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LOCAL villagers have been working together on an artistic project in their community building.
Everyone from school pupils to pensioners has contributed to a wall-hanging at Dyke Village Hall which looks great and improves the venue’s acoustics.
Designer, Andrea Chappell, organised the ‘Dyke Dandelion Project’ as part of Findhorn Bay Arts’ ‘Combine to Create’ programme of collaborative creative activities.
She explained: “In early August, I met with Dyke Village Hall Committee members Margaret-Anne O’Donnell, Andrew Anderson and Leslie Tulloch, to see how I could help their development of the hall as a vibrant community centre.
“They wanted to brighten and decorate the space, but have a challenging acoustic problem created by the hard surface finishes and high metal roof. I devised a wool felt wall hanging to create an acoustic baffle, fitting in with the current development plan but adding a decorative feature with a functional purpose, created by the community.”
Over 70 dandelion flowers and clocks have since been embellished by residents in a series of events at the hall and in Dyke Primary School. P1 and P2 pupils used woodblocks to print up fabric strips to be sewn on to the flowers. Enthusiastic and creative P7s had a day of dandelion making.
P7 pupil Tom Wallace said: “I loved making one and can’t wait to see it in the hall.”
Classmate Eva Exon added: “I really enjoyed making pom-poms and want to continue it in my own time!”
Pre-school children and staff also spent a morning potato printing creations with Andrea. And over 30 participants at the end of August’s ‘bite and blether’ in the hall got creative with printing, painting, pom-poms, embroidery, appliqué and drawing.
Andrea said: “I’ve hand cut shaped drops of industrial felt to create hanging panels with flexible fixing points onto which each dandelion flower, or clock, is inserted. Both the flowers and clocks have been designed from locally-made wool felt cloth, woven at the Isle Mill in Keith by McNaughtons Group.”
Initially there will be three installations hanging between the hall’s windows. It is hoped that future funding may allow a larger textile creation for the back wall, involving more participation by members of the Dyke and District area.
The final creations are being installed as part of the Findhorn Bay Arts Festival.
There will be a celebration with cake and cuppas for residents, school children and anyone who has participated (or would like to in future), today (Friday, September 30) from 2-5pm.