Open Sanctuary exhibition workshops

Wednesday 15 June 2022
Workshop 2-4pm and 5.30-7pm

West Downs Gallery, West Downs Centre, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5FT

'Open Sanctuary' is a sculpture made from hundreds of individual ceramic balls which, when completed, will form a circular space for visitors to sit quietly and meditate on what 'searching for sanctuary' means for them.

In a series of workshops led by artists Fiamma Colonna Montagu and Sam Selwyn Bazeley, participants will be guided through a meditation whilst creating a ceramic ball using natural clays. After firing, each ball will be slotted onto a large circular armature to slowly build the sculpture, until the work is complete.

Each workshop will last for around two hours, beginning with an introduction to the concept of the sculpture, and to the ideas of the Buddhist monk Thik Nhat Hahn about how mindfulness can provide a way to find your own sanctuary. You will then go on to create your own unique balls in different clays and mark them using individual markers with words that represent your ideas of peace, safety and the idea of 'coming home'. You will have time to make multiple balls during the workshop, and these will be taken off site after the workshop to be fired. The artists will bring back fired balls from previous workshops to the gallery and you will be invited to add some of these to the armature of the sculpture, and thus the Open Sanctuary will grow.

Winchester is one of 14 UK Cities of Sanctuary who have stated their aim to act as beacons of welcome and safety to those coming across borders to find peace. The University was named a University of Sanctuary in 2018 in recognition of its initiatives to welcome refugees and asylum seekers and support them in higher education study.

Pre-booking is required for both workshops. Follow the link for more information and to register your details.

 

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