exotic mk

10 July- 9 August 2009, Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, Silbury Arcade, near Middleton Hall exotic mk was commissioned by Milton Keynes Gallery's Offsite Education Programme. The collaborative-participatory project celebrates the ways in which people, in their daily life, transform their environment. Inspired by the highly colourful and personalised barrows scattered around the Shopping Centre, Françoise Dupré created a site-specific and community-based public artwork that celebrates Milton Keynes' hidden exotic. exotic mk was part of the artist project HERE AND THERE (2011-2003). exotic mk was made in collaboration with three women's groups who each made a section of the final artwork: a barrow, customised with knitting. Between January and June 2009, the artist visited Age Concern Milton Keynes, MK Mind and Healthy Lifestyles Project, for knitting and making sessions. French (spool) knitting technique was employed to make braids and tubes with a wide range of colour Lycra fabric and wool. Techniques and materials such as crochet, wire, metallic yarn and plastic bottle tops were used to create abstracted organic forms and colourful patterns. Participants' own designs and creative skills were instrumental to the development and realisation of the project. The project was funded by Milton Keynes Community Foundation, Milton Keynes Gallery and sponsored by PONY Needle Industries (India) Private Limited. Medium and techniques: French (spool) knitting, crochet, colour Lycra fabric, wool, metallic yarn, wire, plastic bottle tops, pins, cake boards, dowels, PVC mirrors, sequins, flat elastic, woven polythene, felt. 3mH x 2m60W x 1mD Kate Bloom's text When People Get Together published in exotic mk booklet is available here as a pdf with her kind permission.