Woodland Tales
2021
Throughout the Summer of 2021 I worked with Birmingham-based artist duo and Warley Woods Community Trust to deliver Woodland Tales, a community project for the people of Smethwick. The project included a packed schedule of events and workshops which saw the artists create interventions throughout the woods including a social sculpture where they hosted creative activities.
Hipkiss & Graney made a new folktale inspired by the ecology and landscapes of Warley Woods, working collaboratively with local businesses, staff and volunteers of Warley Woods Community Trust, local families and year six pupils at Brandhall Primary School. Through a series of workshops the artists bought to life the folk tale through newly commissioned music, sculpture, costumes and performance.
Woodland Tales was inspired by the ecology of woodlands, where microorganisms were elevated to folk heroes and ecological processes became goddesses. The folktale tells the story of Woodkid – the spirit of the woodlands. Alone, they wanted the soil and roots of the land until they meet Muntjac. A story of friendship evolves where these two characters adventure through the woods and meet fantastical characters along the way. This story was told in The Grand Procession, an event where the community celebrated their local woodland with costumes and props made by workshop participants which explored mycelium networks and the role microorganisms play in sustaining life on our planet.
Other events included a Wild Listening workshop hosted by Anna Palmer who composed the original score for Woodland Tales from field recordings gathered in Warley Woods. Beth Belis and Anna Palmer later collaborated with Hipkiss & Graney to present a Supersonic Kids Gig – a performance aimed at young children at Lightwoods House, coinciding with their Woodland Tales exhibition. The exhibition comprised props, pots created by Will Kew and a film work of The Grand Procession.
Hipkiss & Graney also created an audiobook of the folk tale which can be downloaded and listened to as you walk through the woods or any forest area.
This was an ambitious and exciting project which engaged local communities and young people with the science of our forests in an accessible and engaging way. My role was to pitch the artists to Warley Woods Community Trust and support funding bids as part of a steering group for the Trust. I later assumed the role of Project Coordinator, working with Hipkiss & Graney, the Trust and other partners to ensure the project was successfully managed. I implemented and delivered a monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure valuable date was capture for a range of funders and the Trust. I ensure events were promoted, ticketed, COVID-compliant and documented and developed opportunities for the artists to realise this ambitious project.
Hipkiss & Graney are a visual arts duo based in Stirchley, South Birmingham. Their practice explores ideas around collectivity, community and counter-movements through socially engaged workshops and largescale interactive installations and performances. Their performative works discuss political and environmental issues, often involving magic realism and fictional organisations.
Woodland Tales was created commissioned by Warley Woods Community Trust and produced and performed by Hipkiss & Graney in collaboration with a range of talented artists and producers:
Synthia Oenga, narrator for the audiobook and live performance.
Music Composition, sound design and performance by Anna Palmer and Beth Belis.
Woodland Tales audiobook was written by Jonathan Graney and Gavin Curtis, narrated by Synthia Oenga, with music and sound design by Anna Palmer and Beth Belis.
The Woodland Tales Ceramic Pots were created by Will Kew.
Project Coordinated by Jenine McGaughran.
Documentation by Kate Green and Michael Lightborne.
Photos on this page by Kate Green.