‘Magpies’ A Collaboration with ‘The Gift People’ By Amber Rose Newband (ARN)

This originally started off as an explorative workshop where we experimented with different techniques and materials.
However the more the project developed
it naturally progressed into a group installation.

Much of the work on these mobiles has been done by the students, with some input and guidance by me. Everything is also repurposed. The plastic bags are from my workplace, plastic netting from oranges and lemons, old broken jewellery, rope from an old art project etc. It’s all repurposed into this creative output.

The name of the piece we created, came quite late as I was struggling to think of what we could call it. But as we began exploring and making the phrase “you’re like a magpie” kept being repeated over and over. I felt it was very fitting for this project as it is a collection of found materials and items that we have all been attracted to like a magpie.

The idea to do mobiles came from a trip to London where I saw Brain Forest by Cecilia Vicuña. Cecilia also works collaboratively and uses recycled and found materials.I found this very inspiring.