While shielding and busy working with older people through the Friendly Communities project, one of Jude’s many artistic projects is creating a temporary shelter called a ‘bender’. Jude first encountered bender building at various peace camps from the 1980s onwards, this one is a ‘play bender’ made for their grandchildren.
Bender materials
![](https://eaststreetarts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Bender-materials-collage.jpg)
This act of making a shelter is a reminder of how ‘homemaking’ is a universal drive, as making a den or base remains a timeless childhood activity.
Artist-Illustrator Bobbi Rae is working on a trilogy of large 2D prints, the colourful abstract forms depicted are to be inspired by the work of the other two artists as well as the responses of all those who reply to the call #WhatDoesHomeMeanNow. Like all artworks, the prints are to be displayed in the Art Hostel. We will be able to animate the prints through an AR app (online and in-situ).
Meanwhile, shielding in another part of Leeds, textile artist Sheri is missing her family gatherings – a vital part of West Indian culture. She is also missing family members who live in St Vincent, a location that she calls ‘home’, in addition to Leeds but is unable to undertake her annual visit due to current restrictions.
Art in the Making
![](https://eaststreetarts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sher_cuff_art_in_the_making.jpg)
‘Home is not a place it’s a feeling’ a phrase posted by an Art Hostel resident in 2018 (Seeding Art Currency, project) really resonates with Sheri. She is currently collecting responses from her friends and family (near and far) through a series of questions about home.
Likewise, Jude, Sheri, Bobbi, and Janine invite everyone to explore the concept of home since the C-19 crisis, with posts to #WhatDoesHomeMeanNow. Through capturing a portrait of home through many (local and global) voices, these responses will occupy HOME, as they are entwined in further (on and offline) participatory activities taking place at the Art Hostel in April 2021.
Other things!
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Artists
I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit! by Silvia Liebig
Silvia Liebig's artist book I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit!: Being Beeston Projekt 2019-2023 is now available to buy.
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Event
Reproductive Futures: Creative Workshop
Join artist Herfa Thompson and academic Zoe Tongue to explore your reproductive health experiences, responding to the duo's Reproductive Futures exhibition, in this visual art workshop.
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News
Welcome to our new trustees
We’re thrilled to welcome two new trustees to our Board following a recent round of open recruitment.
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News
Artist selected for Taipei artist residency
Leeds-based artist James Thompson has been selected for a sought-after six-week residency at Treasure Hill Artist Village in Taiwan, from August to September 2024.
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Commission
Making Public Art - a new interview series
We worked with some wonderful artists throughout 2023 to bring large-scale mural pieces to various locations across Leeds. We’ve been catching up with the artists, in a new series that looks at working with communities, sustainability, and their working process in creating public art.
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Artist support
No Going Back: exploring the archives
Here are some of our favourite images from last month's No Going Back exhibition, for anyone who may have missed it.