Castle Park Arts Centre Covid-19 Reflections

COVID-19 Reflections is a project produced by Cheshire West and Chester Council to offer spaces and opportunities for residents to think back on their experiences of the past three years.

Residents are invited to the opening of a new exhibition by Helen Davies at 11am on 9 September at Castle Park Arts Centre in Frodsham.

A glass installation of three panels embedded in wood can be seen in the gardens at Castle Park Arts Centre alongside an exhibition display in the Foyer which provides an overview of the work carried out to create the installation.

The designs incorporated into the glass panels were created based on the responses from the community of Frodsham and visitors to Castle Park Arts Centre through workshops with glass artist Helen Davies at Cala Glass. Participants created elements using a variety of media used in fused glass, reflecting their experience of Covid.

Helen Davies is a glass artist and works from her Cheshire Garden studio. She has been a qualified teacher working in schools, colleges and university teaching art and glass techniques. You can find samples of her work and commissions online at: 

www.Calaglass.co.uk

Said Helen:

“It was absolutely amazing meeting all those that participated in the workshops I found it intriguing how participants expressed themselves creatively after reflecting on their experiences. It was incredibly heart-warming to hear their individual experiences and stories. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project. It was a most enjoyable experience and I feel honoured to have been selected for this commission. I hope that the installation will be treasured by visitors to the gardens at Castle Park for years to come.”

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said:

“Our COVID-19 Reflections arrive in Frodsham this week located in one of the six areas of reflection across the borough: Castle Park, Grosvenor Park, Chester, Winsford Marina, Stanney Fields Park, Neston, Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, and Marbury Park, in Northwich.

“Artists and photographers have been working with communities across the borough to capture their experiences of the pandemic. From the Lost Voices exhibition in Chester to online podcasts and an illustrated book, the many ways Covid affected people has been captured. Reflections lets us look back over the past three years.”

Castle Park Arts Centre is set in the beautiful parkland of Frodsham’s Castle Park. The Arts Centre houses three galleries, craft units, coffee shop (serving freshly made light lunches) and workshop rooms. It is used for a wide range of events, workshops, and classes for people of all ages.

Visitors to Castle Park Arts Centre can enjoy for free a six week rolling programme of inspiring visual arts exhibitions and displays of unique handmade craftworks from artists and designers based locally and further afield. The Centre is also used as a community hub by numerous local clubs and societies.

For further details about the project:  

www.covid19reflections.website

And Castle Park Arts Centre: 

www.castleparkarts.co.uk