Summer of Creativity - Walk and Draw

There was a beautiful celebratory procession of the Walk and Draw group’s colourful puppets at Priory Park in Dudley during September as part of our Summer of Creativity commissions.

The design and making workshops were with clients who attend the Walk and Draw Group - a social prescribing project supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who live near to Priory Park, alongside a number of participants who join for the benefit of their mental health.

“In the workshops we designed and made the puppets, windsocks and processional imagery to use in the procession at the celebration. Group members decided that the theme for the event should be ‘Coming to Dudley and Making it Our Home.’ The group members wanted the work produced to reflect our regular activities so we made windsocks decorated with images of fruit and vegetables which we are growing in Priory Pharmacy garden, and the birds, insects and plant life that we see in Priory Park.

We made three large scale puppets in the workshops constructed from bamboo and willow. The woman represents a person coming to Dudley. The duck was made in response to the family of ducks which we see raise ducklings each year on Priory park pond ( 17 chicks this year).

The bird was made as a symbol of migration and has text among its feathers 'follow your dreams’.”