11:00am Monday 6th April 2009
By Lauren Oldershaw
YOUNGSTERS and their families have been able to view the fruits of their labour thanks to a special exhibition.
Workshops led by artists were held in the Greenstead and St John’s areas of Colchester to produce a 3D artwork display out of recycled products.
The theme for the work was Fairtrade, as the workshops coincided with a fortnight of events to highlight the movement.
Fairtrade aims to improve the working conditions and achieve fairer prices for farmers in the developing world.
All of the young people and their families were invited along to a viewing of the work in the Les Livres Gallery in Colchester’s Central Library.
DevEdEssex, an education charity based in the town, was behind the event.
The artwork was made from recycled material and papier-mache. It was created during a series of workshops, funded by Awards for All, and led by artist Flavia Idun in community centres across the area.
Carol Batchelor, school support worker from DevEdEssex, said: “Each picture is vibrant and brightly coloured with hands and bodies that reach out towards the viewer.
“Each group at the workshops researched a different product to find out where and how it is produced and they were encouraged to draw images that included the different processes starting from the initial raw product to how we see it in the shops in this country.”
The finished work shows off cotton, rice, honey, bananas and fruit, chocolate, coffee, sugar and sports balls.
One of the participants parent Helen Main said: “It was a great educational and incredibly fun project for all the family.
“The end results are fabulous and all for a great cause to promote knowledge of Fairtrade to the public.”
The exhibition runs until Sunday, April 26, at the library in Trinity Square, Colchester.
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