The past week has seen me invigilating the FEED ME project’s visual culmination (or an exhibition to you and me). For those of you who haven’t already heard of this little gem of a project, let give you a little taster, so to speak… FEED ME project
 | | FEED ME art exhibit |
FEED ME was launched in October 2005 as part of Fierce’s creative learning programme. It was based at the May Lane Allotments in Kings Heath, where children came from four local primary schools to create a space that could produce food for thousands (not really but, as the artists involved divulged to me, at times it felt like they were!). The schools were brought to the allotments each week and students were essential to the growth of the project at every stage - from the design and layout, vegetables and other produce that they would grow, as well as gardening and maintaining the allotment. Now I know what you are all thinking - how could such a lengthy and laborious project keep the young ones engaged? After all we all know how long it takes for a vegetable to grow and how soon a child can be distracted! One of the projects leading artists Joanne Jones told me that to keep the children focused (and willing) a broad range of related activities were organised, to not only hold their attention but to encourage creativity through an organic and sustainable process such as gardening. Children created clay thrones, scarecrows, murals, a vegetable orchestra and Allenscroft Primary School even created a movie with First Light Films, 'Recipes For Making Rain', in which they explore they ways in which they can make the clouds produce water for their allotment! The exhibition
 | | FEED ME - plants |
Working at an exhibition that summed all of this up in one room was fantastic. The exhibit itself consisted of banners, each with four photographs, telling the story of the project, several Fierce TV clips of the main events and the film made by the children themselves. It was so enchanting to see the kids running around getting mucky and making something wonderful out of nothing. ‘My hat goes off’ to the geniuses that had the brains to pull it all together! Come and speak to me My role mainly involved sitting, reading quietly, waiting for passing bodies to stop and ask me questions. Sadly this did not happen much as the students and lecturers were all a little preoccupied, as it is a hectic time of year when exams and interviews are happening. (It was taking place at UCE BIAD, Gosta Green campus). However one day I was required to construct 100 sunflower seeding pots, which as Andrew (Fierce’s creative learning consultant) himself pointed out, actually felt like it was part of the exhibition! This ‘performance’ sparked the (so far uninterested) students into taking time to talk to me and learn about this beautiful project! Another highlight was the artist teacher talk, where I got to meet some of the children and teachers who all stressed the impact the project had on both themselves and the young ones. It was a real joy to have been allowed to work on this project, even if it was only the exhibition at the end - I would have loved to have been there from day one! Comments from those involved
 | | Laura - all alone at the exhibition |
A gardener at the allotments: "I’ve been on the allotment for forty years now and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to it. To be honest it shook us all up to think that they could come in here and turn what was once a really rough patch into this!" A teacher: "The children have been so inspired by the whole thing!" Tea Party guests: "Its nice to see the ageing population using allotments and getting the younger generation involved - it means it can continue for another fifty years or more!" To see the FEED ME Fierce TV clips and "Recipies for Making Rain", visit www.fiercetv.co.uk and select fierce tv. I'll have another blog next week with the latest goss from the Fierce Festival. Blog 1 Laura joins the Fierce team as a volunteer - and almost gets to go to the ball! Blog 2 Laura finds out that it's not easy dealing with creative people, but it's worth it! | 
