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  • Lizzy Bean

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    83 Aston Street
    Birmingham, United Kingdom
    Birmingham
    B4 7DA

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    EARTH OVENS Lizzy Bean is passionate about mud. She uses earth to build outdoor ovens and sculptures. In 2008, Lizzy won Arts Council funding to research and develop her work in this area and since then, she has worked on a range of projects with young people and adults in schools, community venues and environmental centres across the region. ‘Having worked as a chef and an artist, building an oven brings together everything that’s important to me,’ says Lizzy. I love working with groups to create something that unites people; a sculpture that’s both beautiful and useful; a process that is fun and connects us to the earth; and a place of beauty for meeting, learning and eating.’ Lizzy uses cob – a mixture of earth, clay and straw – traditionally used as a building material by cultures throughout history and the world. ‘I am inspired by our complex relationship with earth – from growing food, making pots and building houses to its part in our ancient landscape. It’s a grounding yet also very spiritual medium.’ The ingredients for cob can often be sourced on-site, making each project unique and self-sufficient. Lizzy has been impressed with the enthusiasm that inner-city children have shown for such a low-tech medium. ‘I’ve worked on countless art projects with schools and understand the benefits of working outdoors but I’ve been particularly moved by how much the children enjoy the tactile qualities of mud, and how they love heaving barrow-loads of earth around. They get so absorbed that at the end of the day, they don’t want to go home!’ The earth ovens are wood-fired and can be used to bake bread, pizza and to roast vegetables and other dishes. ARTIST IN SCHOOLS Lizzy Bean is an established artist who has worked with thousands of children including Early Years and Special Needs. She uses recycled and sustainable materials to explore the creative process both indoors and out. Her lively and inspiring workshops enable children to engage with their imagination and her child-centred approach ensures that they gain the confidence to express and realise their ideas. “The mosaic and the mural are stunning pieces of artwork that our children would not have produced without Lizzy’s expertise and gentle guidance. Lizzy has a knack of bringing out the best in the children and we can’t wait to work with her again.” Diane Smith, Reception Teacher, Hallfield School, Birmingham Lizzy can tailor-make a project for you and your school site, mindful of both the National Curriculum and the needs of individual pupils. She has a current CRB certificate and is fully covered for Public Liability Insurance to a total of £5 million. ENVIRONMENTAL ARTISTLizzy Bean's work engages with the question of permanence. Working outdoors with natural materials, the only certainty is that things will change over time. Some art works exist for an afternoon (see Maze image), whilst others are designed to be in situ for as long as nature allows.Using recycled and found materials, Lizzy’s artworks are often embedded into the landscape where they await discovery. They invite us to explore our involvement with the landscape in magical ways; casting our shadow to tell the time (Impact Project at Somer's Park School, Malvern) or playing hopscotch on a giant leaf made from a mosaic of pebbles (Arts Beyond residency at Bishops Wood Environmental Centre, Worcestershire).“Thanks for all your dedication and help in making a great and worthwhile project. You’ve been a joy to work with.” Jon Cree, Education & Training Officer, Bishops Wood Centre, Worcestershire.All projects are designed with these core values in mind: sustainability, conservation and respect for the planet. 

    Listed under:

    Earth ovens - products & services , People - products & services , Earth ovens - courses

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