Art displays across windows of Haslingden bring a splash of colour to the streets during lockdown
Windows across Haslingden are displaying art to bring a splash of colour to the streets during lockdown.
‘Windows of Wonder’ is a trail of window artwork created by residents of Haslingden in Rossendale, Lancashire.
Facilitated by community artist Emma Long, 43, the project aims to bring positivity to the community during the pandemic.
The project came about because the Haslingden Neighbourhood Street Fair could not go ahead last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
After being inspired by a similar window art project in Bristol, Emma decided to start a window art trail in Haslingden.
She explained: “Windows of Wonder is something we invited people to do as an alternative to the street fair.
“It’s something I’d seen happening in Bristol. Window art started to pop up all over the country.
“The pandemic has been tough on people’s mental health, so something as simple as having a cup of tea or rolling a chapatti or walking your dog, something everyday, became important or special.
“The idea is to encourage people to make art about those moments of magic.”
The locations of the Windows of Wonder trail can viewed on Google Maps here.
The window art is intended to bring positivity for people when they walk by.
For example, the window art could be portraits of lockdown heroes, rosettes or images that celebrate religious festivals such as Easter and Ramadan.
Emma also made art material packs containing supplies such as sugar paper, tissue paper and cellophane.
These art packs were available for families to collect to create artwork for their windows.
Emma continued: “We got funding from a number of sources, which we used to pay for art materials. We felt it was important to offer these free to people in order to make the project as accessible as possible for families on low incomes and given the financial impact that Covid-19 had had on many people.”
She also hosted live art sessions on the Haslingden’s Happening Facebook page to teach people at home how to make ‘faux stained glass window’ artwork using acetate sheets and glass paints.
Recently, Haslingden residents voted for their favourite window art in the ‘Haslingden Windows of Wonder’ People’s Choice Awards.
One of the winners was the Alice in Wonderland themed window art at David Gould’s Opticians at 41 Deardengate.
The second winner was 274 Blackburn Road’s faux stained glass window, which featured a flamingo and a Minecraft character.
The third winner was 3 Lyndale Avenue’s stained glass effect, which featured a giant egg and smaller eggs.
Funders of ‘Windows of Wonder’ include Rossendale Borough Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Lancashire County Council and Burnley Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service.
For more information about ‘Windows of Wonder’, visit the Haslingden’s Happening Facebook page or email haslingdenwindowsofwonder@yahoo.com.
