Listen to the Lavender: Part 1

Room to Be have been given the exciting opportunity to collaborate with artist Manuela de los Rios from the Art and Nature Collective to create a unique installation artwork that represents LGBTQIA+ voices, our connection with nature and our need for safe spaces.

Our first workshop was centred around 'Listening IN' - meditative walks around the garden, getting up close to the sounds we could all hear and listening deeply to the space we were in and our own internal thoughts and emotional landscape. We harvested materials from the garden to use in our printmaking.

A busy, bustling, chatty two hours unfolded whereby the group each worked on an individual monoprint and a collective etching which incorporated chine-colle. On top of this, Manuela had prepared for us some fresh tea and seasonal snacks to share made from ingredients from the garden: tomatoes and green pesto on crackers, beautifully simple and incredibly moreish.

What did our members say:

'I really enjoyed the session and liked how it was good mix of social and getting involved with printing.'

'It was lovely to see new faces join us for the workshop

and share so much creative energy.'

'It will be interesting to see how all the bits fit together in the end...'

'The besto pesto!'

'It is super difficult to explain unfamiliar processes to people and get them to create a piece

of work with a new technique. Amazing.'

'Felt very welcome and comfortable' 

'Overall, a really lovely afternoon / evening and a great opportunity to try a different medium and be a part of a collective project'