This week we have been busy creating seasonal outfits and instruments with infant children from 5 primary schools on the lizard, in preparation for a special harvest procession that will take place at 2pm on the 24th October 2014 in the Orchard at Kestle Barton. These workshops are part of a new project ‘Turning Seasons,’ which also involves Kestle Barton, Rural Centre for Contemporary Art and artist Julia Giles. A big thanks to the Ernest Cook Trust and FEAST who have made this project possible by providing funding. During this weeks workshops we explored the seasons and considered our connection to the land through a range of activities that included movement, storytelling and art. Children created some wonderful painted leaf head-dresses and made drums, shakers and wind instruments to enable us to make lots of noise for the procession!
On the 24th October the children will come together at Kestle Barton to partake in a seasonal procession called the Keskerdh An Kammva Dro. Devised by artist Julia Giles this installation draws upon ceremonies and rituals conducted locally to mark the cycle of the seasons. Requiring a short march around a route through the orchard, and plenty of energy to keep the seasons turning, this procession promises to be both colourful and noisy! All and everyone are welcome to join in this ritual performance and celebrate harvest… the more noise the better! There will also be food and music, to help celebrate in true Cornish style.
Past performance of the ‘Keskerdh an Kammva-dro- from the air- photo thanks to Sam Davies
This will be the third year in a row that the Keskerdh An Kammva Dro has been performed at Kestle Barton, making it an annual ritual that carries on in the rural traditions of honouring the changing seasons and the yearly harvest. Made initially by Giles in October 2012 with the Newlyn Society of Artists exhibition Site Non Site, the Keskerdh An Kammva Dro returned to Kestle Barton in August 2013, for ‘This Land’, an event held as part of ‘Tallys an Tir; Traditions & Stories of the Land.’ On the morning of the procession, children will come to Kestle Barton to participate in the ‘The Big Draw’ a national campaign to promote drawing. For this they will draw inspiration from the current exhibition ‘Garden Drawings’ by Hannah Woodman, as well the beautiful gardens themselves. This exhibition remains on until 1 November when Kestle Barton close for the winter. The schools involved are from the Keskowethyans Multi-Academy Trust, consisting of St Keverne, Coverack, Grade-Ruan, Manaccan and St Martin-in-Meaneage. Any other schools or programmes that wish to participate in the procession at 2pm on Friday 24 October are welcome and should get in touch.
