Welcome to Full Circle, our art from recycled waste exhibition in Gillingham High Street. Full Circle believes in a world that uses its resources wisely and sustainably, with thought for our future generations and regard for the planet we live on. We are a nation addicted to chucking stuff out but most of what we call waste could be used again by someone else. It is time to improve our quality of life, create new jobs in recycling and live within the limits of the earth's resources. Help stop the planet going to waste.
Full Circle was founded in February 2005, after Gillingham's only art gallery (in the library) closed in December 2004 due to budget cuts. So Gillingham High Street became a gallery for a month in December 2005, displaying art made from recycled waste by Full Circle artists and stars made by local children, displayed in shop windows and almost 60 businesses & premises in the town. For more information about the exhibition in 2005, please see the links for 2005.
In 2006, with the publication of the Stern report, environmental issues have taken a high profile nationally. We have been joined by many new artists, writers and performers, keen to express the theme of ‘The Natural World’ and children in local schools have entered our art and writing competitions on the same theme. As the founder of Full Circle, I am a member of and grateful to Medway Friends of the Earth for their ongoing support. I have watched the Full Circle group develop and without all the artists’ and volunteers’ time, it never would have. Eight of last year’s artists are again taking part in 2006 and their use of recycled materials is intriguing, colourful and thought provoking. It certainly brings home the whole point of Full Circle.
As artists and writers with an environmental conscience, we enjoy using ‘waste’ materials to underline our belief that we need to be careful about the use of limited resources on Planet Earth, while also showing what can be done with a little bit of ingenuity! Like last year, we deeply lament the loss of our art gallery in Gillingham Library due to funding cuts; however, our thanks are due to Duncan Mead, Philomena Leech and library staff who have helped us to display the children’s art there in 2006 and also to host our performance. For those who love this town, we feel a library is the natural place for creative people to congregate, although this exhibition aims to provide Gillingham with an alternative gallery - the High Street itself. For more information about the exhibition in 2006, please see the links for 2006.
In 2006, you could see the art in the mall outside Somerfield supermarket, the Sunlight Centre, in Gillingham Library and in various shops and businesses on the High Street. The exhibition opened in Gillingham Library in December 2006, with a performance written specially for Full Circle entitled ‘Dolphin Song’. Winners of the art and writing competitions received their certificates and prizes from Cllrs Adam Price and Mark Last and also MP Paul Clark.
We are very grateful to our team of judges for our competitions who included artists, writers, library staff and local businesses. Thanks also to our funders and partners including Medway Council via North ward funds, Recycle for Medway and the Small Grants fund (which helped to produce this website). The Co-op Community Dividend Fund have been very generous in awarding funds to Full Circle and have helped us in 2005 and 2006. The Arts Council was our major sponsor in 2005 and also The Allan Willett Foundation. The Sunlight Development Trust have provided us with meeting space, exhibition space, great refreshments, belief in our ideals and Full Circle extends thanks to Peter Holbrook and all the team who have watched the development of Full Circle. A special thank you to Mark Orsbourn and all the staff at Skipaway Ltd, who have supported us in all our recycled art projects for a very long time, donating materials, encouragement and some sponsorship. Thanks also to Urban Fox Press, Somerfield supermarket, Medway Friends of the Earth and all the schools who held workshops and entered the competitions. The Barge pub in Layfield Road provided use of their garden for workshops in both years and thanks to Tim and all the staff there.
Last of all, you can see more about the exhibitions on this website and catalogues are still available in the Sunlight Centre. If you have an idea for a Full Circle project or exhibition, please get in touch with Serpentina, Founder and Project Manager of Full Circle on 01634 319739 or email serpentina@blueyonder.co.uk.
