Maze Festival Residency 2013
Saffron Walden Maze Festival invited Bryony to take part in an artist residency, to research and explore how the public actively participates and moves within a maze structure. Bryony developed a site specific maze installation Colour on the Common, three participatory workshops including storytelling, movement, print making and lantern building.
Colour on the Common was an installation, which offered a joyful journey through a cluster of trees. The installation offered a chance to fully immerse yourself inside the rainbow of colour, texture and depth of materials, by finding a path through the maze and experience a sensory journey with different tactile materials and sound.
Think Ink Print was a drop-in maze printing workshop with lots of ink and chalk. Families could design, draw and print their own maze print and add to a giant maze print, which is on display in Saffron Walden.
Mazes, Myths and Magic was a drop-in storytelling and movement workshop at Saffron Walden Library. Families took part in a variety of playful giant drawing and movement activities, as well as creating and sharing stories inspired from a suspended maze in the middle of the library. Here is some family feedback from the workshop:
“I practised balancing and using all my fingers and toes. I got very hot!” Child
“I love making up stories. It’s my favourite thing to do” Child
“I’d have never thought I could take my shoes and socks off with my child and roll about on a library floor, and not be bothered!” Dad
“Our favourite activity was the drawing giant body lines and making journeys on the paper. I’m going to try this at home, because she loved it.” Mum
“Our favourite activity was blowing the feather around the maze bodies. It really calmed the children down, after all the hyper energy” Dad.
“I felt like I was the child again!” Grandma.
“My children are all different ages and it’s hard to find something for them all to do together, but this was great.” Mum
“Bryony was a delight to work with, before and during the festival:
enthusiastic, accommodating and organised. She listened to what we wanted, and helped us stretch our aspirations. She delivered more than we had hoped for, with great feedback from all three of the workshops she ran. Her colourful maze installation, hung from trees, is still very much missed!” Barbara Wilcox, Festival Director
Picture Gallery
Date: August 2013
Location: Saffron Walden Common, Town Hall and Library
Materials: Plastic balls, wire, ribbon, builders mesh, scrap fabric, willow, ink