In celebration of the 21st Birthday of The Harlequin Shopping Centre in Watford, I have spent the weekend enticing shoppers to weave a plastic strip of shopping bag onto this giant 21.

I made the 21 earlier in the week using chicken wire and a wooden frame. (Wearing gloves seriously stunted my ability to create the frame so my hands are now extremely scratched!)

Retailers from the shopping centre donated their shopping bags to be woven into the installation. I must admit, some bags made for more interesting strips than others (a particular favourite of mine was the bags from Pumpkin Patch that are multi-coloured, spotty AND stripey all in one bag!!)

Shoppers were also invited to write a birthday message and attach it to the giant 21 that stands at just over 2 metres tall.

The giant, multi-coloured 21 will be on display at the Gallery on the the third floor of the shopping centre until the end of the month.

BSG is now on FB!

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Your Name in Lights reflects the changing cult of celebrity in modern society and recalls Andy Warhol’s prediction that in the future everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame. Drawing on imagery from Broadway theatre displays and Hollywood films, this ambitious new work will involve more than 100,000 participants.

So last week, i tuned into the webcam to see my name in lights on the top of the Australian Museum facade. It was late afternoon here in the UK, and of course the middle of the night over in Australia (hence why there is not much to see in the screen shot!) but was exciting non the less!

Towards the end of 2010 was extremely busy – always a good thing for me as I love having lots to do, and it means i have gotten involved in lots of exciting projects! The one I will share today, is the Art Therapy Without Borders International Postcard Art Exchange.

I have to say, I have always been fascinated by mail art projects – I adore receiving mail from around the world (I suppose this parallels my love for receiving email of toilet sign photos!) and I also love the idea of the journey that the envelope/letter has just accomplished! Whilst studying for my art foundation I exhibited a piece of work i created about just this, but never actually participated in a mail exchange until now!

The ATWB Postcard Exchange is a perfect way to start. Having now qualified as an Art Therapist, and having a particular interest in using the applications of the principals of art therapy in different ways, this was a great opportunity to find our how other art therapists around the world are practising.

You can read more about the exchange and see the postcards already received on the ATWB website. I have already received a few, and am looking forward to binding them into a book once i have received the set

My ten year old brother Jonathan managed to take some time away from the football pitch to make this picture. It was his first time using pastels and I was so impressed i thought it needed to be shown off!

Well done Jonathan!

This weekend it was the Hayes Carnival in Hillingdon, and I ran an art workshop for young children and their families.

The theme of this years carnival was ‘Stardust’ and the carnival also wanted to convey the topical message of sustainability.

Using bottle tops and other used and discarded plastic items from local businesses, I invited the participants to ‘make their mark on the Earth’ by using the pieces to create a world globe. The bright and colourful globe looked healthy from a distance, but on closer inspection highlighted the litter strewn environment in which we live.

The inspiration for my previous projects has always come from everyday, mundane things around me, and i am looking forward to seeing how Hertfordshire might inspire me.

I have already joined, and used the local Freecycle group and become a member of WRAP, the Watford Recycling Arts Project. Having been so immersed in thinking about the environment last year whilst i worked on The Sustainabilitree Show, i think i would find it very difficult to make work that didn’t follow this theme. The main purpose of me joining WRAP and Freecycle has been to gather materials for a series of art workshops I have been running with the local kids. We have been using unwanted and recycled materials to make beautiful works of art! The first workshop used these materials to create a 3D ‘map’ showing the kids perceptions of their local area. They used the materials to create houses, roads, bus stops, shops and places they enjoy spending time. Anything not seen as important didn’t make it onto the map – hence no schools but all the local hang outs where they go to smoke! I have found this a very useful way familiarise myself with the area and I am certainly down with the lingo even if i do still rely on my TomTom to find my way around!

It perhaps seemed like I disappeared a little towards the end of 2009…i was just busy getting married

Having had a good rest I am now looking forward to what the art world and 2010 have in store.

In just a few months i will hopefully be a qualified Art Therapist…just a few essays to get through before then! Perhaps a new installation on the horizon too…

Happy new year to you all…i will be back soon.

Melanie BODA!

PS. You can watch a short wedding clip here.

Malvern Exhibition of Contemporary Art (MECA), Church Walk, Malvern, Worcestershire.

4th – 31st October 2009

‘Bog Standard Signs’

More details coming soon..