South Pennines Park: Ammie Sykes Artist Residency

Over the summer of 2021 Beam worked on behalf of Pennine Prospects to develop a programme of socially engaged artist commissions which aimed to use the skills of artists to engage communities across the South Pennines in discussion about the future Park. Beam issued an artist brief via open call and subsequently commissioned a group of six South Pennines based Artists to work with twelve community groups across the area.
Ammie Sykes
Ammie is a socially engaged ceramic artist with over 25 years’ experience of delivering creative projects in communities, schools and well-being services settings. As part of her projects for South Pennines Park, she worked with young families at Gallery Oldham and Lees Park Echo Hub, and with The Sanctuary Clothing project in the Colne Valley.
Seasons and Senses
National Play Day at Gallery Oldham was a true Pennine experience, they experienced all of the weather in one day. What didn’t happen naturally was explored through sensory play. The sessions took place outside with wonderful view of the moors, where the group created mini landscapes from plants, soil and clay. The children playfully explored temperature and smell with water and ice infused with herbs.
More families joined at Lees Park Eco Hub a hidden gem allotment that made Ammie very welcome. Alan at the Hub shares with local residents how they can grow their own food and explore nature on their doorstep. Using mirrors and cardboard frames the group slowed down their pace and looked at nature in new ways, looking up, under and between leaves and undergrowth. They collected leaves to create journey sticks to remind them of their visit. The children had the chance to meet new baby frogs, dig in the soil and build dens. All of this led to some interesting conversations with parents, grandparents and carers who are often the best experts on local knowledge, where to go with children and where the barriers exist. The value of playing together and more spaces like the Eco Hub was something we all agreed on.
The Sanctuary Clothing Project: Exploring The Colne Valley
Working with the project co-ordinator and volunteers from the Sanctuary Clothing Project was a real pleasure from the moment Ammie met everyone at Marsden train station. Their adventure began with a spontaneous trip on the shuttle boat to Marsden visitor centre where we explored the garden herbs and plants. Together they modelled clay flowers, smelled and tasted edible leaves and shared conversations about herbs and plants from the volunteers’ own countries of origin.
The project has been a mix of exploring the Colne Valley by public transport, walking together and building friendships over clay craft activities.
Food featured as a universal language that encourages sharing of cultures and creates a welcoming social interaction. One of the art walks evolved into a picnic takeover with delicious foods from across the world and meant that they all experienced new tastes and views.
The group visited Ammie’s studio and made bowls on the potter’s wheel. They wanted to create objects that have personal meaning and Ammie has since been sent images of the bowls in use for serving food. She loves the idea that making their own functional objects means they have a more positive environmental impact through longevity of use and shared meanings.

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