ST13 July-Aug 2017
An on-line copy of ST13 (No 46) is now available.
Follow the links for the full text:
A Long Way from Home
A new exhibition ‘A Long Way From Home’ has recently opened in the Heritage Room.
The exhibition has only been seen before in Leek for a short while in 2004 after the collaboration between Borderland Voices and the Polish Community, who came to England after the Second World War and settled at the disused army camp at Blackshaw Moor.
A series of in-depth interviews from survivors of prison and labour camps together with heart-rending refugee journeys were recorded and transcribed culminating in the publication of an accompanying book.
Sadly most of the interviewees have now died but it is hoped the exhibition will be a reminder of the bravery and stoicism of the Polish people who travelled so far from their own country and of interest to the new generation of Polish people who have settled in Leek and the Moorlands.
Gallery – Human Form in 2 and 3 Dimensions exhibition
David Walton: Head of a woman, red biro
The Human Form in 2 and 3 Dimensions exhibition: Saturday 8th July – 12th August
This exhibition includes works by Charles Walker, Nick Grew and David Walton. Charles, who runs a series of Life Drawing groups, is an award winning artist. He states that life drawing and painting and portraiture have never lost their appeal. He said: “What a privilege to be the artist in that situation. I try simply to respond to the challenge the person sitting for me in an honest and colourful way.”
Nick, an Associate of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, is a sculptor who works mainly in clay cast, into bronze or resin. His work includes portraiture, figurative and abstracted works, with the latter based on the human figure and emotions. He said: “I’m inspired by the beauty and complexity of the human face, body and anatomy and how this expresses the intensity and depth of human thought, feeling and experience.”
Charles Walker 3
Meanwhile, David draws and has recently developed some of his work into lino cut prints. He is a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists where he exhibits regularly. He is also due to give talks to art societies on ‘Some Purposes of Portraiture.’ His work is in the the permanent collections of Derby Art Gallery, The University of Birmingham, The RBSA, and the Edge Art Centre.
Nick Grew: Ella reading, no 2
The Human Form in 2 and 3 Dimensions will run until Saturday August 12.
The Foxlowe Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday: 10am-4pm and the first Sunday of the month: 11am-4pm.
For further information please contact Gallery co-ordinator
Jane Leigh – jane.elizabeth1106@gmail.com 07941548512
Pure Yoga Class – Wednesday mornings
A Leek-born Yogi has followed her dream of sharing yoga with her community after setting up a class in her home town. Angela Riley, aged 38, currently teaches at Pure Yoga in Macclesfield but is now bringing her knowledge to Leek with a weekly class at the Foxlowe.
The style of yoga taught by Angela is accessible to all ages and physical abilities. “I so often hear people say that they can’t do yoga because they’re not flexible enough but my teachings focus on mindful movement and breath awareness to help people find some inner peace. Flexibility, strength and suppleness, to name but a few of the physical benefits, are great by-products of the practice”
Angela’s 75 minute class runs every Wednesday morning at 10am (in term time) in the Foxlowe’s Rainbow room. She asks that you bring your own mat but there will be a limited number available to borrow. Cost £7.00 per session.
Angela can be contacted on 07837 253161 or email angelajayneriley@icloud.com.
HEROES – Westwood 1st School
Yoga in the Garden
A garden is the ideal place for yoga and the dry weather this summer has created great opportunities for Paula’s Friday morning class.
To find out more, go to YOGA with PAULA – FRIDAY MORNINGS.
Plants to Go!
Outside – on the Patio.
The plants on and close to the stand are free to anyone who can give them a good home in exchange for a donation.
There are donation boxes in the bar and beside the inner front door.
Thanks!
Plant Share and Earthworm Watch
Despite the rain, the Plant Share saw many plants exchanged and lots of donations coming to the Foxlowe. All the leftover hardy plants have been left on a wooden tray on the patio in front of the dancing railings. They are available for anyone who would like them to take away in exchange for a donation. This can be handed in at the cafe or left in one of the donation boxes (beside the inside front door and in the bar). We will keep the tender plants in greenhouses for a while longer and put them out in June.
On the day we had enthusiastic young volunteers to help with our Citizen Science earthworm count. Our experiment was testing the hypothesis that earthworms like soil better if it has compost materials above it than if the surface is bare. Their expert counting recorded 35 worms under soil that had been covered by Foxlowe veg peelings for a month and only 9 under the surface that had been left bare. We will be sending the results into the Natural History Museum to add to their data collected from elsewhere. Many thanks to all involved.
ST13 May-Jun 2017
An on-line copy of ST13 (No 45) is now available.
Follow the links for the full text:
Citizen Science in the Foxlowe garden
The Gardeners have launched a Citizen Science project in the garden as part of the Natural History Museum’s Earthworm Watch.
Join us at the Plant Share from 11 – 12 noon to explore the Foxlowe Garden and find out how to get involved!
The earthworm experiment was started at the April Seed Share, when we covered one site with vegetable peelings (from the Café kitchen) and left the other bare (control). We will be digging down to see which site the worms prefer and what sort of worms are there. For the survey we’ll be digging under different types of garden surface (grass, bare soil, plants, layer of comfrey leaves) to see which type the worms like best. No need to bring tools, just be prepared to get your hands dirty!
There will also be the chance to win a very special Misco chocolate lolly by guessing the number of brandling worms in a jar of compost. The winners will be those whose guesses are closest to the number we’ve counted into the jar.
Anyone who would like to join us will be very welcome.