27th Apr 2015
Grant Associates design a Forest of Imagination in Bath UK
Landscape architects Grant Associates have designed The Forest of Imagination to transform Bath’s historic Queens Square into a temporary fantastical landscape and outdoor gallery for a four-day contemporary arts event in May 2015.
The Forest of Imagination design includes:
The Forest enclosure featuring mixed forest saplings, understorey grasses and a willow tunnel running across the middle. Playing with space the mini forest will be made giant by the tiny world created within it of small creatures, dwellings and birds with an art installation by artist Edwina Bridgeman.
The Forest Pole enclosure created by Charley Brentnall will work round a complete circle to create a self-supporting enclosure.
The Bamboo enclosure, designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, is a 14.4m x 12 m space screened with vertical bamboo canes. Musical devices are attached to the poles for interaction with the visitors. Performances and activities will take place at the centre of the enclosure.
A gigantic magic white rabbit 6.5 meters in height will be inflated and pop up in different locations in the Forest throughout the four-day event.
Andrew Grant, Director, Grant Associates, said:
“The Forest of Imagination reinvents Queen Square as an artistic, playful world where the creative spirit of the city has fun with this familiar Georgian landscape. It's a wake up call to let everyone know Bath did not stop evolving 200 years ago.”
Penny Hay, Director, 5x5x5=creativity and Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University, said:
“We believe, and research shows, that creativity and imagination can enhance wellbeing and transform lives. The Forest of Imagination is an invitation to adults and children to come and explore their own creativity and imagination. We want to put Bath on the map as a constellation of creative activity.”
Bath city creative collaboration
Bath-based creative partners involved in creating the magical experience include children’s charity 5x5x5=creativity, award-winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, design studio Ideas of the Mind, Herman Miller Cares, Bath Illuminate, Carpenter Oak, Bath Spa University and The House of Fairy Tales. Artists and designers already signed up to the event include Edwina Bridgeman, Jono Burgess, Jessica Palmer, John East, and students from Bath Spa University.
The Forest of Imagination runs from 15-18 May 2015 and features a playful programme of installations, artworks and activities for all ages. The House of Imagination runs alongside offering a creative learning programme of workshops giving children and adults the opportunity to be immersed in creative enquiry alongside professional contemporary artists, designers and architects.
This is the second year that Forest of Imagination has been staged in Bath, after a successful debut in the grounds of Bath School of Art and Design, Bath Spa University on Sion Hill in July 2014.
For more information visit www.forestofimagination.com
Andrew Grant explains more in an interview with Virtual Museum of Bath:
The Forest of Imagination design includes:
The Forest enclosure featuring mixed forest saplings, understorey grasses and a willow tunnel running across the middle. Playing with space the mini forest will be made giant by the tiny world created within it of small creatures, dwellings and birds with an art installation by artist Edwina Bridgeman.
The Forest Pole enclosure created by Charley Brentnall will work round a complete circle to create a self-supporting enclosure.
The Bamboo enclosure, designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, is a 14.4m x 12 m space screened with vertical bamboo canes. Musical devices are attached to the poles for interaction with the visitors. Performances and activities will take place at the centre of the enclosure.
A gigantic magic white rabbit 6.5 meters in height will be inflated and pop up in different locations in the Forest throughout the four-day event.
Andrew Grant, Director, Grant Associates, said:
“The Forest of Imagination reinvents Queen Square as an artistic, playful world where the creative spirit of the city has fun with this familiar Georgian landscape. It's a wake up call to let everyone know Bath did not stop evolving 200 years ago.”
Penny Hay, Director, 5x5x5=creativity and Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University, said:
“We believe, and research shows, that creativity and imagination can enhance wellbeing and transform lives. The Forest of Imagination is an invitation to adults and children to come and explore their own creativity and imagination. We want to put Bath on the map as a constellation of creative activity.”
Bath city creative collaboration
Bath-based creative partners involved in creating the magical experience include children’s charity 5x5x5=creativity, award-winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, design studio Ideas of the Mind, Herman Miller Cares, Bath Illuminate, Carpenter Oak, Bath Spa University and The House of Fairy Tales. Artists and designers already signed up to the event include Edwina Bridgeman, Jono Burgess, Jessica Palmer, John East, and students from Bath Spa University.
The Forest of Imagination runs from 15-18 May 2015 and features a playful programme of installations, artworks and activities for all ages. The House of Imagination runs alongside offering a creative learning programme of workshops giving children and adults the opportunity to be immersed in creative enquiry alongside professional contemporary artists, designers and architects.
This is the second year that Forest of Imagination has been staged in Bath, after a successful debut in the grounds of Bath School of Art and Design, Bath Spa University on Sion Hill in July 2014.
For more information visit www.forestofimagination.com
Andrew Grant explains more in an interview with Virtual Museum of Bath: