Unveiling: 12-3pm Friday November 15th, 1.00PM Bowling Park Wild area, Bradford
I am always looking for ways to reach more people whilst bringing in new Creative Health and Social Prescribing elements – so this project emphasises the physical and mental health benefits of the outdoors, green space and walking. All three offer parents wellbeing at no cost.
So when I first met with the Better Start team in Bradford, my thoughts turned to the great outdoors – specifically, how can we introduce even more people to the Holding Time Project whilst availing ourselves of the beautiful parks this city has to offer?
Fast forward and Adele Adams of Better Place and I are writing a brief for a Holding Time Chair – a massive 4.5 ton Lincolnshire stone sculpture based on the ancient maternal figurines from a time when motherhood was magical….!
Created in collaboration with the supremely talented artist and sculptor Dan Jones, the piece is finally ready to be installed in Bowling Park wild play area, where it will no doubt outlive us all.
We’re launching during Babyweek, to emphasise that the chair is a place to rest and hold. A strategically placed QR code will bring the Holding Time digital content into the city’s park. Over the past five months I have interviewed dozens of mothers and these fascinating stories will be simultaneously launched as a new season of Podcasts for the Bradford project.
Other activities include an audio tour of mother portraits located in Better Place green sites across the city and a photographic exhibition of portraits in Airedale and Bradford Infirmary hospitals.
Our writing lead, Rachel New, has already completed a series of Writing for Wellbeing workshops and we will hear some of the incredible poetry and prose written by these mothers at the launch event on the 15th.
“The Holding Time Sculptural Chair has been a joy to work on, developing my creative skills practically and intellectually. Collaborating with other artists and organisations helps me to see the world from other people’s perspectives, and enriches the work I create in response. The Holding time chair, while different from any other sculpture I’ve made before, sits happily in my approach to promoting nature, health and wellbeing through creative projects.” – Dan Jones, Artist
“Better Place relishes the opportunity to work on this collaborative project with Lisa and Dan Jones, sculptor, on the Holding Time chair. It will be a beautiful, serene addition to one of the Better Place playful spaces within the Better Start Bradford area. Parents holding little ones to feed will be able to take a moment, sitting in nature, being ‘held’ themselves.” – Adele Adams , Better Place, Bradford
Read more about the Holding Time Chair here
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