York turf specialist brings outdoors inside for Leeds pop-up café
A York-based specialist grass company has collaborated with the artist behind the Leeds pop-up café and public artwork, The Weather Café.
The team at WowGrass transformed the interior of The Weather Café by laying down over 40 square metres of living, soil-free grass throughout the café.
Designed by David Shearing, who specialises in creating immersive multimedia experiences, The Weather Café, occupies a pop up shop on The Headrow in Leeds city centre.
WowGrass Development Manager Caroline Littler said the real grass flooring brings a memorable element to the art installation:
"We're delighted to work closely with David Shearing to bring this unique artwork to life.
"Having real grass indoors is very unusual and it's always something people take notice of and comment on, so we hope it helps the café make a real impact on the people who visit."
Visitors to The Weather Café can expect to find all weather conditions from fog to sunshine and even rain in theinteractive,multimedia art space as it changes to reflect the weather outdoors.
Visitors are served various types of tea, also curated around the weather, and can listen to stories told by the people of Leeds through headphones.
Mr Shearing said The Weather Café provides a community space for people to share their stories and a place to sit and reflect: "We've had a few busy days with more people coming to see the artwork than we expected, and even groups that wouldn't necessarily see artwork.
"I worked with WowGrass last year on a project, so they were my first choice for this installation. Roger Moore from WowGrass came to the shop to advise us on how to use the real grass surface.
"In the café we're using a special grass that WowGrass recommended to give the appearance of it being weathered. I really like the look it gives to the space."
Mr Shearing worked withcomposer James Bulley and creative technologist Daniel Jones to realise the artwork.
He also collaborated with volunteers from Leeds homelessness charity Emmaus, Leeds Young Authors, community arts organisation Artlink and creative programme for the over-55s Heydays.
The project wasfunded by Leeds City Council and the Arts Council.
WowGrass isproduced by growing grass onto a felt mat made from recycled British textiles. It has the look, smell and feel of real grass, butis completely soil-free which means thatthere's no mess, it's stiletto-proof and simply rolls up when the event is over.
WowGrass has transformed a diverse range of spaces for events and attractions including ‘London's Village Green' in Trafalgar Square, the York Minster Rose Dinner and the Topshop Unique SS14 collection during London Fashion Week.
The Weather Café is located at133-141 The Headrow Leeds.Entry is free and opening times are variable so visitors are advised to check online in advance. It will remain open to the public until March 20th.
Ends
Photo: The Weather Café
For more information or to arrange an interview with WowGrassProjects Co-ordinator Caroline Littler,please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on;
Direct line: 01430 871360
Mobile: 07971 961574
E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk
Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
For more information about WowGrass, please visitwww.wowgrass.com.
To view WowGrass' social media channels, please visit the following links: Facebookwww.facebook.com/WowGrass-304056266466011; Twitterwww.twitter.com/wowgrass; LinkedInwww.linkedin.com/company/wowgrass; Vimeo vimeo.com/wowgrass; Instagramwww.instagram.com/wow_grassand Pinterestwww.uk.pinterest.com/wowgrass.
For more information about The Weather Café, please visitwww.theweathercafe.co.uk.
Lindum Turf Ltd developed WowGrass usingpatented soil-free technologyand it is grownat nurseries in Yorkshire where the conditions are ideal for grass.
WowGrass is a member ofLinking Environment and Farming (LEAF) and as such takes steps to produce safe, high quality and environmentally friendly products.
David Shearing is an award-winning artist making immersive multimedia experiences. His work operates as a hybrid between fine art and performance practices that challenge audiences to reconsider their relationships to each other and their environment. He works with hi and low technologies such video, light, sound and spatial design to create highly emotive and reflective environments. He works with leading UK and International venues and festivals. In 2014 he was awarded a competitive Sky Academy Arts Scholarship to develop ‘THE WEATHER MACHINE'. In 2013 he won the World Stage Design award for Best Installation for ‘and it all comes down to this...' (2012). David writes and talks on immersive experience having completed a PhD in immersive design and audience experience, University of Leeds, (2015).