Community Art Commission: led by Zoë Burt and Allan Brown

This installation is outside and can be viewed whenever the cemetery is open.
This commission is the outcome of a collaboration between Zoë Burt and Allan Brown, Community Shop users and Nature Vibezzz families,
Inspired by the moon theme for the opening weekends of the West Norwood Cemetery and by the site surveys conducted on location of trees, wild flowers, insects, moths and butterflies, we designed a textile piece, flags and two mandalas reflecting the biodiversity of this heritage site. These artworks aimed to illustrate the tangible connection between earth, moon, nature and the cycles of all life. 
In our workshops with the Community Shop in West Norwood and families connected to the local Nature Vibezzz group, we made cyanotype printed bookmarks and textiles together. These workshops highlighted West Norwood Cemetery and opened up discussions about our complex relationships with places of burial. Alongside a selection of commemorative words inscribed on the grave stones, the participants chose pressed leaves and flowers that had been gathered from the cemetery to design their cyanotype prints, showing that although housing the dead, the cemetery is a place bursting with life, vitality and fascinating history.
Cyanotype is an early form of photography that uses sunlight and water to create unique images. It has a long standing association with documenting nature.

This installation is outside, just inside the main entrance gates on the right hand side and can be viewed whenever the cemetery is open.

Information on all our Installations and Exhibitions can be found here

Artist statements: 
Zoë Burt @zoeburtuk - www.zoeburt.com
Using natural materials, botanical inks, cyanotype, drawing, painting and print I explore motifs that connect us through imagination to nature. 

The cyanotype process enables me to capture light and fix an image, whilst drawing under and into the prints with natural pigments and botanical inks I add layers of depth both metaphorically and literally.

I work as a practising artist and with school children, families, community gardens, university students, learning disabled and autistic artists with the aim of connecting people to nature through creativity.

Allan Brown @hedgerowcouture
Allan Brown is an artist, living in working in South London and Brighton. He works with sustainable natural fibres like nettles, flax, hemp and wool as well as using foraged and allotment grown dye plants.

Taking these raw materials, he slowly transforms them by hand into beautiful cloth with the aim of creating functional, durable cloth that draws lightly from the land, reflecting the fibres and colours of the landscape he lives and works in.

Central to his work and as the subject of the film The Nettle Dress, Allan is committed to empowering communities and teaching resilience through creativity. 

Illuminate is screening The Nettle Dress on Friday 7 June - this is a free screening, but booking is essential - details here on this and other individual events.