A spot of colour
09-MAR-10
Issued by: Graeme Cook
From six-days-old to over-60, people of all ages flocked to a former jewellery shop in order to get arty.
Around 350 visitors dropped in to see The Children's Bead Shop in the Beacon Centre, North Shields during the February half-term break.
The conversion of the former Grant's Jewellers store formed part of an arts project, with people helping to colour beads on friezes of paper pots, necklaces and bracelets.
Artwork made in the bead shop is now brightening up the once empty window on Bedford Street, as part of North Tyneside Council's commitment to town centre businesses.
Cullercoats-based artist Kathryn Wakeman, with support from the local authority, led the initiative.
She said: "Anyone could come in and lend their hand at the arty activities. We even had four six-month-old babies enjoying their first painting experience - and now they have their first public exhibition.
"If that doesn't encourage a budding artistic career, I don't know what will."
As part of the project, Kathryn drew jars for young participants to fill with coloured fingerprints representing beads.
She added: "The idea came from a visit to Lebeado in Jesmond where their walls are lined with jars of beads.
"Their owner even came in to see the children's jewellery designs, and she was so impressed, that they are now being displayed at her shops in Jesmond and Durham.
"They are also having some of the painted designs made up into jewellery, with the best design receiving the jewellery as a gift from the shop."
ENDS