Ideas Gallery & Exhibitions

Scrap 'Starry Night'

Come along and see our scrap interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh  ‘Starry Night’  as the giant group artwork is unveiled in the Ideas Gallery at Play Resource!

We held a free family drop-in art workshop called ‘Scrap Challenge – Create a Masterpiece’ for Belfast Culture Night.

See what happened when we offered a pile of scrap materials to children, and the young at heart!  Thanks to everyone who dropped by on Belfast Culture Night to help re-create Van Gogh’s famous masterpiece ‘Starry Night’ on a giant scale.  Each child or adult created their own unique tile using scrap to be slotted into the big picture.

Take a look at the result! Hope you agree – it is an exciting scrap collage now exhibiting at Play Resource offering ideas & inspiration. You can check out progress on the night on Facebook. Thanks to all who joined in!

Scrap Zoo Display

Quit monkeying around and swing by the new display created in the Ideas Gallery! Take a free trip to the Play Resource Zoo, come and see all our 3D and 2D animal friends created from scrap materials by the Shop Team.

Meet Gerald the Giraffe and Ronaldo the Rhino now they have arrived in their new home twitpic.com.  Both  created using scrap materials and mod-roc. As Charlotte says “Mod-Roc – I love it! It’s such fun, easy-peasy, and so versatile to work with especially using scrap materials – I created Kevin the Crocodile for ‘Our Trip to the Zoo’ display.  Mod-roc available from the shop in small pack – 3 rolls only £3.50 or for Big Projects, Big Value £8.75 Giant Roll.

Or interested in Belfast Zoo coming to you? Then contact Belfast Zoo Education team on education@belfastzoo.co.uk.

Community Arts & Crafts Course Exhibition

Take inspiration from the latest display of artwork in the Ideas Gallery at Play Resource.  The BMC Community Arts & Crafts Training Course presents a summer exhibition of students work.  See the culmination of their coursework in an exciting and diverse exhibition including self portraits, 3D sculptures – even chandeliers from found objects, and exploring fabric painting as a medium.  Take inspiration from their work and to find out more about forthcoming Community Arts & Crafts Training Courses contact bridget@playresource.org.

Safari Sculptures Scrap

On your next visit to Play Resource take a look up… at the new exhibition of Safari Style Sculptures created by artist Jim Russell.  See the possibilities of willow and tissue to create all manner of 3D animals and lanterns shapes!

Jim tells us a bit more about his creations and the creative process behind them, “All the work on display comes from a very productive period when I took time to ‘slow down’ and look at the small things found in hedgerows and rockpools that I came across while out walking. ”

“All the materials used, apart from cling film, came from Play Resource: willow, tissue paper, masking tape and PVA glue.  These terrifically versatile and simple elements helped me work quickly and directly, almost like 3D drawing.  The sculptures were intended to be used as lanterns making use of the beautiful translucent quality of the tissue and cling film. Light, shape and colour all interplay together using these materials, I found it just terrific!”

We hope you enjoy the results!  Should you be interested in talking to Jim about his work, or wish to commission a lantern design contact Jim Russell 07521 306 372, or speak to a member of Play Resource staff to learn more about the materials used.

Bright New Beginnings Display

Be inspired this spring for your own art projects by the Bright New Beginnings display in the Ideas Gallery at Play Resource, or by other people’s art projects.  See more of the exciting and vibrant Creative Paths Arts Projects that happened with member groups in a variety of youth, education, early years, play and community settings last year.  Be inspired to embark on the Creative Paths Programme with your group… it is a journey of discovery between everyone involved!  Or browse over 200 other Ideas & Inspiration for your group at the online Quick Ideas & Craft Sheets Library.