Sowing Seeds

Sowing Seeds was a series of creative writing workshops for young people aged 11 – 14 and their friends and families, to explore the connections between art, nature, and self-expression.  

Led by artist, poet and comedian Jasmine Thien, each week introduced a new theme and poetic technique, inspired by the gallery’s autumn exhibition Anya Gallaccio: preserve, which featured artwork crafted from organic and ephemeral materials. The sessions were supported by Helen, a member of the gallery’s learning team and a published author.

From personifying the humble apple to exploring the rhythms of sonnets and drawing on memory through freewriting, the group was encouraged to be playful and curious with words.

This online sharing includes photographs from the workshops, some of the tactile artwork created, a collaborative audio recorded poem, Jasmine’s poetic responses, and an activity for you to try at home. 

The workshops were held over three Saturdays in January in our Clore Learning Studio for 9 participants. Each week, Jasmine introduced a new theme and poetic technique, ending with a group reflection and grounding meditation.

Workshop 1: Personifying the apple 

Workshop 2: A sonnet to nature 

Workshop 3: Bringing it all together 

Come with me, sisters, behind this pane of glass 

where we will be adored, cherished and seen. 

Let us gather and spread our petals en mass, 

A forest of crimson that sparkle and gleam 

as we once did to every dewdrop’s kiss 

in the morning light under foreign climes 

where waking birds sang in rapturous bliss 

welcoming each sunrise, the keeper of time. 

Towards the sun we turned throughout the day 

as east to west it strode in grand parade 

and as the nighttime stripped the warmth away 

we filled the unscented air with gifts we made. 

But now we’re here, in time we’ll turn to dust, 

To then rejuvenate the sisters after us. 

My dearest, 

         You were blessed. 

         A million dreams wrapped in a seed. They whispered 

         promises into cupped palms, pressed 

         these in the giving earth: 

         she will thrive, she will give 

         so much more than she will realise, she will be loved … 

         Hope became your heart’s song 

         as you danced in the laughter of rain, and sang 

         with each sunbeam that played among your branches. 

         Hope became your heart’s prayer 

         as spring slipped into summer, and autumn 

         fell into winter’s deep slumber. Soon, very soon. 

         Hope became your heart’s cry 

         as year upon year upon year …  

         nothing. Again … nothing. Still … nothing. 

         Hope became a distant memory. 

         Then, like a sudden breeze, an artist came, 

         placed her hand on each dead hope. Each touch 

         an idea. I can help you, 

         she said. She brought with her 

         gifts from the same earth that mothered you, encased 

         your form in bronze, molded unrotting apples 

         out of porcelain and clay, adorned 

         your branches with blessings abundant. 

         Now here you are, a present to our times: 

         you have thrived, you continue to give  

         so much more than you realise, you are loved … 

         you are blessed. 

Personification is when you give human-like qualities to something that isn’t human, like an object, animal or idea. You might say “The wind whispered hello through the trees” or “The sun smiled down onto the dancing waves”

Take 5 minutes to write a letter to an apple using personification. Imagine you’re talking to it like it’s a friend. You can ask it questions, share your thoughts, or even give the apple a personality.

Here are some questions to help you get started:

Do you like apples? Tell the apple how you feel about it. Is it your snack of choice? Or maybe you prefer a different fruit? Does it remind you of a specific memory? What do they feel, small, taste like?

What’s your favourite way to eat them? Do you love them sliced up, maybe with peanut butter? Or do you prefer them in pies or with ice cream?

Can you think of any famous apples? Apples show up a lot in stories, art, and films. Why do you think that is?

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