Jo Webbern, Head of pre prep, Dunnanie, Bedales, Hampshire, UK
“ This really was a whole school effort, driven by the ideas of the children and supported by the teachers and Two Circles Design. The children took ownership of the project and were incredibly proud when it was finished. The sculpture is in many ways symbolic of our teaching approach at Dunnanie, developing inquisitive and independent learners. Mark and Rebecca Ford came to the school to help pupils plan how they were going to use willow to recreate their designs and identify dimensions and quantities.”
Regis School, Bognor Regis, Caroline Saunders, Assistant Vice Principle and Andrea Coleman, Head of inclusion Faculty.
‘Creating the willow dome has been an amazing project, not only involving year 6 children and their parents, but also year 10 students. An ideal way of helping young people understand the meaning of sustainability”
Mrs Cluff, Head of Art and Design, Bourne Community College, Southbourne, Hampshire, UK
“Year 10 GCSE Art and Design students worked alongside Sussex based artists Mark and Rebecca Ford of Two Circles Design to create a sculpture installation. Students created 3d artworks responding to the theme of microscopic and natural forms. The two-day workshop introduced students to varied techniques and an exploration of woven forms using natural materials. The sculpture, woven around an existing pillar, expands out across the ceiling with student’s artwork suspended from and woven into the tree life form, bold and beautiful”
Sally Milligan, Apuldram Centre, Apuldram, Chichester, West Sussex, UK
“The Apuldram Centre worked for three days with artists, Mark and Rebecca Ford to create an amazing willow sculpture. The Apuldram Centre is a centre for adults with learning disabilities. Mark and Rebecca went through all the processes involved by taking clients to coppice material and then designing and realising their design. A wonderful project’
Jane Walters, Head mistress, Slindon Cof E School. West Sussex, UK
“Mark and Rebecca are a very professional team, who are skilled willow weavers who also know how to engage children; explaining to them so they can understand clearly. They always engage the children in learning and furthering their understanding. Mark and Rebecca have worked with us regularly and our extremely supportive of our school community”.
Linda Cadier, The Arts Society Romsey
A very big thank you on behalf of The Arts Society Romsey for all your efforts in making the Microbial Worlds project such a success. For us as sponsors we have been delighted to know that you reached over 300 children in this project and pleased too that it has been possible to link this work to other areas of the curriculum. The final drawings and willow spheres exhibited at Rum’s Eg and at the Abbey are testimony to the excellent work you supervised along with the large willow installations which I have found myself drawn back to time to time again. The Romsey Festival is now at an end and please be assured, from all the comments the I have heard, that your contribution was highly valued and that you and your sculptures will be missed! I hope and am sure that our paths will cross again and that I will be recommending your work and services to all.
