Circles @ Hoole, February 2005

On 17th February 2005, the CIRCLE eventually arrived at Hoole, in Chester. It had been rolling towards that time and place for a year since it was conceived.
The inspiration for the event came from the intersection of two circular ideas. One was some teaching by Margaret Squires on Circles & Centres, and the other was a digital image of a CIRCLE that had been planted in the local park by Richard Coan.

The invitation went out to Hoole Baptist Church members to gather their creations for a diverse multi-media exhibition that was united by the theme of CIRCLES. It was sub-titled "...the day the CIRCLE visited Hoole...", and was a celebration of creativity to be shared with the CIRCLE of friends and neighbours in the local community.

The exhibition, at the Hoole Lighthouse Centre, lasted for 3 days, showcased about 60 very different entries, and was visited by over 200 people. The visitor's book captured responses that testified to its success - everyone was amazed by what was produced and thought it was fantastic, very enjoyable and thought provoking.

An objective of the exhibition was to stimulate creative thinking based upon the belief that we are all created in the image of a Creator God, and that we all have a need for 'creative' satisfaction & reward - regardless of whether we consider ourselves artistic. For most of us we are often too busy to take time to appreciate the creativity within the CENTRE of us, or to savour the beauty that en-CIRCLES us.

CIRCLES can exist in many forms - each having a different story. The exhibits explored these stories and included a giant mobile made by a pre-school group, a railway, a science lesson, a series of film strips, embroidery & handbags, a couple of 'family' entries, as well as a very high standard of paintings, drawings and digital images. The whole event was also recorded on a DVD called 'The CIRCLE Story'.

Visitors to the exhibition were encouraged to allow it to en-CIRCLE them and stimulate a fresh look at and appreciation of CIRCLES in life. The exhibition has gone but the CIRCLE continues to exist in the imagination of all that experienced it - rippling on through time...

Brian Squires - CIRCLES Exhibition Organiser

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Circular Poem

The sunrise brings the quiet
Riot of bird voice.
Each bird will sing its sonnet
On its proud bough of choice
It will rejoice
In silencing the quiet.


The sun is rising higher,
Shyer birds awake
And join their rising voices.
"Rejoice!" says the hymn, "Let's shake
Cool skies to make
The sun a warming fire!"


As noon now gains its summit
Won its proudest height,
The birds will rest from feeding
Needing rest and quiet
Until delight
With praise has won it.


As dusk begins to darken
Harken to the shrill
Cacophony of calling
Stalling, at last to still
At last until
Both marsh and meadow quieten.


Mike Wood 2005

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