After collecting tiles from Kass at ‘Al Murad’ Blackpool and spotting a small hoard ready for the skip at another shop, we had a ‘trial run’ of using the pieces that Mr Dee spent 3 days cutting up.
The Hand Made Un’s Art Club have now started the work after securing a small pot of funding for materials earlier this year, thanks to Pippa Martin. We are applying for further funding to work with more of the community throughout 2018 to produce some smaller mosaics to be installed outdoors in the Revoe area.
The Blackpool Gazette came this week to take photographs for a feature on the project and the club. Thank you to Dan and Julia from the Gazette.
Lee’s drawing up on the backer board ready to add tiles.
Keep watching the blog for updates.
Margaret tried out a windmill design, while Andy ‘supervised’.
Anita tried out a house design.
Barbara worked on her King Edward Picture House design. The location of the finished mosaic will be on the side the George pub that is also included in the mosaic.
On Monday 23rd of December Last Legs Community Arts Organisation set up a ‘pop up’ art installation in a Central Drive Shop at Bethesda Square (previously Mickeys Carpets) in Blackpool the same shop where ‘Dr Evoes Pet Shop’ was previously housed as part of the Culture Shops initiative in 2013 and has been created by the same artists Boz Phillips and Lee Fitzgerald.
All the art on display has been the work of the local community including pupils at Revoe Learning Academy. Boz Phillips and Lee Fitzgerald set up workshops with the participants to support intergenerational community arts activities for the project.
‘Last Legs’ – Boz Phillips and Lee Fitzgerald approached LeftCoast earlier this year for funding to support the local community with publicising their community garden situated at the back of Lady Smith House, Ibbison Court.
The community have worked hard with GroundWork and the Council to set up the garden and are still seeking volunteers to get involved.
The installation will remain in the shop for one month from 23rd December – January
‘We have worked with the community of Central Drive and Revoe to create a ‘Fantasy Plant Shop’ art installation – Hand Grown Un’s.
After creating ‘Dr Evoes Pet Shop’ last year we received such positive feedback and requests to produce another art installation we decided to seek funding from LeftCoast to carry out this project. The children who designed the fantasy pets/ animals for the ‘fantasy pet shop’ last year really wanted to get involved making the work but we did not have enough funding or time to act on their request. This time thanks to funding from LeftCoast as part of the ‘Growing People – programme,designed to get local communities thinking differently about their green spaces’, we were able to involve school pupils, young people attending the Monday Club at Ibbison Community Center and more of the older community in making the art works. All the art works created for the shop were made using recycled materials.
We worked directly with at least 500 participants on the project with the aim of supporting the community gardeners and give their hard work a higher profile.
By installing more art in empty shop windows on Central Drive people can see there is a really strong sense of community in the area. People there are working very hard to improve the area and need positive creative ideas from everyone to reinforce this.
The community profile recently carried out in the area showed that local people really do want more opportunities for art and creativity there. We are currently in the early stages of setting up art workshops for older people in the area next year.
Working in the area is always a pleasure because the community are so enthusiastic and positive: we will continue to support them by creating opportunities for further arts activities’.
Thanks to
LeftCoast for funding the project
Blackpool Borough Council for the loan of the shop premises
The Revoe-Lution and The New Revoe Residents Association team based at Lady Smith House for their ongoing support and hard work
Revoe Learning Academy for their art works
Bugs to Butterflies for their art works
Susan Howarth and The New Life Church for their art works
The community of Revoe and Central Drive who participated
Shirley McCarten and the Tuesday luncheon club for their support and input
The community gardeners at Lady Smith House, Ibbison Court
Blackpool Family Hostel, Central Drive
GroundWork
Last Legs’ friends and artist colleagues for their help, support.
In 2013 we were asked to facilitate two short workshops with young people engaged in National Citizens Service activities with the YMCA in the fantastic setting of Rossall School Fleetwood, during the summer break.
We created cardboard knights armor for the participants to add their own team designs to.
I am a graffiti artist with over 30 years experience. I hold current enhanced DBS and Public Liability Insurance.
Revoe Community Graffiti Mural, 2023. Painted and designed by young people.
I devise and deliver community based art projects, sharing my skills and knowledge of the history of graffiti art to as many people as possible. I strongly believe graffiti art can support the development of literacy skills in people of all ages. Graffiti painting with the community uses team building skills that create opportunities for intergenerational communication and understanding.
I am co-founder and chairman of Last Legs
Photo of graffiti workshop at Lytham Hall : participants spray painting on to shrink wrap
Recent projects include:
2024
‘A Question of Art’ – current project
Site specific Tree of Life: Young peoples hostel 2023
2022
‘Home is where your heART is’
working in hostels across Blackpool to produce art works including poetry with people about to move to new homes.
2021
Revoe mosaic project – a celebration of Revoe
2019
Horizon Art of Recovery project
Two major art works devised constructed and installed by Last Legs.
Commissioned by Horizon Blackpool to work in collaboration with the Art of Recovery group and community members of Grange Park Blackpool.
Art work at Gorton Street Hostel created with the residents.
November 2016- January 2017
Poster project for the front of the King Edward Cinema Central Drive Blackpool
Working with the community to design and produce 2 large scale site specific ‘movie posters’ . Incorporating designs and histories of Blackpool linked to the Central area of Blackpool.
Lytham Arts Festival 2014
Grandads and lads – 3 large scale graffiti designs done in Park View over 3 days of Lytham Arts festival
August 2013 “Contemporary Calligraphy” at Lytham Hall.
Working with a group of volunteers mostly between the ages of 50 and 70 we created an ephemeral graffiti mural in the grounds of Lytham Hall.
After arriving at what the participants thought was going to be a calligraphy workshop everyone was given a brief history of graffiti and an introduction to the tools and processes of graffiti art.
We then spent the rest of the day spray painting murals onto cling film stretched between trees in the grounds of the hall.
Workshop participants with art work at Lytham Hall
Graffiti art commissioned Blackpool centenary tram ready for its new use as a youth hub.
February 2013.
In partnership with Shabby 2 Chic CIC I assisted a 17 year old young man to achieve his Expressive Arts Award.
Art work cupboard designed and painted by participant
Over the course of 6 weeks we designed and created a custom piece of recycled furniture and printed t-shirts using his own designs.
have experience of working in partnership with organisations such as New Revoe Residents Association, Blackpool Borough Council, Young carers, Streetlife, Fylde Youth Service, Blackpool Horizon project and Blackpool Club to Go : delivering, and facilitating numerous community arts projects.
Two recent projects I have worked on include – a poster project for Blackpool Art service and Blackpool Grand Theater ‘Breakin’ Convention. I worked in partnership with Boz Phillips on ‘Breakin’ Convention’ where I was the lead artist. As Last Legs we have received funding for a number of project in the Blackpool Central / Revoe areas. Working with community members of all ages. Our most recently successful devised, delivered and funded project is ‘Art Buddies’ – going to the homes of isolated individuals and involving them in creative activities. This project is ongoing.
Please take a look at recent pages for my ongoing community art work
last legs community arts health 