snapshots

masking the designs

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

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

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.....

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

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

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.