Felipe Castelblanco: The People's Monument

We recently invited artist Felipe Castelblanco to propose a project for Play Local. He worked with our team of playworkers for a day, discussing public art and what type of art they find engaging. They worked together, picking apart what makes certain work engaging in order to help them deliver a monument making workshop the following day at Pelican estates 'Summer Splash' fun day.

Here are some images from the playworkers training session which included a slideshow of public art, discussions, a visit to the current SLG exhibition by Thomas Hirschhorn and an animation team building and group work exercise.

Then with lots of new ideas around engaging the public in the making of a shared artwork, the team and Felipe set off to Pelican estate for the fun day with all their chosen materials from The Shop of Possibilities.

Transporting the materials

Team briefing before the children and families arrive

We get a front row seat for the South London Samba band!

Making a start

All the tools and equipment lined up ready

 See the rest of the photos by clicking the read more link...

Our first helper...

...and soon another

Starting to decorate the base

More people join us to find out what we're making

Getting stuck in to making the top part of the monument

Securing the base

Team effort attaching the soft toys

The artists sign their work

The top of the monument (including a small child!)

Documenting the moment when the top was put onto the base

Securing the two together

Staff selfie in front of the monument

A visit from the Mayor of Southwark

The People's Monument

Thanks to artist Felipe Castelblanco, all the playworkers, children and grown ups who helped to build the monument and to Pelican Plus TRA for having us!