Waygood Wood
Waygood Wood is a moveable grove of 30 young trees appearing soon in Newcastle's public spaces.
Observe or enter Waygood Wood to experience enchanted moments within the city centre, created by artists: Matthew Cowan, David Foggo, Ben Jeans Houghton, Kathryn Johnson, Carole Luby, Sally Madge, Helen Smith, Maggie Tran, and the Waygood Radio Club.
- The Bird in the Bush
- Maggie Tran
- Saturday 17th May 7pm-9pm
- Monument 7pm-7.30pm
- High Bridge Square 8.30pm-9pm
- Performances
Flashes of bright pink feathers flicker in and out of the foliage. The whole bush structure shifts slowly from one side to side. A clown faced lady peeks from behind the trees in a blatant and highly conspicuous manner.
Part of The Late Shows
- Fermata
- Waygood Radio Club
- Sunday 18th May 1pm-3pm
- Old Eldon Square
- Performance
Waygood's Radio Club, a group of artists experimenting with radio, have designed and installed special radios amongst the trees.
The tree radios transform the shifting electromagnetic frequencies that surround us into sound. The trees might be mere saplings but they sing a very old song...
- Dream
- Carole Luby
- Monday 19th May 1pm-3pm
- A Wedding procession leaving Waygood Art Boutique
- passing St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral & St. Nicholas’ Cathedral
- Performance
You will come across me in an unlikely space. Newcastle is full of unexpected corners...
When you are looking, you may not see me. When you are not looking for me you might see me...
‘tread softly, for you may tread on my dreams’.
- A Few Facts about Plastic Bags
- Helen Smith
- Tuesday 20th May 1pm-3pm
- Along Northumberland Street between monument & Haymarket Metro Stations
- Promenade
13 billion plastic bags are given free to UK shoppers every year. Waygood Wood will be decorated with these ‘beautiful remnants of consumerism’ dis-entangled from trees and bushes by the artist.
The decorated trees will then be promenaded along the busiest shopping street in Newcastle.
- The Forest of Signs
- Dave Foggo
- Wednesday 21th May 9am-9pm
- Old Eldon Square
- Installation
The 30 saplings will be spread across a public space in the city centre and for each one there will be a man-made response. Ash bucket to Ash tree, Apple product to Apple tree.
Over the course of one day in May, an alternative forest of signs will slowly bud and blossom.
- Wood for the Trees
- Ben Jeans Houghton
- Thursday 22 May 1pm-3pm
- Northumberland Court
- (Alleyway between Waterstones and Newcastle United Shop)
- Installation
A mobile environment that displays a forest reduced to simplistic, stereotypical images and symbols. Come and sit, surrounded by a plastic forest, listen to the sound of non existent rain on the umbrella above you and birds singing in Kent in the 70s, give in to illusion and experience the present.
Write a postcard to someone who is somewhere else.
- This is Just a Fairytale
- Kathryn Johnson
- Friday 23rd May 1pm-3pm
- Grey Street
- Installation
Inspired by the fantasy-land of fairy tales the wood has a sinister edge, as all that seems enchanting on our first encounter is not always what it seems
- The Bear and the Dancing Man
- Matthew Cowan
- Saturday 24th May 1pm-3pm
- Stowell Street to Orchard Street
- (along the Western section of the city walls)
- Promenade
Matthew Cowan's performance is in the form of a magical reversal where the established order of a dancing bear and its keeper is overturned.
It takes place down a leafy path to another world, incorporating a cacophonous parade along the route of the ancient city walls of Newcastle, coming to rest on the site of a Medieval Orchard.
- Touch Wood
- Sally Madge
- Sunday 25th May 6pm - 8pm
- The Chapel. Castle Keep
- Installation
Questioning the nature of enchantment, the trees are grouped in the darkened ground floor of the Castle Keep, which over time has served as chapel, confessional, garrison, prison, workshop and museum.
Whispering voices echo through the space like leaves rustling in the wind. Visitors are invited to explore the wood by torchlight.
- Trees are Magic Wands
- Waygood Art Boutique, 31 High Bridge
- 17 May - 5 June 2008
- Wednesdays - Saturdays 11am-3pm
Waygood Art Boutique will host an exhibition of works for sale featuring enchantment, magic and woodlands to co-incide with Waygood Wood.
Open Saturday 17 May 7pm - 9pm as part of Waygood Wood at The Late Shows
