the garden looking beautiful after our last Making Space workshop.

Sign up now for our Dreaming about Place: Story Making with Chris Bostock. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dreaming-about-place-story-making-with-chris-bostock-tickets-666678803247?aff=oddtdtcreator
Next workshops will be announced soon!

22/06/2023

We had a really fun day out on Saturday in our 'Making Spaces' workshop. Thank you to all that came and took part!

As a group we learnt about the regimental life of monks from Michael Klemperer who shared with us his fantastic research and archeological investigations which informed his planting scheme for Mount Grace Priory in Northallerton.
We talked about what life would have been like in order to understand the function and symbolism of a carthusian monastic garden, looking at ideas of paradise and the body, plants for healing, flavouring, psychedelics, aphrodisiacs and narcotics. And plants to charm against evil and to remind us (through the smell of rotting flesh) of the shortness of life!
We also talked about what a community garden or space on the site might look like and gardened together, taking out grasses and making such a difference in a short space of time.

We will be running 4 more workshops this summer, taking place in July and August. More details will be announced soon.

If you are interested in taking part in more events like this or community gardening on the site let us know.
Email us at [email protected] to sign up to our mailing list or keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Rosie & Harriet
Figures that Sway
X

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09/06/2023

New event!
Making Space, Saturday 17th June, 11 - 2.30pm (refreshments provided)
Join us for Community Gardening and Gardeners talk 'A Monk's Life' from English Heritage's Dr Michael Klemperer

Making Space Gardener’s Talk 'A Monk's Life' with Dr Michael Klemperer & Community Gardening at Tynemouth Priory and Castle

05/06/2023

Hello!
After a long leave of absence we are back!

Unfortunately we didn't get the Arts Council England grant we'd applied for, and we've both been super busy since then.

We are still really interested in working towards a co-authored community arts project on site at Tynemouth Priory and Castle, and brimming with ideas for how we'd like to do this.

English Heritage have asked us to continue with our Research and Engagement Activities, with the hope we can create a site-specific exhibition that showcases the community on site at a later date. So we are busy again planning 5 free workshops over the summer, to bring local residents on site, be creative, learn your stories and hopefully make you feel part of the space. We are super excited to continue to work with you all again.

Email us at [email protected] to sign up to our mailing list or keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook to hear more.

Rosie & Harriet X