Don’t miss chance to be part of huge community art project at crafty half-term session!
Thursday, May 31: 10am to 12pm. 1pm to 3pm.
An ambitious project to create Tamworth’s largest ever piece of community art is now nearing completion and local residents are being given another chance to get involved before it’s too late.
Mercian Mosaic involves the decorating of 1,400 individual yard-square tiles which will be laid out on the lower lawn of the Castle Grounds for one day only to reveal a stunning Anglo-Saxon-themed masterpiece.
Hundreds of tiles have already been completed by hundreds of willing volunteers from across the town, including from schools, church and community groups, sheltered housing schemes and art groups.
The intricate 70-yard by 20-yard mosaic has been designed by Tamworth artist Maggie Carney who has spent the last 18 months living and breathing the project; co-ordinating volunteers and allocating designs.
Feedback from those who have taken part so far has been amazing and contributors are now looking forward to spotting their work when all the tiles are brought together for the first time on the big day on Saturday, July 14.
However, there’s still a bit of work to do before that day arrives and Maggie is again inviting people to get creative at her base of operations near Druckers in Ankerside Shopping Centre for a fun half-term activity.
Although people are welcome to pop in whenever they see Maggie working away on the project, a dedicated drop-in session will take place on Thursday, May 31, between 10am and 12pm and 1pm to 3pm. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to drop in and add their contribution to this huge community project.
The striking overall design features key elements of the town’s Anglo-Saxon history, incorporating its landmark buildings, rivers and people, as well as details such as Tamworth pigs, dragons, fish, the Staffordshire knot and Mercian flag.
At the centre is Tamworth’s ‘Lady of the Mercians’ Aethelflaed, who played a pivotal role in English history by building a chain of fortifications against Viking invaders throughout the Kingdom of Mercia.
Her fortification of Tamworth in 913 AD became the forerunner to Tamworth Castle. Daughter of Alfred the Great, Aethelflaed’s accession as a female ruler has been described as one of the most unique events in early medieval history.
This year marks the 1100th anniversary of Aethelflaed’s death in Tamworth and the mosaic will be laid out on the lower lawn of the Castle Grounds for one day on Saturday, July 14, as part of a weekend of celebrations to mark the occasion.
Mercian Mosaic is one of several initiatives taking place as part of Arts in Unusual Spaces – a two-year scheme made possible with funding from Arts Council England to bring art to new and interesting spaces across the town.
Maggie, a retired school teacher and freelance artist, said: “This is undoubtedly the biggest project I have ever taken on and I have spent many hours working on it. We’ve had so many people taking part and they’ve really enjoyed getting creative; the work they’ve done is amazing. The end is now in sight though and we really are on the final push, so if anyone would like to get involved, now is the time to do so. I think the end result is going to be quite incredible.”
The unveiling on Saturday, July 14 will form part of an Anglo-Saxon-themed family fun day, with a variety of activities taking place.
More information about the events taking place this summer to mark the 1100th anniversary of Aethelflaed’s death is available at www.aethelflaed.co.uk.
