Big Top Jamboree

All of our hard work paid off on Monday night (17 May) with an excellent turn-out to both Big Top Jamboree’s workshops and evening of art, music and handmade niceties.

Catherine Barthram’s fabric corsages went down a treat in her workshop, which was decked out with hand-made bunting, embroidered table cloths and sweeties for all who paid her a visit. Badge-making and zine-making by myself and Lauren Gentry were also a big hit, with our workshops full all afternoon.

The evening event kicked off with Drouthy’s basement being transformed into creative cave of wonders. With work on show from as far as Spain and Chicago, as well as from lots more local faces, the Jamboree buzzed with a truly exciting selection of art and creativity. An exhibition of Mail-Art by Cut-Click ran throughout the event, joined in the evening by stalls selling goodies in the form of illustrated books and prints, jewellery made from silver cutlery, clothes carefully fashioned from vintage prints and screen-printed tights. Video and animation by Sam Spreckley and Lesley Barnes provided the visual backdrop in the form of projections throughout the evening.

Alongside a choice hand-crafted delights came a range of edible treats to keep our guests’ rumbling tummies at bay, with my personal favourite being Pie-Pops (that’s a pie on a stick) by the fantastic duo Edible-Wearable. Delicate Sitar melodies, Guitar and songs by Jo Foster and electronic beats from a modified Gameboy by Edward Shallow provided a soundtrack for the night.

So to all who came along and took part in Big Top Jamboree, thank you! We’re off to have a cup of tea and a sit down...and maybe even pen a few ideas for next time.