Crafty staff from Jones Bros get arty with donated materials21st Jul 2015

An interactive art exhibition at Ruthin Craft Centre featuring recycled materials donated by Jones Bros is now open.

Titled Materials, the free exhibition is the first of four seasons in the art centre’s new What is Craft programme, a two-year project exploring the nature of crafts and everyday living.

Jones Bros donated geotextile materials, which are used to separate materials like aggregates and soil on projects such as road and landfill construction, to support the summer arts project.

The recycled materials have been cut up and dyed and made available for visitors to create their own works of art at the centre’s resource space. These can be taken home or left on display for other visitors to the craft centre to enjoy.

Jones Bros donated the materials as part of its sponsorship of the learning programme at the centre.

The learning programme engages local schools to develop their understanding of the value and importance of their environment through the recycled materials.

The pupils also have access to a learning pack, created to give guidance on approaches to various craft form activities. The learning pack can be downloaded from the Ruthin Craft Centre website.

Pupils from Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ysgol Pentrecelyn, Ysgol Penbarras and Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd visited the craft centre in May, to transform the donated materials into works of art, with Manchester based artist Bella Leonard – using recycled wires, plastic, raffia and cable ties to create colourful 3D models.

The students’ work is now on display in the new resource space during the craft centre’s summer exhibition.

Staff from Jones Bros also recently visited the Ruthin Craft Centre to create their own works of art. Following in the footsteps of local schoolchildren, ten employees from Jones Bros attended workshops to build their own structures and designs from the material at two staff professional development days.

Jones Bros’ marketing manager, Lynne Williams, who attended one of the sessions, said: “The workshops proved very popular with the team who had a fantastic time.

“We all worked individually and there was no planning, so we all just made it up as we went along!

“Our work will not be on display, however, the children’s creations all look fabulous, and I’m sure many more people will enjoy the exhibition over the summer months.”

The sessions were led by artist Michael Brennand-Wood, who has a particular interest in using textiles to create elaborate and eye-catching wall-hung pieces. He has held numerous exhibitions and has also worked as a lecturer at Goldsmiths College, London, curator and arts consultant.

The partnership between Jones Bros and the craft centre was arranged through Arts & Business Cymru, which develops mutually beneficial relationship between arts projects and Welsh businesses.

The Materials season will run throughout the summer at Ruthin Craft Centre, which is open daily from 10am until 5.30pm. Admission is free. Visit www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk for further information on exhibitions and workshops over the summer.