By Mindy Goose
Kirkstall Art Trail has an opportunity for neighbours and beyond to get stuck in – creating art for this year’s art trail.
No experience is necessary; just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to get your hands dirty!
Led by a professional artist, this free collaborative workshop is out of the ordinary. Taking the form of a sculptural installation, it will draw inspiration from the River Aire. What is a sculptural installation, you may ask yourself?
Installation art is, generally speaking, large-scale, site-specific, and temporary in its nature. And that is exactly what the artist is hoping to achieve in this workshop. That is where you, the public, are important. By joining the workshop, you will create your individual parts, as well as create a much larger sculpture as a team.
Still unsure? Have you ever been out in nature in the autumn and either you’ve seen or made patterns with the different coloured leaves? That could be an installation. Think Andy Goldsworthy and land art. Perhaps you’ve seen pebbles piled high or arranged by size and colour in a decorative pattern? Like this arrangement we spotted by Swinsty Reservoir:

In this workshop, you will be creating something similar. However, you will be using recycled materials instead of leaves and pebbles. Guided by the artist, you will be using experimental techniques and exploring the river’s flow.
The River Aire at Kirkstall Abbey has a new viewing platform, and it is worth the visit. Watching the river pass over the weir, its rumbling thunder drowns out the noise of traffic; you will see the wildlife that makes the river its home. You may spot a heron, or if you are lucky, you will see a cormorant. This will form the basis for the sculpture’s inspiration.

The location for the workshop is also unusual. 47 Kirkstall Lane sounds unremarkable, but this is a working yard, a short distance up the hill from the leisure centre. The installation will be built here and will also be on display here during the weekend of the art trail.
If this sounds intriguing and you want to sign up for the workshop, you can do so through Eventbrite. If you have any questions, you can contact us by email at info@kirkstallarttrail.co.uk.
Details
The workshop is on Sunday, 6 July, from 2 pm to 5.30 pm.
Address: 47 Kirkstall Lane, Kirkstall, LS5 3BE.
Book your place through Eventbrite.
Kirkstall Art Trail will be held on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 July, from 11 am to 5 pm.
Sign up to the newsletter and follow them on social media to keep on top of all things Kirkstall Art Trail. Information about this year’s event can be found on kirkstallarttrail.co.uk.
This project has been made possible by funding from the Inner West Community Committee, Leeds City Council.