15 March 2016

Aviation, moths and memories are at the heart of the latest community arts project launched by the council in partnership with York Art Gallery.

City of York Council is encouraging residents to help create a huge whisper of moths and butterflies, which will be displayed for all to see in the gallery and York Museum Gardens later this spring.

‘Tiger Moths and Memories’ will pay tribute to the importance of aviation in World War 1, which led to the design and development of Gypsy Moth and Tiger Moth biplanes.

In an exciting celebration of this engineering achievement, residents are encouraged to paint, draw, print, weave or embroider their own individual moths with support from the council’s York Learning team. ‘Memory moths’, which perhaps remember someone missed or achievements to be proud of, will be particularly welcome to join the display.

Moths made from water-resistant materials such as recycled plastics or yarns will be exhibited in York Museum Gardens, whilst those created from less robust materials such as newspapers, plastics, old maps and comics or photocopies of favourite poems, will be shown indoors.

Once gathered in, the moths will be displayed in the Project Gallery of York Art Gallery, in an exhibition which runs from 6 May to 31 July. The exhibition will be free for everyone and visitors can use materials to make their own moths and add to the display.

To inspire residents to take part, a number of free ‘Marvellous Moths and Beautiful Butterflies’ workshops are taking place at Explore York Library and at Huntington School, which are fully booked.

Cllr Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism said:

“Following on from previous successful community arts programmes in York, this latest project will allow groups and individuals to remember the city’s inspiring aviation heritage and the part it played in World War 1, whose centenary we continue to commemorate.”

“It’s also a chance to have fun creating original moths and butterflies, to contribute to a stunning community exhibition. The Project Gallery is a beautiful space where everyone can come and admire York residents’ work.”

Gaby Lees, Assistant Curator of Art Learning at York Art Gallery, said:

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming people of all ages to the workshops to create a piece of work that really means something to them. Once finished, it will be wonderful to see them all together on show in the York Museums Gardens or the Project Gallery and finding out the inspiration behind them all.”

Each two-dimensional moth should be between 5cm and 20cm in both dimensions and should be cut away from its background. Moths can be submitted at any York Explore Library or at Desk 22 at West Offices reception, marked for the attention of Claire Douglas, by Saturday 29 April. Moths submitted cannot be returned, but colour photocopies of the originals will be accepted for the exhibition.

For more information pick up a leaflet from Explore libraries and York Art Gallery or, to get involved please contact Claire Douglas, City of York Council on 07990 774420, email tigermoths@york.gov.uk or visit www.yortime.org.uk