by Tracy Shaw, Loca Creatives Director
The work we've been doing for the past eight months in St Mary's, Oldham, has just come to a colourful crescendo (amazingly - it hardly seems a moment since we were poised at the beginning). Last week five beautifully carved stones arrived on a very big trailer in the middle of a very small housing estate and were carefully craned into position. Placed in an arc they form a 'timeline' depicting five key periods in St Mary's history, and tell the story of how the piece of land they are sited on has evolved from wild, scrubby moorland into a place of new homes and new connections. They are arranged so as to create an area which can be used as a seating and social space. It's been a delight over the last few days to see them being sat on, stood on, played around, closely peered at and excitedly talked about.
On Sunday we celebrated with a magical event and a ceremonial unwrapping, inviting residents and guests to "come on a journey through stories of St Mary's told in a performance, songs, a film and five carved stones" - all components made through our work with and in the local community over the last few months . The indoor performance and outdoor film screening brought the carvings to life and gave them added depth, ensuring that people will remember the stories told on the stones and will pass them on. By the time we and our many helpers packed up to make our weary way home there was a sense that the passing on is already beginning to happen, and that the stones already belong on Poppy Road.
See Sunday's event in pictures here.
There's still more work to be done and ends to tie up, but it seems a timely moment to say a big thanks to the Cornerstones team (Adam Strickson, Dan Jones, Lucy Bergman) for their fantastic work; to Contour Homes for the opportunity; and to St Mary's residents for welcoming us, working with us and celebrating with us. It's been a delight.
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Photo: Porl Medlock
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The work we've been doing for the past eight months in St Mary's, Oldham, has just come to a colourful crescendo (amazingly - it hardly seems a moment since we were poised at the beginning). Last week five beautifully carved stones arrived on a very big trailer in the middle of a very small housing estate and were carefully craned into position. Placed in an arc they form a 'timeline' depicting five key periods in St Mary's history, and tell the story of how the piece of land they are sited on has evolved from wild, scrubby moorland into a place of new homes and new connections. They are arranged so as to create an area which can be used as a seating and social space. It's been a delight over the last few days to see them being sat on, stood on, played around, closely peered at and excitedly talked about.
On Sunday we celebrated with a magical event and a ceremonial unwrapping, inviting residents and guests to "come on a journey through stories of St Mary's told in a performance, songs, a film and five carved stones" - all components made through our work with and in the local community over the last few months . The indoor performance and outdoor film screening brought the carvings to life and gave them added depth, ensuring that people will remember the stories told on the stones and will pass them on. By the time we and our many helpers packed up to make our weary way home there was a sense that the passing on is already beginning to happen, and that the stones already belong on Poppy Road.
See Sunday's event in pictures here.
There's still more work to be done and ends to tie up, but it seems a timely moment to say a big thanks to the Cornerstones team (Adam Strickson, Dan Jones, Lucy Bergman) for their fantastic work; to Contour Homes for the opportunity; and to St Mary's residents for welcoming us, working with us and celebrating with us. It's been a delight.
