We are excited to welcome jeweller Yuka Jourdain to Medway on Saturday 13 May, to lead a free workshop taking 'On the marshes' by Carol Donaldson as its inspiration. Booking is open now.
In the three-hour workshop, participants will create a beautiful and unique bird brooch, under the guidance of Yuka.
Yuka Jourdain is a narrative jewellery designer based in the UK. Her practice combines traditional jewellery techniques and experimentation with new materials. Inspiration comes from the natural world around her, as well as questions that arise in daily life. Her recent works concern environmental issues, biodiversity loss and materials around us. Yuka hopes that her jewellery will work as a catalyst for creating discussion about the issues.
Participants of the workshop will have several pre-cut shapes to work with. The shapes can be coloured, have needle felting added to them, and decorations such as buttons and beads, before being made into a brooch.
The Red List Birds
We felt that Yuka's concerns about biodiversity loss particularly chimed with Carol Donaldson's book 'On the marshes', as many of the birds on the Kent marshes have decreased in their numbers. Carol has been working to reverse this in her job running the North Kent Breeding Wader Project on behalf of the RSPB. For example, the Lapwing once a familiar bird on the marshes, (also known as the 'peewit' in imitation of its calls), has suffered significant declines recently and is now a Red List species.
We have already made woven tapestries inspired by the locations and scenery described in the book, but we felt that Carol's connection to the birds of the marshes was also an inspiration which could be explored in crafting.
Book now for the Workshop
Booking for 'Birds on the Kent marshes brooch making' is open now.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 11am to 2pm
Nucleus Arts Centre and Cafe, 272 High Street, Chatham
Free, but due to limited space, booking is essential.
All materials and refreshments provided
Suitable for ages 14+, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Carol Donaldson will be talking about and reading from her book, 'On the marshes' at Medway River Lit in June. The full programme will be launched in May.
