Dorothy Wordsworth Light Sculpture - "In her own words"

We were commissioned as part of Kirkgate Arts ' year-long ‘I Am Dorothy’ project, a programme supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to shine a light on Dorothy Wordsworth with a temporary Light Sculpture.

You can listen to me and Emma from Kirkgate Arts talking about the project on BBC Radio Cumbria here:

Because there are very few images of Dorothy we decided to create a portrait using her own words representing Dorothy as she would have looked to hike the fells. To do this Kirkgate Arts organised for Jessie Binns to pose in the period dress Dorothy would have worn to get our image.

The main part of the sculpture is a giant flower press representing the constraints of Dorothy's time and how - unlike her brother - very little of her poetry and prose was published, but kept locked away in her journals.

When making the plinth we realised that we didn’t have to follow convention and have a brutal cold slab of stone, so we used a mix of wood, woven hazel and willow and living plants to present Dorothy in a gentler, more welcoming way.

Massive thanks to Kirkgate Arts for giving us the opportunity to create this and to Maureen at Furness Plastics for her help to create and perfect the etched acrylic sheets.

Woman head and shoulders in front of a notice board. — Jennie outside the Kirkgate before the Celebratory Show

Chris and Jennie standing in front of light sculpture — Dorothy has moved once again - now at the Kirkgate Arts Centre for the project finale event

Group of people sitting around a table looking toward the stage — Dorothy on stage captivating her audience

Group of people around tables with large picture on the wall at the back — The four pixel portraits from our school session came together brilliantly

Woman taking photo of picture on the wall — Close up of the Giant Pixel Portrait

Large house with shop front next door — After her winter as a street sculpture Dorothy was taken on by Wordsworth House

Wooden frame in window showing glowing image of Dorothy Wordsworth — After a minor operation to remove the plinth, she fits perfectly in the window

Close up of wooden frame in window showing glowing image of Dorothy Wordsworth — Close up of Dorothy in Wordsworth House window

glowing letters on perspex — Our first test image to prove LEDs would light a large quantity of etched letters

Image of woman shown in glowing letters — Complete 30cm test version is complete

Glowing letters — Close up of test version showing letters on different layers.

Two men standing next to truck containing sleepers — The heavy wood arrives!

Dog watching woman with foot on wooden planks — Supervisor Stitch checking Jennie is aligning the sleepers correctly

Wood on table in shed with machine hanging in background — Meanwhile in the shed Chris and the Robots get to work making a frame

Machine hanging on sheet of plywood — Our DIY hanging robotic CNC machine cuts out the side panels

Dog in front of wooden construction — Stitch is unsure the sleeper plinth base is a good addition to the lounge!

Woman's image seed faintly in clear perspex — Maureen at Furness Plastics excited presents us with the finished full size sheets!!!

Dog on chair in front of wooden base and Perspex in frame — It's all coming together now, but Stitch is still not impressed.

Man standing next to wooden poles attached in a pyramid shape — Hazel poles are in place ready for Jennie to weave her magic

man wearing air filter mask in front of wood — Now it time for the endless varnishing...

Woman with large brown fabric — Giant petticoat sewing...

Woman bender thin stick between lattice of poles — ... and epic basket weaving

Wooden frame with plastic covering window holes — Adding the protective screens to the varnished frame

Completed basket weave in pyramid shape — Look at that beautiful wicker work!

Sign in middle wax people around edge — The logo panel has arrived from the Maureen - celebrated by the little wax fellas

Man and two children eating around large basket sculpture — A take-away amidst the chaos

Glowing letters on different planes — Wow the letters really pop on the final image!

Light sculpture in lounge showing glowing woman made of letters — She's looking marvellous all together for our light fitting tests!

man writing on block of wood — Labelling to help the post-transit jigsaw speed

Man kneeling in framework of wood — Dismantling to get our lounge back before Dr Who!

Woman sewing felt and tarp bags — Bespoke potting bags being tailored by Jennie

man standing in van — All packed up and ready to roll!

Man crouched inside a low wooden structure — Base completed just after sunrise in Main Street, Cockermouth

Woman grasping large wooden structure — The most nerve-wracking bit before Dorothy is secured to the frame. Jennie hugs her until all is well!

basket woven sides on a wooden structure. — The willow is on. Repeat. The willow is on.

Hands tying leather onto wooden pole — People may not spot it, but there's detailed leatherwork hidden under the top.

Plant in wooden box. — The plants are in and a sneaky woollen mushroom.

glowing mushrooms behind wooden bar — Hidden wax mushrooms.

Woman kneeling on ground next to plants and wooden structure. — Jennie lost in Holly and Ivy weaving!

Man leaning on a wooden structure next to a van and large statue. — The sculpture in situ. Don't worry we'll move that van in a mo!

Heritage fund sponsor sign attached to wooden structure — The plaque is on. It feels proper now.

Sculpture with image of woman showing in transparent window. — Can you see Dorothy?

Sculpture in road with trees in the background. — It's lovely how she fits in with the trees.

Looking through sculpture to a blue and cloud sky — By day Dorothy blends in, but wait until you see her at night!

Sculpture in the middle of a road — Side view looking up Main Street.

Glowing sculpture with people around — Surrounded by crowds on light up night