CreativeDynamix: Making Space, open public participatory arts

Wednesday, 7 May - Garden design workshop open to all ages.

As I entered the space from a jam packed car I was delighted to see a group of teens, early and eager to start. No one had told me there would be a young group of almost adults - 17 fifth years from Gorey Community School and their teacher Emily. I had been expecting a group of adults: gardeners, readers and creative's about ten or twelve. They were there, along with a small group from St. Aidans. So I smiled. I had been feeling nervous that butterfly mix in your stomach when you begin a new project. But as with any open public participatory project you never know who will be in the room and you have to get on with it. As I mentioned in my previous project blog post - who ever shows up are the right people.

So I introduced myself to the group and asked for help to unpack the car and started to organise the space for the workshop. Great way to break the ice. Then I got the students to cover the floor with large sheets of coffee filter paper as I went to catch up with the library staff.

As we began the workshop it felt almost like place making. I walked participants around the space to get sense of it and to think about what a garden meant to them. I was also cognisant that some might not have any association with a garden so I highlighted that. Later I was to hear that even that idea of not having a relationship with a garden was to trigger what the value of a garden was for others. This in turn led to an important discussion on chairs and being able to sit in the space and read or enjoy it - a provision I had not made.