"It was an unusual posting and attracted a number of intriguing individuals who could see outside, above and beyond 'the box' " says Ian Simmons, Science Communications Director at the Centre for Life…talking of recent interviewees responding to a 'Community Making Co-coordinator' (known as a Maker) post, a five month contract in place until the end of May this year.
The 'Maker' moniker comes from the highly successful Maker Faire element of previous year's Newcastle Science-Fest activities and is a recognized international (initially the USA) collective term for 'geeky' related science techno-craft creators. Previous Makers seen at Life have included Arc Attack's Tesla Coils, Paka's Dragon and Horse automatons, Robo Challenge's power tool races and Popular Mechanic's Rubik Cube solving robot - think Mad Max/Steam Punk and a pinch of pure genius.
The Science Communications department appealed for highly motivated, imaginative individuals able to interact and inspire the Centre's daily visitors and run a brand new 'make it' area with stations dedicated to construction, modelling, printing and design experiments as well as leading outreach 'make it' activity events to the locality. With her arts and crafts skills and experience of working with community groups, as well as her genuine interest and use of scientific materials and techniques within her work, Helen was the perfect choice.
The Life Science Centre offers a family friendly mix of permanent and temporary exhibits with a rolling programme of presentations within The Planetarium and Science Theatre, a motion ride and under 7's play area.
With the 'Wallace & Gromit Present…A World of Cracking Ideas' exhibition on its way to pastures new, the new 'make it' interactive 'zone', along with temporary exhibitions Ancient Wisdom and Classics, takes up the space and will be unveiled in time for the regions half term (11-19th February) and an expected 10,000 visitors.
Helen will also be presenting a special Make-It programme of activities featuring Guest-Makers at the forthcoming 2012 ScienceFest (8-15th March) to complement the festival programme and act as a central core attraction within the Centre.
Helen is a visual artist and educator based within the NewBridge Project in Newcastle, who prior to her appointment was busying herself putting the finishing touches to three Smart Material costumes, two of which are flamboyant costumes made entirely from water soluble/dissolvable dishwasher tablet coatings (kindly supplied by the metre from Proctor and Gamble) to be launched during the 2012 ScienceFest as part of the Undress-Redress Smart Materials project in conjunction with Durham University, Netpark, Science Learning NE and Washington Arts Centre which opens in February.
As a visual artist , practicing from the early '80's (following an arts education which has encompassed Sculpture, Theatre Design and Glass making) she is known for throne making (recent works include Space-Time and Time-Travel Thrones) architectural glass techniques and community planted art projects and has exhibited in Durham, Winchester and Gloucester Cathedrals, locally here at the Centre for Life and Discovery Museum, and has had international residencies and exhibitions in the USA, Canada, Cuba, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Japan
The Science Centre 'make it' zone, opening on 11th February, is likely to have some 'space-age' themes initially to instigate activity and imagination. Helen's two 10 metre high rocket artworks have been exhibited previously at Life and she has participated in the last two Newcastle ScienceFest events; last year's display of her Space-Time lab coats were made from strips of high visibility reflective coated plastic.
"Where scientists can't go…I can, as an artist" says Helen who began to exhibit space and time travel works way back in 2008 (Time Travel X - the George Gallery, Forest of Dean) and has since had two recent space themed residences: Space Agency at the Ogden Centre for Physics, Durham University and Lunar Laboratory at Meltdowns Studios, Ramsgate.
Space travel as a subject matter is both highly visible and inspirational: she regularly creates rocket drawings and glass observatories and treasures an autographed photograph of the NASA astronauts from last year's visit and meeting to the Centre for Life, organized by the Institute of Physics, funded by Newcastle Science City.
"I think space travel would be an incredibly creative period of time, say on a 6 month journey to Mars? Astronauts would spend time inventing and creating surely?" she says and asks, with a twinkle in her eye "Could I be the first artist (and first woman) on the moon?!"
Ends:
Helen Schell is available for interview
For further press information please contact: Vicky Pepys/Nicola McIntosh Centre for Life Tel: 0191 243 8209 Vicky.pepys@life.org.uk /nicola.mcintosh@life.org.uk
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