Students light up Arboretum anniversary
Magical lights, street theatre and entertainment are coming to Lincoln Arboretum later this month and Lincoln College’s Art & Design students have been creating an installation as one of the attractions.
The Sprites and Spirits at Sundown event will be taking place at the Arboretum on Saturday, March 29 from 6pm to 8pm to mark the park’s 150th anniversary. The free event will include a parade at 7pm along attractions such as street theatre and lanterns.
More than 40 Level 3 Art and Design students studying at the College’s Christs Hospital Terrace (CHT) campus have worked together with an art company, Lumo, to create a series of water lily inspired lanterns.
Art & Design Lecturer, Shelley Hawley, said: “These lanterns have come about from a project that Lumo approached us about recently and we’re so glad they did. We had around 45 students all creating them from material that they provided, and it was a really rewarding workshop. The lanterns are made from willow and tissue paper but are also lit up with multi-coloured lights that can be controlled remotely.
“The hours spent creating these will count towards the students’ work experience time and there’s been a possibility of getting some students more voluntary work as a result which is fantastic news.”
Lindsay Cameron Johnson of Local Landscapes & Hidden Histories explained it is a three-year, community interest, heritage-based project.
“The project’s key objective is to connect local people to the heritage our parks and open spaces represent. We do this by delivering a meaningful programme of activities and initiatives which connect local park users and underrepresented groups to heritage.
“We are extremely excited to be holding the Sprites and Spirits at Sundown event at Lincoln Arboretum, the event pays homage to the parks’ original opening in 1872 which really was a grand affair! The opening ceremony was attended by 25,000 people.
“Attractions included brass band recitals, Professor Renzo’s Performing Dogs and Mr Emmanuel Jackson, the Midland aeronaut, in his new balloon.
“The event will feature fun performances by Rhubarb Theatre – for example, the ghost of Edward Milner who designed the park layout, a prominent landscape designer and assistant to Joseph Paxton.
“At 7pm there will be a parade with lanterns designed and created by LUMO Workshop who have worked closely with local community groups, including Lincoln College of Art and Monks Abbey Primary School, to create an array of lanterns which acknowledge the opening of the Arboretum.”
Creative Director at Lumo Workshop, Nadya Monfrinoli, said: “It has been a privilege to work with Level 3 Art and Design students at Lincoln College to create a sculptural installation for the Arboretum and to offer them the opportunity to exhibit in an outdoor public space. We were impressed with the students’ enthusiasm, and we can’t wait for their beautiful work to be seen by everyone on the night.”
You can find a feature on the history of the Arboretum by the Survey of Lincoln in the Heritage section of this website.
Pictured above are Art & Design students Bea Lea, Eddy Gill and Tori Mason with the lanterns.
