Created Space

The garden screens

2011-02-23T00:52:00.000-08:00

An image of the steel garden screens which serve as a wind break and also afford an elemnt of privacy at the centre of the space. The design which is laser cut from the 3 steel panels is taken directly from the data provided by the local weather station of the height and speed of the weather balloon we all helped to launch during the initial research workshops.

In place

2011-02-23T00:45:00.000-08:00

An image sent to me (last year!!) showing the screens and garden furniture in place.

Created Space Commissions

2009-09-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

A grey day, but the steel water feature draws light into the space and the new planting adds movement and life. Bulbs have been planted which will bring splashes of colour in the new year. The bench and screen are being progressed, and there are also two commission opportunities for local artists currently being advertised : for garden furniture and also for a wall mounted artwork for the large east gable. For the full commission brief please visit:

www.shetlandarts.org/opportunities/created-space-commissions/

Arheim 6am

2009-05-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

The early morning sun moves onto a very peaceful Arheim. With Phase 1: the hard landscaping now complete, everyone can look forward to the next phase : installing the other vital ingredients for the garden including planting, (there's already a planter of primroses in place) and features such as the screen, waterpiece, furniture, and artwork for the large east gable.

The ideas for garden sketched out in the workshops last year are being realised!

snapshots

2009-05-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

masking the designs

2009-05-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

We tidied up the design lines using vinyl masks( thanks to 'Artmachine' in Lerwick, who donated some vinyl for this), and we were a bit sad to have pull up the strips of colour which looked great!

Some of the original Created Space team have now moved in to the houses surrounding the garden, and it was great to see them enjoying their new home, and the space they helped to design.

Tweaking the designs

2009-05-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

Following feedback about slippiness underfoot on some of the areas of the garden, I did some further research into etching products and application techniques, as we were not really getting the result we had hoped for initially. Some test pieces shown here illustrate at a combination of cutting, masking and etching the designs, which gave us a slightly deeper etch ( and hopefully therefore more grip) and a stronger graphic line.

We decided to use these methods throughout the slabbed areas in garden space.

Da flooers

2009-04-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

The words encircling the planting area above are a verse from a poem written by one of the service users who participated in the workshops, who has since been been offered and accepted a tenancy at Arheim. It reads:

Da Butterflies set upon da flooers

Braggin ta aa body tae see

Dir bonny bricht colours

Hopefully planting will start as soon as the ground is warm enough, and this summer there will be some flowers in this created space for folk to enjoy. The etched designs just require a little tweaking which hopefully also be done when some good weather windows appear. A shiny water feature has been selected and we are hopeful that some garden seating may not be a just a thing of dreams. Work on the steel garden screen continues......

Take 4.....

2009-04-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Dave Hammond, a film producer based in Shetland, visited the site during the wild week we were etching and returned later with a crew of young filmakers and recording equipment. They have put together a short 10 minute documentary film about the Created Space project, which hopefully will be linked to this blog in the very near future.

Subtle changes

2009-04-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

The acid etch removes the surface of the slabs to reveal the glass

inclusions, which catch light and sparkle in strong sun. The overall effect is quite gentle, with etched forms quietly waxing and waning with surrounding atmospheric changes. The etched areas also have a green hue which soften the design and will hopefully enhance eventual planting.

With concerns for safety, and issues of inclusion, at the forefront of the design, the etched surface was also chosen as it offers a more textured walking surface.

The etching process

2009-04-08T14:26:00.001-07:00

In early March we returned to the site to etch a selection of the designs and texts produced during the initial workshops into the surface of the paving slabs. With the first tenants due to move into their new homes we felt under considerable time pressure, which was unfortunately not alleviated by poor weather, with rain and biting wind almost every day , making our working conditions very difficult and slowing down all stages of the etching process.

a cold wintry december day

2009-01-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

the site very nearly finished by the builders !

Let the building begin!

2008-11-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

Late October on the site. With snow!

Phase 1

2008-11-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

The construction of the garden has been split in to three phases :

Phase 1 : Hard landscaping - including paths, areas for planting and lighting.

Phase 2: Main permanent features, such as the water feature and benches.

Phase 3 : Other features, such as planting and artworks.

At the moment the project has enough funds to finance Phase 1,

but needs to raise more to realise the rest of the garden.

We are looking for sponsors if any potential donors are reading this!

Please get in touch!

The image above is a draughtsman's scale drawing for Phase 1, for the building contractors, local company Elphistone and Howard , to work with.

Etching designs

2008-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

The garden space will be partly paved using Enviroglass Slabs, which everyone seemed to like. Enviroglass are a local company mainly producing concrete slabs in which recycled glass is the main ingredient.

The CS Team visited the Enviroglass Workshop during their research outings and were given a really interesting tour of the production line.

The slabs can look great when the glass is revealed and allowed to sparkle, which is achieved by burning off the top surface of the slab with acid. I returned to Enviroglass armed with some stencilling materials and assisted by Chris, who manages the workshop, played explored ways we could transfer designs onto the slabs, through the etching process.

Our intention is to transfer a selection of designs and texts produced during the workshops, onto the slabs in the garden space.

New plans....

2008-11-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

Sketches and plans for the space

based on ideas and thoughts

from the Created Space Team workshops.

We discovered that

the whole housing cluster

has been named 'Arheim',

which apparently means

'by the stream'.....

a curious co-incidence...

as we have included a long

moving water feature in the design.

Some of the team......

2008-08-23T03:48:00.000-07:00

The garden takes shape

2008-08-23T03:30:00.002-07:00

Shetland Birds

2008-08-23T03:25:00.000-07:00

by Natasha

Shetland flooers

2008-08-23T03:17:00.000-07:00

By Zandra and Darren

Moving on.....

2008-08-23T02:59:00.000-07:00

Yarns

2008-08-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Barbara's fabulous work we played with yarn.

Barbara Ridland

2008-08-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Today Textile Artist Barbara Ridland came and showed us her work
thank you Barbara! it was very inspiring and helpful for the garden

sketching up the garden

2008-08-18T16:22:00.001-07:00

Here's a quick run through the process used to sketch up this draft
design with a little help from a drawing by Robbie!!

1..Go visit site!

2.. Do some drawings of what could go in the garden

3.. how might that look all planned out ??

4..Make it a little bit more 3D!

5..Tidy it up a little
And there you have the beginnings of
a garden design!

Plans : Draft 1

2008-08-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

These plans outline a possible overall layout for the garden. Please note that the artworks and main features included are only rough suggestions for designs to help give an idea of how the space might look on completion.

The materials selected in the plan for the hard landscaping are also at this time just a starting point for discussion and costs will be an important consideration. We are currently awaiting price quotes from several suppliers of paving slabs etc.

Let us know what you think!

All comments very much appreciated.

Working drawings

2008-08-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

Drawing on the the material gathered from everyones contributions during the July workshops, Kristi and I played around with some ideas for the garden space. Here are a few of the 'sketches' we came up with.

Summertime blues and pinks and yellows and......

2008-08-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

A bunch of flowers for everyone who has been waiting patiently for the next stage. Inspired by quirky Swiss artist duo Fischli Weiss, this image is a fusion of two photos taken in a garden in St Ives, in Cornwall where I have been working : growing flowers from seed, to cut and arrange in a GP surgery in the town.

Ikea - eat your heart out!

2008-07-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hannah's garden furniture range

2008-07-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Model garden

2008-07-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

During Saturday the garden model developed further: areas for seating, and best places for planting and other features perhaps like a pond, had been identified. Ideas also bubbled up to the surface for motifs and themes for artworks.

Watch this space!

Plantlife

2008-07-07T02:05:00.000-07:00

A selection of plants borrowed from Cope nursery which were described as 'pretty hardy' and

therefore might be good choices for the Quoys garden. Janet, who works there, kindly let us borrow these to bring to make a temporary garden in the workshop studio space at the college.

Superfood

2008-07-07T01:54:00.000-07:00

An edible bracelet harvested from the cress garden we sowed on day one. Is it only me who thinks it looks a bit like a map of Shetland?

row row row your boat

2008-07-07T00:19:00.000-07:00

Hannah's pond....... spot the goldfish and frog!

Isn't plasticine great!

2008-07-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

2008-07-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

The team take in the sun

at the Quoys site.

Maria working hard

2008-07-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

Word garden

2008-07-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

Big thankyou to Donald Anderson

for the creative words session this morning

2008-07-04T15:03:00.000-07:00

2008-07-04T00:52:00.000-07:00

2008-07-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

More Team research....

2008-07-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

Zandra and Dion's ideas for the garden space

crushed

2008-07-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic whirlwind tour round Enviroglass on our way back to Lerwick
where we got shown how they recycle Shetlands broken bottles!

Absolutely Fabulous!

2008-07-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Old Scatness was great - even though it was raining and we couldn't see a thing through the mist on the way down! we found out about stones you can use as cooking pots and ancient tools and plants you can eat (silver weed is quite yummy!) use as medicine and make baskets from!!

2008-07-03T13:16:00.001-07:00

Thursday morning

2008-07-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning has been spent looking at lots of different ideas
of garden spaces, making collages and then trying things out in our
model

sky and slates

2008-07-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

foliage and Flo

2008-07-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

flowers and goldfish

2008-07-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

hidden treasure

2008-07-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

This morning we went to the Shetland museum and had a look at the different shapes and markings we could find in the collection downstairs before making some pretty funky clay tiles! We also had the exciting privilege of being amongst the first to view the St Ninians treasure on its homecoming (although i think some people preferred the stuffed cow!!) Thank you Kirsty for arranging our special visit

Paradise found

2008-07-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

Possibly the oldest tree in the garden, a larch, frames the grove at the astonishing and inspiring Lea gardens which we visited today. We could hardly believe we were in Shetland, and the dreamy mood was enhanced by the glorious sunshine. Rosa Steppanova, who has nurtured this garden from a bare hill, generously showed us around and left us with the feeling that anything is possible!

Zulu Time

2008-07-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today the newly formed Created Space design team visited the other worldly Lerwick Observatory, one of a dwindling number of manned weather stations in the country.An illuminating and entertaining tour helped us consider how the particular Shetland climate and weather patterns will influence the garden design.

Many thanks to the observatory staff, Mike and Martin, for a great time, and for providing us with the data tracked from the balloon we helped to launch in the morning.

2008-07-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Balloon Ascent 01.07.08

-Balloon was launched at 1136z(or 12.36pm normal time)

-It went up for 1hr 57mins 40sec befor it burst

- It reached a max height of 35,953mtrs

-The coldest temperature was -60.1C at 11,898 mtrs

- The highest wind occurred at 11,898 mtrs of 33.1mtrs per second ( or about 20mph).

The wind can be much more than this sometimes - a fairly calm day up in the atmosphere!

-The Balloon went up at 5.1 mtrs per second

2008-07-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

where is everyone going?

2008-07-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Site Visit

2008-07-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

2008-07-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

Measuring Chain
today the team went to for a site visit
and we did some measuring out
- this is 8 metres!

2008-06-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

Setting up camp.

2008-06-30T14:36:00.001-07:00

A big thanks to Alisdair and Anne Marie at Shetland College who performed minor miracles today enabling us to set up a great base camp and studio space for the 5 days of workshops with ILP service users we have ahead.... starting tomorrow!

2008-06-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

a gentle shetland wind?
Its a great space we have been provided with and i'm
looking forward to the exciting ideas that everyone comes up with in here!

Favourite things

2008-06-29T17:05:00.005-07:00

A stunning display of bog cotton plants (an all time favourite) welcomed me when I arrived on the island on Saturday. Also really impressive was the show of colour from bog mosses and wildflowers, particularly at roadside verges where presumably they are safer from grazing animals.

Earlier this year.....some of the team at the site...

2008-06-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Who are the partnership agencies?

2008-06-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

The Independent Living Project

The ILP provides supported accommodation for adults with learning disabilities. It aims to provide high quality service for adults with learning disabilities who have their own tenancies within the community. It provides tenants with the right amount and type of support so they can have the kind of life experience most of us take for granted. The ILP is a local government project, which is part of Shetland Islands Council's Education and Social Care Services.

Shetland Arts Development Agency

SA is Shetland's lead arts body. Formed in early 2006, it brought together the work of two organisations whose collective histories provide Shetland Arts with a local, national and international reputation for arts development and delivery built over twenty years of work and innovation.

Shetland Arts today runs the Garrison Theatre, Bonhoga Gallery, and promotes a year round programme of music, theatre literature and visual arts and crafts events. It also delivers arts development activity across a range of art forms through a dedicated team of specialist art form officers. On the horizon is a new music and cinema venue for Shetland with an estimated opening date of Spring 2010.

Hjaltland Housing Association

was created from a merger between Scottish Homes Ltd, formed in 1974 and the then Hjaltland Housing association, formed in 1975. These associations were originally formed to aid the Shetland Islands Council in providing housing for incoming oil industry workers. Up until 1982 the association provided 88 houses , most of which were family houses.

Prior to 1984, administration was carried out in Edinburgh until a review concluded that an improved service would require fulltime Shetland staff. Since then 424 properties have been purchased or constructed, distributed across Shetland, from Unst to Sumburgh and Sandness to Whalsay.

Describing the Created Space project

2008-06-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

In March 2009, collaboration between the Independent Living Project and Hjaltland Housing Association will see 11 new properties, providing up to 13 tenancies, coming on stream, in Lerwick, Shetland. The tenancies are within a purpose built core and cluster development, at the centre of which is an outdoors area, which offers the possibility of creating a unique space.

In 2007 conversations between Shetland Arts Development Agency, ILP, Hjaltland Housing and Shetland College forged a partnership resulting in 'Created Space', a project which has recruited two artists, Janet McEwan, and Kristi Cumming to work alongside ILP service users through the process of creating a garden in this new space.

One created space after another

2008-06-29T14:46:00.001-07:00

One created space : the sublime St Ninian's Isle, which lies off the southwest coast of mainland Shetland, where 28 silver objects from an early Christian monastic settlement were found by a schoolboy during an excavation in 1958. What has been described as 'the most important single discovery in Scottish archaeology' is returning to Shetland for the first time in over 40 years, and will be on display in Lerwick Museum next week. There is great excitement about this and I will definately be going along to see the treasure.