Sioux Peto Environmental and Recycle Artist

Our Christmas Tree

2012-01-03T09:27:00.001-08:00

Our new Christmas tree which will be planted in the Polka Dot garden ready for next year - with handmade paper decorations of angels, rosettes and trees from old books. Topped with a wooden star from twigs found in the garden. We had a wonderful restful time. Now its back to work

December at Saf shop

2011-11-30T03:23:00.001-08:00

December at Saf shop, a set on Flickr.

Been busy creating a white trash grotto

Litter Angels Awards 2011

2011-11-27T12:52:00.001-08:00

Litter Angels Awards 2011, a set on Flickr.

Brilliant evening
Thank you to everyone

PRESS RELEASE Awards Ceremony 2011

On Thursday 24th November from 5.30-7pm, 100 excited children, teachers and families from Across Swale gathered to receive awards from the Mayor and Mayoress of Swale for services to the environment at the Wyvern Hall Central Avenue Sittingbourne for the 2011 Litter Angels Awards Ceremony.

Litter Angels has been busy from September through to October delivering free workshops to 9 schools across the borough. The Workshops are sponsored by McDonalds, Polka Dot Arts and Rocque Recycling and use Art lead projects to get the important environmental message across about LITTERING and the problems it causes. Young people within the schools designed posters and made Litter bugs whilst discussing the issues and solutions to this worldwide problem.

After a “squash and biscuit” reception thanks to Serco Leisure, Gordon Henderson MP who initiated the original project introduced the evening. Followed by Matt Hogben Manager from McDonalds Sittingbourne who explained their involvement. This is the second year they have generously sponsored the Poster design project and the winning poster will be printed on an aluminium plaque and hang in the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Car Parks helping to remind their clients to use the bins! The Mayor and Mayoress of Swale Cll Ben Stokes and Cll Sylvia Bennett where on hand to present the framed certificates and gift tokens to the 9 winners 1 from each school and lots and lots of photos where taken - the overall winner was Jasmine Laird aged 10 yrs from Teynham Primary School whose printed poster will be seen across the area. Look out for them!

This was followed by the second awards for Litter Bug making. This year Rocque Recycling a textile recycling company from Queenborough sponsored the award. Each school was presented a group photograph of their creation by Gail O Marra MD and the overall winners Bredgar Primary School won an extra £25 for their school.

The evening closed with Gordon Henderson announcing the winners 1st, 2nd and third prizes for his Litter Angels Christmas Card competition which had been run through the Swale Arts forum shop in Sittingoburne.

Sioux Peto lead artist and co-ordinator of the project thanked all the sponsors for their generous support along with the many guests that had accompanied her to the schools and her assistants Lily Wilson and Colin Barnard, but especially the Schools and children who worked so hard and made it such a pleasurable experience. Everyone left very happy and proud to have helped spread the message about keeping Swale Clean. “We live in a beautiful part of England and the young people are our future they understand the importance in helping our environment stay clean and want to do something positive to help“

Litter Angles will be busy in a street near you MAKING IT a better place to live!”

Schools and winners

Teynham CEP Primary Overall Poster Winner – Jasmine Laird

Milton Court Primary – Poster Winner Mollie Ellis

Bapchild and Tonge CEP - Poster Winner Tom Gaston

Murston Infants Poster Winner Bayleigh Bryan

Minster in Sheppey Primary - Poster Winner Samual Homewood

Eastchurch CEP -Poster Winner Ellie Campbell

Murston Junior - Poster Winner Keiron Pearson
Bredgar CEP - Poster Winner Alice Drury PLUS Litter Bug Winners

Diverisity House Unfortunatley didn’t turnup for their awards

Special Thanks to :

Colin Barnard, Polka Dot Arts

Paul Knell, Matt Hogben & Paul Newman McDonalds

Danny Peter & Gail O’Marra Rocque Recycling

KCC Cllr. Mike Whiting, Cllr. Ken Pugh, Cllr. Alan Willicombe, Cllr. Adrian Crowther

Swale Borough Council Arts Grant

Trustees of the Charity: Susannah Butcher, Jess McMahon and Gordon Henderson MP

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T10:32:00.001-07:00

Litter Angels and Swale Arts in the Forum

2011-10-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Litter Angels have been busy in Sittingbourne with the Swale Arts Forum project over half term.
We visited their shop and made plastic bag people for visitors to take away.

Last Litter Angels workshop in Swale this year

2011-10-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Well we have come to the end of our funded workshops for this year
we ended with Bredgar Primary School and my special guest Ben Bartlett from Claws and Jaws Please check him out - he is great and so are his friends
Bredgar made us very welcome and made fabby litter bugs .

Its going to be a difficult competition this year.
Will let you know whats happening with the judging which will be taking place over the next couple of weeks in the Swale Arts inthe Forum shop

Interesting link

2011-10-12T03:23:00.000-07:00

PlanLoCaL is a suite of resources including films, a resource pack and this website which aims to support communities and groups that are 'planning for low carbon living'.

http://www.planlocal.org.uk/

Plastic bag people arrive

2011-10-12T03:04:00.001-07:00

Hi Plastic bag people are coming to visit The Swale Arts Forum Shop at Unit 28 The Forum Shopping Centre in Sittingbourne. They will be there on Tuesday 25th October all day.
Please come and join them. either make your own or buy one for a £1

4 workshops in one week!!!!

2011-10-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

Monday we went to Minister Primary school - 60 young people all made Litter Bugs together - wow. Special guest was Paul Newman from McDonalds

Wednesday at Eastchurch where year 3's did amazing we shared the day with bag puppets and Anne Ryman from SBC their environment project officer

Friday Lily and myself had a great day at Murston Junior school- Last years winners. Special Thanks to Jamie Weir at Protect Kent who talked about their campaign to stop littering - the kids thought he was really cool!

Sunday was spent with Diversity House youth group -Thank you

Today I am resting but everyone has done so well

BRFM Interview

2011-10-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

click here for Link to youtube

Litter Angels Christmas Card Launch

2011-10-01T04:48:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE
Gordon Henderson officially launched his Litter Angels Christmas card competition this morning at the official opening of the Swale Arts Forum shop in The Forum, Sittingbourne.
Litter Angels, in partnership with the Polka Dot Art Centre, McDonalds and Keep Britain Tidy, is a campaign set up to create awareness in schools about the affects of litter on our local environment using art as an educational tool.
Mr Henderson is encouraging children to create a festive design incorporating Litter Angels. Entry forms can be collected and returned to the Swale Arts Forum shop or Mr Henderson’s constituency office in Milton Regis. They can also be downloaded from Mr Henderson’s website (www.gordonhendersonmp.org.uk <http://www.gordonhendersonmp.org.uk> ).
One lucky winner, chosen by Mr Henderson, will have their design printed onto the front of Mr Henderson’s Christmas cards this year, which are sent out to a number of local constituents and businesses. A card will also be sent to the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Mr Henderson said, “Litter Angels workshops have been taking place in schools across my constituency during September and so a number of children know of the campaign and are excited to get involved in the competition.
“It would be good to see lots of children in Sittingbourne and Sheppey taking part in the competition and I look forward to receiving their fun and festive designs.”

PHOTO (l-r): Colin Barnard, Gordon Henderson MP and Sioux Peto.

Litter Angels Workshop Number 4

2011-10-01T04:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday 29th Septmeber What a lovely day Lily and I spent at Muston Infant School - Thank you to the headmistress Mrs Dot Bromley and her lovely staff for all their help and enthusiasm for the project but especially to the young people we worked with all 5 and 6 yrs olds they drew grreat posters and made some very very good Litter Bugs. Look forward to working with them again. They really know their stuff on NOT dropping litter so our day was made much easier!!!!!!

Litter Angels - Workshop Number 3

2011-09-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hey ! Go - Teynham - my home Primary School and they did fantastic - I had to go alone as my new volunteer Lily was ill but the young people did amazingly well and Thank you to all the teachers and assistants too. Special guest today was Mr Gordon Henderson MP who actually started Litter Angels and came and read the original story of Eric. This year the judging is going to be very difficult

more info at the Polka Dot

Litter Angels at Bapchild and Tonge

2011-09-17T13:08:00.001-07:00

Sioux Peto's photostream on Flickr.

Great Posters designed by year 5 and Litter Bugs made by the amazing year 2. Special guest Sparky Champion.

Murston Old Church update

2011-09-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

Murston Old Church is getting a small facelift in the spring Thanks to the lovely Danielle Smith aged 10 who wrote to Swale Borough Council about how disused and unloved the old church looked. They then sent it onto Colin Barnard (my partner) who contacted East Kent Gazette who ran a story on her and asking for flower ideas and donations

Now we have loads of daffodil bulbs kindly donated and now £75 from Martin Cleaver at Chalkwell coaches
Thank you everyone
Will keep you updated

Litter Angels 2011

2011-09-14T11:16:00.001-07:00

We have started our Free workshops aimed at Eco schools across Swale. Milton Court Primary School pictured here with all their wonderful Litter bug creations

Only found out after the event that they are only 8 years old when project is aimed at 10 yr olds so these ones did amazing well - Thank you - when I turn up never sure where I am or who I am seeing!

Was joined by Matt Hogben from MacDonalds Sittingbourne - The Kids where fascinated by him but disappointed he rides a bike and doesn't own a porsche

They produced great posters which will be hanging in Unit 28 The Forum Shopping Centre Sittingbourne - My Art group has an empty shop but that another story follow that on facebook

Matt leading a helping hand!!!!

Old and New

2011-08-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Colin bought me flowers !

Blue Star awarded to Seasalter beach

2011-08-09T05:17:00.001-07:00

Beached

2011-08-09T04:35:00.001-07:00

Litter Angels Summer Workshops

2011-07-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

Yes Litter Bugs are taking over the Polka Dot this Summer - in conjunction with Litter Angels we will be spending the summer keeping the streets clean of young people and rubbish! Workshops are on 10th, 17th and 24th August from 10.30-12.30 and it only costs £5pp.
54a London Road, Teynham - 01795 521167
www.polkadotac.co.uk

Litter Angels and Fulston Manor

2011-07-15T06:56:00.001-07:00

Sioux Peto's photostream on Flickr.

I have been working with Dean Tweedy, Matt Taylor, Shaz Hussain, Sally Reed, Sally Higgs and Chloe Epps on a Litter Angels project at Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne all this week. Its been brilliant.

Thank you to all the wonderful pupils, teachers, staff and my fantastic artists. Its been their activity week and we have all helped create large scale installations in Gazebos throughout the school grounds based on environmental issues using recycled materials.

Apart from the art they made music, poetry and dance with other artists. Imagination, confidence and enthusiasm grew throughout the week and culminated in today's grand displays and entertainment which they showed off with great pride and expertise to their friends, parents and family, Mr Henderson MP , the Mayor, their Head Master and the rest of the staff and school. I was very honored to be a part of it

The Room Mobile Art Space

2011-06-29T03:16:00.001-07:00

The Room Mobile Art Space, a set on Flickr.

Teynham Tidy

2011-06-18T05:43:00.000-07:00

Colin and myself joined Mark Grainger, Teynham Primary School and The Teynham Scouts and Cubs on Saturday 8th June at 10am at the sign of Teynham in Station Road to help with the start of the Big Clean upin Teynham. The reesponse from Local people was brilliant.. Harry from the Rialway Tavern joined us and we met up there after our valiant efforts to for drinks and buscuits. Thanks Harry. Chris the Can man joined us and we collected loads of cans for him - alot from the Train station!! Thanks for the Fish Chris!
I will keep you informed of the next Tidy. Mark and Zoe Grainger did an amazing job of organising this event and everyone received their honary Litter Angels Badge.
PS the weather was just so kind to us.

more pics click here

The Big Clean up

2011-05-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

http://www.gordonhendersonmp.org.uk/#/cleanupss/4548834998

please sign up

Litter Angels in the Room

2011-05-31T04:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/786145488

Click on the link above for loads of photos of our adventure

We had a really fantastic time in a converted shipping container on 26th - 28th May 2011. Outside Swale Borough Council Offices, Sittingbourne High Street.

We had about 130 visit us over the 3 days and the Room is a very popular idea look out for more artists spaces coming soon to Swale.

THE Next Stage

2011-05-24T04:15:00.000-07:00

Been really busy lately and have nearly forgot my lovely blog. Been to the Greenpeace climate fair and met great people who are changing the world. Slowly but surely for the better. Always at meetings and writing up stuff that I nearly forgot about my own projects, But at last we can use the great space that Swale Borough Council have got and its in Sittingbourne my own back garden. This work is to launch the Litter Angels campaign and bring attention to the problems of littering it something that we can all do something about. We do hope to see you there. Remember its the Big Blue container outside swale Borough Council offices I will be there from 1-5pm please join us and make a differnce.

THE BIG CLEAN 2011

2011-04-11T03:05:00.000-07:00

View Kent Messenger pics
Kent Messenger Ltd: View Picture: PD1831406@ST BIGCLEAN 07.04.11.jpg

Date: 11th April 2011
Release: 14th/15th April 2011
MP launches Sittingbourne and Sheppey Clean-Up campaign

Local MP, Gordon Henderson, has launched his summer campaign to clean up his Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency.

The Clean-Up, which will take place throughout August, will be run in conjunction with a national “Love Where You Live” campaign organised by Keep Britain Tidy and local charity Litter Angels, which works with young people to encourage them not to drop litter.

Mr Henderson was joined at Beachfields, Sheerness by his Senior Caseworker, Jess McMahon, who is facilitating the campaign, Kevin Williams from Keep Britain Tidy, Sioux Peto from Litter Angels and Matt Ramsden, Editor at Kent Messenger Group, who is helping to promote the campaign.

Local groups and individuals are being encouraged to support the campaign by committing to at least one Clean-Up project during the month long event.

Matt Ramsden said,
"We're delighted to be involved in this very worthwhile campaign. We all work and live in a lovely part of the world and it is frustrating to see people dropping rubbish and causing a mess.

"Hopefully we can mobilise the good people of Sittingbourne and Sheppey in coming together to do some real good for our community."

Sioux Peto added,
“After last year’s success with the Litter Angels and its anti-litter campaign, we want to encourage more people of any age to get involved in a fun and informed way with caring for their community and the Sittingbourne & Sheppey Clean-Up is exactly the kind of project that we are pleased to be associated with. We want everyone to be proud of where they live.“

Mr Henderson said,
“We all know of public areas that are littered with rubbish, but there are many residential areas that are looking run down and could do with either a lick of paint or a good tidy up in the garden.

“Cleaning up our local environment will not only make our quality of life better, but it will encourage more people to visit our area, boosting the local economy and providing more jobs.

“We should all take pride in our area and so I encourage everyone who lives here in Sittingbourne and Sheppey to get involved as every little bit helps. Every Clean-Up project is welcome.”

Mr Henderson has set up a special website to highlight the Clean-Up projects that are proposed. It also sets out some important health and safety guidelines and will display before and after photographs showing the end result of individual projects. The website can be found at: www.gordonhenderson.org.uk/cleanupss.

For further information regarding the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Clean-Up, please contact:
Jess McMahon
Constituency Caseworker to Gordon Henderson MP
Email: jess.mcmahon@parliament.uk
Tel: 01795 423199

THE POLKA Dot has reopened

2011-03-21T04:41:00.000-07:00

We had amazing PV on Sunday for our reopening The local Visual Arts Group 795 are displaying loads of original and exciting works and turned up in full to support us. Thank you to everyone who came especially the Deputy Mayor Ben Stokes and Deputy Mayoress Sylvia Bennett who popped in to have a look round.

The Polka Dot this year is packed with weird and wonderful items at very reasonable prices. See you all soon.

Loads of pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50646987@N06/sets/72157626190493039/

Our new Temporary Garden visits Vinspired

2011-03-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

4th March Vinspired organised a celebration event to showcase & recognise the work of young volunteers in Kent & Medway and we where invited to do workshops. This is now the end of Vinpired as we know it. I personally would like to say they have been amazing and the biggest thank you ever to Rachel Coppins who has been a real inspiration herself.

The Polka Dot took its new temporary garden out for the first time we can now do workshops anywhere!. Loads of plastic rubbish flowers and trees - we think it was a great success so look out for us in Swale and across Kent.

Plus we had a very special guest Magma came to visit he his Sparkys big brother

Polka Dot at Christmas

2010-12-05T04:43:00.000-08:00

Our windows looks lovely - I am sure you see it as you drive past why not stop and come inside

Winter Garden 2

2010-12-02T03:29:00.000-08:00

I thought yesterday was great but today is totally amazin. A surreal christmas grotto. We are very happily snowed in

A Winter Garden

2010-12-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

The Recycled anti waste garden is really behaving like a real garden now its wilting in the weather but looks amazing in this snow

Christmas at the Polka Dot

2010-11-14T04:38:00.000-08:00

The Average British Family throws away 6 trees worth of paper each year (source waste watch)

this piece of work is to re-enforce the message

"Absolute Rubbish" is the Polka Dots own brand of products. All made on the premises from things that people throw away. We have loads of unique and quirky gifts many under £20. Great for Christmas and you will be inspired to recycle more.

Scary Litter Angels Workshops

2010-11-06T07:40:00.001-07:00

The last Litter Angel workshop for this year was held at the Polka Dot last week and loads of scary heads and ghostly figures where created by the young artists that attended our workshop

Litter Angels 2010 Winners

2010-10-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Winning Poster is now on view at all Swale McDonalds

Kacey Unsworth - Bapchild and Tonge C of E Primary School - WINNER for Poster Design

Murston winning Sculpture in the garden

Murston Sculpture Winners

OUR PRESS RELEASE
Nearly 100 people packed the Avenue Theatre last Friday (October 22nd) for a “squash and biscuit” reception before Local MP, Gordon Henderson joined the Mayor of Swale, Cllr Steve Worrall, to present local school children and their schools with prizes in this year’s “Litter Angels” competition.
”Litter Angels” is an anti-litter awareness campaign, which was started three years ago by Gordon Henderson to encourage young people to think about littering and its effect on the local environment by using art as a creative and educational tool. This year the children were asked to design anti-litter posters and sculptures, such as wild flowers, out of discarded rubbish.
The Mayor presented prizes to children from 7 local primary schools and groups that took part in the competition These where Bapchild and Tonge, Murston, Diversity House, St Edwards, St Peters, Eastchurch and Minterne.
The overall winning poster was designed by Kacey Unsworth, who attends Bapchild and Tonge Church of England Primary School. Kacey and her school each received a cheque for £25, which was presented by Matthew Hogben Business Manager from Sittingbourne McDonald’s, who sponsored this year’s competition and will be displaying the winning poster in all their local restaurants.
Murston Junior School won the prize for best sculpture design in their Wildlife garden and Alfie Swetman-Savage from Bapchild and Tonge won a special award for the Under-7 category, which was donated by the Polka Dot Art Gallery, who were co-sponsors of “Litter Angels”.
This year’s competition was organised by well known local artist, Sioux Peto, who said:
“This year has been an amazing success. We were so impressed with the attitude and creativity of all the young people who took part in the competition. It was refreshing how much they all knew about recycling and why they shouldn’t drop litter. It was obvious that they genuinely want to help keep our local environment clean and tidy.
“The standard of work produced was extremely high, professional and imaginative, both in the poster design and the sculpture workshops. It made the judging very difficult.
“I really want to thank all the young people who were involved this year and the schools that let us into their classrooms and encouraged their pupils to take part. We should be proud of them all for their commitment to making our future cleaner and greener.”
Gordon Henderson added:
“Reducing the amount of litter in our streets and parks is the quickest way in which we can make a real impact on our local environment. I started “Litter Angels” because I felt that encouraging primary school pupils to get into the habit of not dropping litter would lay the foundations for a cleaner tidier Britain when they grow up.
“This year’s “Litter Angels” competition was the best ever, thanks to the hard work of Sioux Peto and wonderful support from McDonald’s and the Polka Dot Art Gallery.
“I know that Sioux is already planning next year’s competition and wants to extend it to an older age group. So if you are a local primary school, or, community group who deals with young people from 16 to 24 years of age, and you care about you local community and environment, I would urge you to take part.”
Interested schools and community groups can contact Sioux Peto on 01795 428150 or 01795 521167.

Names of winners and schools:-

Kacey Unsworth - Bapchild and Tonge C of E Primary School - WINNER for Poster Design
Yasir Hussain – Diversity House
Masha Treyakovce – Murston Junior School
Luke Huckle - St Peters Catholic Primary School
Hannah Unwin – Minterne Community Junior School
Taylor Garrod – St Edwards R.C Primary School
Danielle Hales – Eastchurch Primary School

Murston Junior School – WINNER for Sculpture Design

Alfie Swetman-Savage – Special award from Polka Dot Galley for under 7’s

PS Special mention to the lovely Esther Cheesman who was my assistant

A Garden of England Wins Award

2010-10-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Garden of England has won a SILVER award from Swale in Bloom and Kent Wildlife Trust
We collected the award on Saturday 23rd October at Oare Gunpowder Works and now have our certificate framed in the Polka Dot

Its Eric

2010-10-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Its now the end of Litter Angels 2010

2010-10-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yes its really sad but I have finished the workshops and we have had an amazing exhibition here at the Polka Dot our walls have been covered as you can see and its being judged on Monday!!!!!
so look out for announcements
Thank you to everyone who has been in to look at the exhibition and to everyone who took part and to Ernie Thurston for helping hang all the work and the photographs
See the School Garden sculptures here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50646987@N06/sets/72157625125447118/

Look whats growing in the garden - Litter Angels at St Peters

2010-09-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Thank you St Peters year 6 for being wonderful. We had a great day designing posters and making flowers which we plantedout in the veg patch
See you all soon

Garden of England opening

2010-09-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

On Friday 3rd September A Garden of England was officially opened by the cutting of a big plastic bag ribbon by Deputy Mayoress Sylvia Bennett and Deputy Mayor Cllr Ben Stokes. Many Thanks to them
Special guests where Gordon Henderson MP and Louise Henderson and we announced the launch of the 2010 Litter Angels campaign
Photos taken by Lisa Valder http://www.lisavalderphotography.co.uk/
more of the garden http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=680402&Action=_VC&id=61808850&ppwd=49747ftp

I presented Gordon with a "10 minute walk" to hang on his office wall. Gordon has always been interested in my work and I am very grateful to him for high lighting the problems of litter in our area his dedication and continuing support of the Arts. Thank you.

Litter Angels Creature workshops

2010-08-27T01:30:00.001-07:00

The Last Litter Angels Workshop took place on Wednesday. (I will miss everyone) We had a full house and made creatures and Things!!!! by sewing bits of old fabric, buttons, lace and ribbons. The creation of these new species was great fun and everyone went home with a new friend. We will definitely be doing this again at Half term.

Litter Angels Pot workshops

2010-08-22T03:28:00.000-07:00

Again everyone was very busy and creative with dog food cans!!!!!
Yes these cans can be recycled into really useful and beautiful containers

Ramsgate Summer squall

2010-08-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

The Polka Dot will be there on Saturday 28th
http://www.ramsgatearts.org/index.html

A garden of England at Re:Bourne

2010-08-15T05:42:00.000-07:00

Wow what an amazing 2 days
The Re:Bourne arts Festival in Sittingbourne Hiigh Street was a real success. Thank you to all the people of Sittingbourne that contributed to it and Nimble Fish and the Workers of Art for coming to our town and helping transform it so we could appreciate its true potential.
the Garden grew wonderfully there and got plenty of attention and water!!!!!
There are loads more pics here just click on link
http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/455051817

Litter Angels Workshops - Mobiles

2010-08-05T00:37:00.001-07:00

The First of the Litter Angels Workshops took place Wednesday 5th August and everyone made the most amazing mobiles. From found objects and bits of string and wire. The creative movement is alive and kicking here inTeynham
Thankyou to everyone who attended

Re:Bourne -

2010-08-05T00:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.rebourne2010.co.uk/
The garden of England project will be at the Re;Bourne Festival in Sittingbourne High Street on Friday August 13th from 2.30pm-5.30pm and Saturday August 14th from 2.30pm-5.30pm
Sittingbourne High Street - The first alley on the lower half of the high street on the same side of street as Roman square

The Polka Dot Artists are Recycling in a different way. why not come and add to the garden? We will be creating new growths on site Bright plastic is blooming in a alley just off Sittingbourne High Street, please join us

Ramsgate Summer squall

2010-07-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.ramsgatearts.org/
Polka Dot artists Sioux and Colin will be at the Summer Squall with A Garden of England creating new and wondrous growths with the people of Ramsgate. This is the first time we have travelled outside of Swale with the project. We are spreading the message. Saturday 28th August. see you al there.

Recycled Art - Plastic Bottle Flowers

2010-07-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

A Garden of England is really blooming now
This Saturday we had our last volunteers from Vinvolved and they helped make pots of flowers out of Plastic bottles and packaging

pics at http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/422999512

Litter Angels 2010 and the Polka Dot

2010-07-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

I am very fortunate to have met Gordon Henderson now our MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey a couple of years ago. Gordon has always been passionate about the amount of Litter and rubbish that is strewn across our beautiful country. 2 years ago he launched Litter Angels, based on a story he wrote about Eric the Angel who comes down from heaven to help his young friends pick up litter and help inform the public that they are destroying our planet and wildlife. He went into schools with his Swale Community Action Project and enthused the young people to design posters to help emphasis this message. I was his assistant last year. Now Mr Henderson is a bit busy at the Houses of Parliament and the baton has been passed to me at the Polka Dot
We are going into schools in September to deliver workshops: Design a poster and make growths from rubbish.
To start our campaign the Polka Dot is offering Workshops to young people during the holidays
and you are very welcome to join us to make Recycled Art objects
Please book if possible They will be every wednesday through out August. We are also involved with Diversity House and on 1st August and 10th October will be doing workshops with them. See details above.

Artists in the Woods 2010

2010-07-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

please click to see more pics of a garden of england growing at Oare gunpowder Works
Colin and myself would like to thank everyone from the Friends of Oare Gunpowder Works especially Karen West for all their hard work in organising this event. Our work looked amazing under the dapple sun filled wooded landscape. Same time next year!!!!!
A garden of england will be at our home garden The Polka Dot for the next month until it can be seen again growing in Sittingbourne High Street on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th August at the Re:Bourne Festival

Perry woods Sunday 20th June

2010-06-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

The Polka Dot and its mutant life forms could be found at Perry Woods in Selling showing what could happen if we continued dropping our litter we where joined but the fairy folk, some went home with our viewers!!!!!

In 2 weeks we will be at Oare Gunpowder works with loads of 795 artists

Artists events in the woods

2010-06-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Polka Dot and its Recycled Art foliage will be growing at both of these events. Come and bring your plastic bottles down to the woods and make flowers with me. I will be sitting amongst the natural vegetation making more blooms. See you there.

A Garden of England progress

2010-06-02T10:35:00.001-07:00

You can now really see that the growths are taking hold of our garden over the weekend this beautiful aluminum appeared - take a look at these pics click here

Absolute Rubbish

2010-05-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

The Polka Dot took its Absolute Rubbish (our own range of totally recycled and up-cycled products) down to Canterbury on Saturday and had a fantastic time. So thank you to all the lovely people we met and this very rare tiger!!!!!

We also launched our "Garden of England" project - we tried to find experts on Plastic mutant growths but No one came forward, so its now just growing and growing in our garden - why not come and see it for yourselves. Click here for more details

Canterbury Climate Fair

2010-05-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

The Polka Dot will be at the Canterbury Climate Fair on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th

please join us this is an important awareness event

www.canterburyclimatefair.org

Great New Blogg for Sittingbourne Artists

2010-05-07T02:22:00.000-07:00

http://795plus.blogspot.com/

Well worth a read

2010-04-30T04:53:00.000-07:00

Just curl up with your laptop

adhttp://greenmuseum.org/c/ecovention/

http://www.grist.org/article/doe-reprint/

We picked the First ones

2010-04-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

and are clearing the garden here at the Polka Dot

we will keep you posted

Oh No its started!!!!

2010-03-24T04:46:00.001-07:00

795 in action

2010-03-15T02:02:00.000-07:00

The 795 exhibition has been very successful and we will do it again

Thank you Nathalie for taking the pics. more on this link

www.photobox.co.uk

795

2010-02-15T06:40:00.001-08:00

We will be promoting the multi talents of Swale in this the first of our many (we hope) exhibtions together. We all met at the Swale Artist group in Red Lion Red Sittingbourne High Street on the 1st Monday of the Month. You are all welcome

Hearts 2 Hearts

2010-02-05T08:19:00.001-08:00

A new set of photographs based on found love

Life Drawing Classes

2010-02-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

Swale arts

2010-01-22T09:05:00.001-08:00

Hi Haven't written for ages but heres an update on whats happening in the near future in my world

LB Graphics Creative Art and Design services –
Specialise in small business design and promotion and are now offering a 15% discount on all design work til March 31st. So just call Sioux on 01795 428150 (quote WiB)
http://www.lbgraphics.co.uk/ (check out the new look site!!!!)

I also co-runs the Polka Dot Art Centre 54a London Road Teynham from February our workshops start

16th February
Life Drawing Classes start on Tuesday 16th February at the Avenue Theatre, Remembrance Avenue, Sittingbourne. Cost is £8 per session - bring all your own materials. Please note there is no tuition and all levels are welcome, there is no critiquing. 6.30-8.30pm. Stage door entrance. Doors open from 6.15 but close at 6.45 - so be prompt.

23rd February - the Green course
Mosaic classes for beginners starts at 10.30am-12.30pm the Polka Dot 54a London Road Teynham on Tuesday 23trd February. The course is for 3 weeks max and costs £25 (introductory offer) this includes all the materials to make a mirror. Phone Sioux to book your place 01795 428150

The Polka Dot Gallery has a wide range of traditional and contemporary frames call Colin on 01795 521167
http://www.polkadotac.co.uk/ for more details on events and links to what’s going on in Swale

Christmas At the Polka Dot

2009-11-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

Here at the Polka Dot we have really beautiful gift ideas for all your friends and family. Please pop in and see us. We are open Fridays saturdays and Sunday 10-4 until December 20th

Flat BlueBottles

2009-09-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

2009-09-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Swale A Celebration of Cultures

2009-09-08T08:49:00.001-07:00

Saturday 31st October 2009

My Dog Fairy

2009-09-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

NEW WORK

2009-09-08T05:58:00.000-07:00

My recent work is looking at the found object (really looking). We waste so many sensory exciting materials in our quest to create an art object. Is the discarded and overlooked not perfect? if not- why not? and so, who is the judge? Can we meet?

WEB LINKS here in Swale for the Arts

2009-09-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

An independant artist lead gallery specialising in Swale Artists http://www.polkadotac.co.uk/
Kentartspace http://www.kentartspace.co.uk/
Kent arts http://www.kent-arts.co.uk/
Swale borough council http://www.swale.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3103
tourist link list your event http://www.swale.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5004
Get a blogg they are FREE too https://www.blogger.com/start
SAF http://swaleartsforum.org/ (its free to list yourself but you get more if your join!)
Medway arts (£25 for life) http://www.medwayart.co.uk/kent-medway-art-directory/art-centres-art-groups/
Swale Arts http://swalearts.co.uk/
Best of sittingbourne http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/sittingbourne/events (Great place to actually list your event, this is a very underused resource)
Faversham http://faversham.org/pages/standard.aspx?i_PageID=1151
Kent TV and whats on http://www.kenttv.com/whatson/upload.php
Teyhnam news http://www.teynham.org/
http://www.brfm.net/ BRFM Local sheppey radio will broadcast your event email them at studio@brfm.net

Radio Interview

2009-09-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

The BRFM Daniel Monday night community show now has a you tube channel so you can listen to my interview for the Swale Arts Forum

http://www.youtube.com/daniel15510

LIFE DRAWING Sessions

2009-08-31T05:38:00.000-07:00

LB GRaphics is now running Life Drawing sessions in the Artisan Room upstairs at the Avenue Theatre Rembrance Avenue Sittingbourne (please use the stage door)

Starting Tuesday 8th September 6.30-8.30 the sessions will run for 4 weeks if they are successful we will continue. £8 per session please pay on the night. There will be no tution. Artists please bring your own materials (paper, pencils boards etc)

further details from Sioux Peto 01795 428150

Absolute Rubbish

2009-08-29T06:02:00.000-07:00

Sioux and Colin have taken recycling to another level.
http://www.polkadotac.co.uk/index.htm

2009-06-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hi
Events happening in Swale this July that I will be at

2009-06-05T01:15:00.000-07:00

What an amazing private view we had to view click on link for loads of pics. I want to thank all my friends,colleagues and family for coming and supporting me for the past 4 years it has be a real challenge.

http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/album?album_id=118237735

Preparation for the show

2009-05-20T08:12:00.000-07:00

work is taking over my garden
http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/album/share/public?album_id=112807711

We have only a few days left now and are busy preparing the studios for our show

This is the photographic evidence that most of us are mucking in and doing their bit !!!!!

The Letter in the Bottle

2009-05-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-20h/le-20/le-20-heures-du-14-mai-2009-4411481.html

stay in video window - watch the clip - click on chap at bottom of pane - then click on 11-17 at top of pane - click on 2nd pic the words then watch

7 years ago when my son Kim was 13 we found a letter in a bottle on the beach at Warden Bay. The letter was beautifully presented and written in French. Karen Liebreich my work colleague at the time and friend wrote a book about her journey to find the writer of that letter which was an extremely emotional and moving tribute to her son. The book has just been released in France and we have been doing a bit of promotion.

http://www.karenliebreich.com

Pinkietessa

2009-05-13T01:47:00.001-07:00

Hi my friend Pinkietessa has a new music download available at itunes

go and get it - its FAB!!!!

http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fid%253D311609758%2526s%253D143444

RECYCLE, REUSE and REDUCE

2009-05-12T00:17:00.000-07:00

Our world is a beautiful and wondrous place,

just look around you, but this time really look

This piece will be shown at Canterbury College for the 2009 BA Show

2009-05-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

You are invited to my Big BA show

We are working really hard to complete all our work at present. Sorting out printing, invites, posters the catalogue price lists, statements portfolios etc getting our selves ready to go out into the real world - scary stuff. Private View should be a really big affair so please come further details are also available at http://www.polkadotac.co.uk/BAShow.htm

Thanks Colin for letting us host our show page with the Polka Dot Art Centre

Swale Arts Meeting

2009-05-11T00:48:00.000-07:00

Swale Arts meets in the Red Lion Pub Sittingbourne High Street 1st Monday of each month at 8pmish

These are friendly informal meetings and are open to all artists in the Swale Area.

We are at present discussing

The Polka Dot – Exhibitions for the year – We want to create a programme of event - http://www.polkadotac.co.uk/
Cantiana Arts Festival – Saturday 18th July Lynsted Church - http://www.cantiana.org.uk/
Artists in the Wood – Sunday 12th July - Oare Gunpowder works
Swale Arts Forum – Next Meeting is May 13th at the Avenue Theatre 6.30pm –8pm discussing promotion of events through the Forum - http://www.swaleartsforum.org/ - please feel free to attend
The Swale Film Festival – July 9th, 10th and 11th Avenue Theatre - http://www.swalefilmfestival.org.uk/ - This year they are again showing amazing films
Swale Celebration of Culture – Saturday 24th October
Avenue Theatre - http://www.avenuetheatre.co.uk/ - thanks to everyone there – they have some great productions coming up especially this weekend!!!

Swale Artists can really be proactive within the Arts in this area –– if we can create a working community and co-operate with one another in the promotion and participation of each others events this will benefit us all –