Small Creatures of Avon Meadows
In the summer of 2022, with the help of artist duo Juneau Projects, the young people from Pershore Riverside Centre were asked to model sculptures representing the wildlife that can be found at Avon Meadows which is located next to the youth centre.
The young people explored the meadows, a 24 acre wildlife site and floodplain meadow, with Juneau Projects and Liz Etheridge from Wychavon District Council. Through engaging in artistic workshops, documenting their surroundings through drawing, photography and painting, they were asked to think about flooding and the effect this has on the environment.
Taking references from their sketchbooks the young people created small creatures out of modelling wax, which was then cast into bronze. Half of the bronze creatures are displayed in a trail at Avon Meadows, Pershore and the sister pieces were exhibited at The Hive, Worcester and Worcester Museum & Art Gallery.
Riverside Youth Centre is located next to Avon Meadows. It helps local young people (aged 7-25) to gain confidence and improve their prospects. Our aim is that the project will motivate participants to connect positively with their local outdoor spaces and beautiful, wildlife-rich water meadows, helping to improve community cohesion and build pride in the local places and spaces. We also hope the project will show the potential of art to transform lives and broaden horizons.
You can learn more about the project in the film below.
Below is a map of the Small Creatures of Avon Meadows trail.
This project has been funded by Art Fund and Wychavon District Council.
About the artist
Juneau Projects
Juneau Projects exhibited in Tell it to the Trees, Croft Castle, 2009.
In the summer of 2022, Juneau Projects co-created a sculpture trail with the young people from Pershore Riverside Centre which represent the wildlife that can be found at Avon Meadows which is located next to the youth centre.
Image: Juneau Projects in Pershore (2023). Image courtesy Meadow Arts. Photographer: Tegen Kimbley.