STYLE | Art
Cultivate, create, thrive #WeAreRydeArts Each year, Ryde A rts prov ides a wea lth of opportunities for loca l people to get involved with the arts in an env ironment that enriches the lives of artists, participants, and v iewers a li ke. In this issue – the second of our series of features on inspiring Ryde A rts projects – we examine the importance of community and the joys of creating art from nature.
Green Garlands Made possible by Ryde Arts, Green Garlands is a free-ofcharge festive wreath-making workshop with community at its heart. Originally started by Carol Jaye – helped by stylist and florist Tanya Goodwin – this drop-in event has, over the years, become a much-anticipated December highlight in Ryde town centre; providing space and expert tuition (plus wire rings, masses of holly, ivy, laurel, bay and other natural materials) for local people who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to engage in a creative activity with friends and family. In previous years Green Garlands has seen around 100 participants – some wandering in spontaneously, others queuing outside before it starts. Accessibility and inclusivity for all has always been central; many participants – including Julie – return year-after-year: “Christmas is always my busiest and most stressful time of year, so being able to do Ryde Arts’ annual Green Garlands workshop with Tanya is a real blessing. Working with natural materials allows me to go back to the roots of this time of celebration. It’s fabulous that Ryde Arts provide accessible, quality workshops throughout the year as it gives people the opportunity to nurture their creative side and rebalance.” 2020 has been an extraordinarily stressful year that has highlighted the need to make time to talk, and tend to our wellbeing. Being involved in any creative activity is proven to promote wellbeing, boost confidence, and create space for social connections – all of which have a positive effect on mental health. Although current guidelines mean that the physicality of Green Garlands will look a little different this year, the community heart and Christmas spirit of the project remain unchanged. To find out more about plans for this year’s Green Garlands project, visit rydearts.org
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