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Garden printmaking project

News 16 June 2016

Martha Orbach has been making a garden-based art project with members, thanks to a commission from the Open Society Foundation. Back in November last year, a group of members and staff went to Kew Gardens to research and share plant stories – particularly in the vibrant, colourful, tropical Palmhouse which houses plant collections from Africa and Australasia. “This is my connection with my childhood – the happiest time of my life” one member explained, on seeing plants she grew up with. Armed with sketchbooks and cameras, everyone sketched and observed plants of their choosing and talked about what they meant to them. From this pencil drawings were made and cut into stencils back at Mildmay Community Centre.

BACK HOME MY LAND WAS TAKEN –

I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING HERE

I have no passport or status here, but she brings me callalloo from her allotment,

so I should not feel I do not exist despite my difficulties.

1- here you can breathe

I HAD NOT UNDERSTOOD SPRING BEFORE

Plants give me courage.

When they die another one comes again.

Life is there all the time.

Things are changing in the garden. This is good.

My life here is in limbo.

 

 

5 - we grew rhubarb

The garden is like paradise for us –

when I came here I was very depressed and without hope.

It was winter and now for me it’s spring.

When I’m working in the garden,

my mind goes quiet

and I’m peaceful for a while.

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