Join West Norwood Cemetery Horticultural Apprentice Helen MacKenzie and artist Alice MacKenzie for an extra special plant walk followed by a botanical cyanotype workshop.
This is a completely FREE event, but numbers are limited so booking is essential.
When: Sunday 16 July 2023; 11am-1.30pm
Where: West Norwood Cemetery - just inside the main entrance on the corner of Norwood Road and Robson Road
Tickets: All ages are welcome, although the workshop is most suited to children aged 4 and above. BOOK YOUR PLACES HERE
Cyanoytpes are one of the oldest forms of photography, dating back to 1842. By exposing cyanotypes to the sun you can create silhouette images in deep blue and white. One of the earliest adopters of cyanotypes was botanist Anna Atkinsons, who used the method to print images of the algae and seaweed she had collected on her travels around the British coast.
We will take a guided walk around the cemetery to find out more about the plants you can see growing there, and to carefully gather cuttings to print with. In the workshop you are invited to experiment with the cyanotype method to make prints to take home with you, and to contribute to a collective art work that will be displayed in the cemetery.
The walk will last around 45 minutes and will mostly stick to paths.
The workshop will take place under gazebos.
This guided walk and workshop is for a maximum of 20 participants.
This is a completely free event, brought to the community as part of the ongoing National Heritage Lottery funded project in West Norwood Cemetery. You can find out more on the project website: www.westnorwoodcemetery.org
If you have any queries on accessibility, or anything else, please contact Kim Hart on khart@lambeth.gov.uk
More about Alice MacKenzie
Alice MacKenzie is a dance artist and writer, working between London and Stockholm. As part of her interest in the histories stories of people and plants, Alice has been making cyanotypes and scent extractions for a number of years.
This summer she and Siriol Joyner have been commissioned by Northern Sustainable Futures, to make an immersive art work to tour the North of Sweden in a shipping container turned into a mobile gallery. Her collection of writing and accompanying perfume, ’I know that smell’ was published in Delta: An Ocean Call. Her work has also been commissioned by Sånafest, Norway, and by Discover Children’s Storytelling Centre, London. As a performer Alice has worked in museums, theatres and festivals across Europe.
Alice was artist in residence at Cherry Garden School in Southwark for 10 years, making books, podcasts, performances and installations with the children, their families and the staff. She was also artist in residence for a year at Silk Court Elderly Care Home in Tower Hamlets, making books and dances together with the residents.
More about Helen MacKenzie
Helen MacKenzie used to work as a technician and producer for film festivals and projects around the UK but has spent the past two years at West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium as the resident Horticultural Apprentice and is enjoying it very much.
