Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition and Workshops at Beautiful Upper Beacon Hill

6^th August to 1^st September – FREE AND OPEN TO ALL, DAWN TO DUSK.

Explore the magical world of what we can’t normally see beneath our feet through the creations of these renowned Charnwood based artists! Nita Rao and Lisa Denham are working at the beautiful Beacon Hill Country Park from 6th August to 18th August to produce site-specific sculptures inspired by their research on this fascinating subject. Much of the artwork will be the result of their residency at Beacon Hill, but they have also worked with some local groups and other artists to co-create some of the work.

The site is wheel chair accessible, but via unsurfaced paths.

“Fungi can be used to clean up oil spills!”

Willow mushrooms by Nita Rao

Fungi are more important and numerous than we can imagine and could even hold the key to our future! Mycelium are magical threads that run beneath our feet in a symbiotic relationship to plants, breaking down waste and feeding the roots around it. These organisms are essential for healthy ecology and thus the planet. The total length of mycelium in the top 10cm of soil is around half the width of our galaxy! Can mushrooms save the planet? They are believed to help heal damage by nuclear waste and certain plastics, regenerating the earth – Amazing! Scientific research shows how incredible fungi can even be used to clean up oil spills by eating the waste.

“A teaspoon of soil can hold up to 10,000 meters of fungal network!”

Ceramic fungi by Lisa Denham

FREE CREATIVE WORKSHOPS!

CLAY – WILLOW WEAVING – WET FELTING BLOCK PRINTING – PRINTING WITH MUSHROOMS

Be inspired by the weird and wonderful world of fungi and mushrooms and get creative in the natural beauty of Beacon Hill. Help develop the mycelium network or make a mushroom in one of the creative workshops on offer – free to all!!

Workshops suitable for adults and accompanied children 8 years +.

Ephemeral Art Days

Thurs 8^th August and Sat 10^th August 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm.

Drop-in workshops – no need to book, just turn up and get creative – Led by sculptors Nita Rao and Lisa Denham.

Come and get creative in the natural beauty of Beacon Hill. Inspired by the weird and wonderful world of fungi and mushrooms, we will be making temporary art from natural materials and helping to add to Nita and Lisa’s mycelium network sculpture. Let’s see how far we can make it grow!

Felted fungi by Susan West

Willow Mushrooms and Fungi

Tues 13^th August 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm.

Two workshops – YOU NEED TO BOOK YOUR PLACE FOR THESE SESSIONS VIA THE CHARNWOOD ARTS WEBSITE – Led by sculptors Nita Rao and Lisa Denham.

This is your opportunity to contribute to creating artworks in the exhibition! Working alongside Nita and Lisa you will be helping in the construction of giant willow mushrooms and can get creative by adding to the fungi and mycelium art installation. We want your help to make it to grow as big as we can! To book follow this link : https://www.charnwoodarts.com/activities-for-you

Tree people by Nita Rao

Willow Mushrooms and Fungi

Sat 17^th August 1-4pm.

Drop-in workshop – no need to book, just turn up and get creative – Led by sculptor Nita Rao.

Spend an afternoon, learning from Nita how to make your very own willow mushroom to take home. As well as sharing her skills in willow work, she will delight you with lots of fun and amazing facts about fungi too.

Ceramic Mushrooms and Fungi

Sun 18^th August 1-4pm.

Drop-in workshop – no need to book, just turn up and get creative – Led by ceramicist Lisa Denham.

Join Lisa as she explores the shapes and textures of mushroom through clay. You will create your own ceramic mushroom using ‘air-drying clay’ to take home. She also has many fantastic fungi facts to share with you too!

Felted Mushrooms and Fungi

Sat 24^th August 1.30pm-4pm.

Drop-in workshop – no need to book, just turn up and get creative – Led by artist Alison Folland.

Come and be inspired by the weird and wonderful world of fungi and mushrooms and learn the art of 3D felt-making with Alison to make your own felted fungi to take home with you.

Printing with Mushrooms and Lino Cuts

Sat 24^th August 1.30pm-4pm.

Drop-in workshop – no need to book, just turn up and get creative – Led by artist Jemma Rix.

Come and discover different printing techniques. Join Jemma in experimenting with lino cuts, print blocks and actual mushrooms to create your own artwork to take home with you!

“Fungi hold the key to our future!”