Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
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READ ALL ABOUT IT!

RSHG at Ryde library
RSHG at Ryde library

Ryde Arts Festival starts on Friday 28 June!

Ryde Social Heritage Group’s exhibition ‘Read all about it’ is now in Ryde Library as part of Ryde Arts Festival 2013. Book reviews, newspapers, directories and much more from Ryde’s rich history make up the display based on the festival’s theme of ‘Books’.

All over Ryde there is a frenzy of activity as artists and musicians at various locations prepare for the opening on Friday. The opening event ‘Cheese and Malts’ at St Thomas’ Heritage Centre, Ryde on Friday at 7pm is a concert of original music performed by local people and the first chance to see the ‘Chalk Talks’ exhibition – an artists’ impression of Ryde’s history.

Janette facilitated workshops to produce some of the exhibits for The Never Ending Story exhibition at the Depozitory, Nelson Street. The workshops were: An Introduction to Visual Journaling April 2013, Matchbox Mementos created at The Foyer June 2013, and Family History Shrines created by Ryde Social Heritage Group June 2013. Please come along to the Depozitory to see the fantastic work created at these workshops opening Saturday 29 June at 2pm.

The library also hosts ‘Reading Spaces’ – “An exploration of the book in unexpected ways”. Artists Tim Johnson, Jonathan Ward, and Dan Roberts have been working with a variety of recycled materials including a huge pile of redundant library books, old tables, light bulbs, ladders and lamp shades – see everyday objects transformed! An open gallery exhibition has artworks produced by members of the public and ‘Through Autistic Eyes’ – an exhibition of work by autistic artists on the Way Forward Programme. The official opening of the exhibition is Saturday 29 June at 10.30am.

In the afternoon on Saturday the Midsummer Mardi Gras parade takes place in the town. This is the 10th annual Arts Parade – The flagship event of the New Carnival Company. Over 25 island-wide schools and community groups will take part, depicting the story of art from cave painting to pop art and beyond! The parade will be led by The New Carnival Company’s own signature Boeuf Gras (the fattened bull) float, inspired by the Rex Parade of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The parade leaves Ryde School on Queens Road at 3.30pm for Newport St, High Street, Union Street, Esplanade and finishes at Quay Rd Car Park by LA Bowl.

The festival continues throughout the week to Sunday 7 July. See the website rydeartsfestival.org for details of the events and exhibitions or pick up a programme from the library. Our exhibition ‘Read all about it’ will be in the library until 27 July.