The Big Draw is a national annual campaign to encourage everyone to draw and get creative. 2009 saw Ginger Moo engaging with the wider community through specifically tailored events hosted by professional artists with some great results.
Creative Play with artist/designer/maker Thomas Forsyth
Thomas worked with a group of people from Outreach 3Way and the community, encouraging drawing with handmade quirky implements. Preconceived ideas of traditional skills were banished and the outcomes were fascinating.
‘Ginger Loo’ with artist/designer Jo Harrison
Jo collaboratively designed and constructed a toilet cubicle made from primarily recycled materials. Jo encouraged people to make their mark and comment on the world they live in, by drawing with make up! What started as a sterile, white ‘Loo’, became a wonderful mix of illustrations and artistic statements.
Working with a specific group from WRVS, Jo also led a decorative workshop, encouraging the participants to take inspiration from nature and form patterns on autumnal leaves with a variety of materials.
The Art of Communication with artist Katie Howe
Using insulating tape on a giant taped computer screen, participants were asked to ‘draw’ their ideas on their future means of communication. This enabled people to experiment with an unusual drawing medium and to express their own thoughts in an unconventional way!
By playing a simple game of Pictionary, Katie involved the community in creating tape images on a large ‘board’ on the floor of the Gallery.
Look to the Future with artist Sam Murray
Combined with a stop frame animation, the community created a large recycled paper and charcoal rainforest landscape. This illustrated the changes within this environment to great effect and enabled all age groups to get involved and use materials that were new to them.
Plastic planet with artist Rachel Cowell
Taking inspiration from the damage created to the sea life from plastic in our everyday lives, a 3D frame was covered with brightly coloured imagery.
Children and adults alike, joined in the fun and tapped into their creative side whilst gaining an insight into some of the world’s environmental issues.
Extraordinary Doorways with artists Jo Harrison and Rachel Cowell 2010
Exploring ideas of looking through the doorway to the future, the participants were asked to draw their thoughts on how the future may look, including the way we communicate, travel and the type of dwellings we might live in. The images were drawn onto large acetate sheets which overlapped through a wooden doorway installation.
