Light Up Morland - March 2021
- Part of Highlighting Eden -
…We equinox the winter stillness, watch new born light grow out of the darkness,
come, see our little world welcoming in the turning of the spring…
From 14th-20th March 2021 a series of hyperlocal light-based happenings gradually emerged in the village of Morland. As the spring equinox crept closer over the week, we invited our local residents to watch the village slowly come to light, as well as contributing to the dawn from their doorsteps with lanterns and ‘Little Worlds.’ It was magic!
Installations included “Sunshine for Jenny” - a giant lit willow sculpture sunshine (which even wore a red nose on the Friday to support comic relief!) - “Inflorescence” by local resident Patti Dawson which comprised of a beautiful wave of illuminated white flowers, the Touring Teepees (willow sculptures made by local 10-13 year olds with artist Danielle Lebury) and Little Worlds - mini lit habitats in jam jars hidden in nooks and crannies in the village for passers by to find - dreamed up by Nikki Dawson and made by villagers and children from Morland School as well as popping up in locations all over the country! Villagers were also invited to make doorstep lanterns after watching a commissioned video by Hannah Fox.
Light Up Morland was generously funded by Eden District Council as part of Highlighting Eden, the National Lottery Community Fund and Cumbria Youth Alliance. Thank you to all of our volunteers for helping us make it happen!
…MAKE ALONG VIDEOS…
Light Up Morland may be over for 2021 but you can still learn how to make a lantern or a Little World below…
Learn how to Make a Doorstep Lantern with Hannah Fox
Watch the video above to learn how to make a doorstep lantern.
To make your lantern you will need:
- A large plastic milk carton
- A 2L soft drinks bottle (or squash bottle)
- Coloured tissue paper and/or cellophane
- String
- A small rock
- PVA craft Glue
- A sponge
- Black card or paper
- Scissors
- Sellotape
- A small light (you can buy balloon lights/finger torches here - or we have some for Morland residents to collect)
- Crayons (optional)
Learn how to Make a little world with Nikki dawson
Little Worlds is a delightful Light Art Project for the local community delivered by The Studio Morland.
Create your own Little World in a lit jam jar and place it somewhere in the village for passers-by to discover.
Your Little World can be anything in miniature, from a secret fairy garden to a disco for a dinosaur.
Little Worlds are as precious as our big world so please use recycled and natural materials where possible to create a happy place for whoever lives there.
Watch the video below to learn more about Little Worlds and how to make yours.
CREATING YOUR LITTLE WORLD
You will need:
- A clean jar with a lid
- A stone (to fit in the jar) (optional)
- A yoghurt pot or seed pot (optional)
- Glue (optional)
- A sticky pad/sellotape - this will be used to stick the light to the lid
- A small light - like a balloon light or a flickering tea light (battery powered)
- Any natural materials you want to use in your jar to make your world - for example sand, soil, moss, twigs, shells…
- Whoever/whatever you want to give a home to
Instructions:
1) Find a clean jar (ideally 800g or larger) with a well-fitting lid. Give the inside a good polish with vinegar to get rid of any water marks.
2) Create your world (the video has lots of hints and ideas)
3) Stick the sticky pad to the inside of the lid of your jar and attach the balloon light fitting.
4) Twist the balloon light to switch it on and off.
**The balloon light has small batteries in it so please supervise little people and keep away from your fluffy friends**
