We loved it :) A great piece of work.
I particularly loved the way it got me to look at the town in a way I rarely do, taking in details and looking up.
The clues on the map are what the children loved following.
— a Children’s Trail visitor[video]
[video]
[video]
[video]
Some works will be quite obvious, some will be a little more hidden and harder to spot. Hopefully people will notice new things every time they pass by for a good time to come. — Martin Heron, Children’s Trail artist
“There are going to be several stacks of books, outside the library, along with painted shadows. People can literally sit on the stories, the stories are part of their lives, part of the fabric of the place. The shadows on the ground give hints at what may be contained within the books they’re sitting on.” (Martin Heron)
If you’re out and about in the town during the middle of August, then you might spot us installing some of the works in the lead up to the opening of the trail. Outside the library, in the Market Square, throughout the High Street. If you see us installing, pop along to say hello. — Martin Heron, Children’s Trail artist
It’s been quite a while since we had any news of what’s happening with The Leighton Linslade Children’s Trail, so we caught up with Children’s Trail artist Martin Heron, to find out what’s been going on. Martin writes:
“The workshops in the Spring were really interesting, and fun, too. I got a sense that the whole family were involved, even when I only saw one family member.
A little boy brought a toy car to cast, and his Great-Grandad had lent him the car that morning, so that he could make artwork from it. I liked how they must have been talking about the workshops at home, for that to happen. And a little girl brought a stone egg that her Grandma had given her. Her Grandma had only recently passed away, and when she told us all about it, that was a very moving moment. I do find it very moving when I hear those kinds of stories from people.
This stage is a bit limbo-ish. I get inspired and excited about the work at the design stage, but then that sometimes gets a little blunted by all the paperwork and administration kind of work that goes along with the production and installation stage … it’s all part of my job and of course it’s all got to be done but sometimes my head would much rather - quite literally in the case of the Children’s Trail - be off with the fairies! — Martin Heron, Children’s Trail artist
You can read the previous episode of this story here
Nathan puts Snow down on the ground and reaches behind him for his axe.
He is staring at the other girl, she’s just a dark outline against the trees, but he can see it’s a girl, and not much older that the one he’s just carried through the tunnels. Behind her the air shimmers, and shines, like a wall of clear ice.
“What’s going on?” calls the girl. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
[video]
You can read the previous episode here
Timothy is frightened. “Who … what are you?” He’s pointing at the girl with purple skin. “What kind of creature are you? You’re not human, that’s for certain. And what kind of name is Ecall-Quella-Bella?”
“You can call me Bella, if it pleases you more.” Bella tries to keep her voice calm. “But there is no time for this. You are in grave danger. All my life I have watched o’er you. Alone, I have been, for all these long years and now I have come to find you. To save you. For you are in grave danger. The gravest danger of all.”
[video]