The rain was bucketing down when I arrived at the graveyard on Saturday morning. We’d only just come back from Germany the evening before (more about that soon), my suitcase was still unpacked and I was feeling slightly stiff and groggy after a day in what seemed like one long traffic jam. Did I really need to be here?
As soon as I stepped inside, I forgot my grumblings and knew that the answer was YES! It was the day of the official opening of Aula in Blauw, the project about improving the atmosphere and acoustics of a sleek modern funeral building using woad-dyed local wool. Oh yes, definitely an improvement.
What caught my eye first were the felted wall panels in many shades of blue. From pale and medium blue on an undyed background…
… to the deepest blue woad can produce.
And then there were the cushions, I counted about 70 of them. Crocheted…
… woven…
… and, last but not least, knit. I recognized the one I’d knit by the mistake I had purposely left in.
By the window, two vases with branches of the plant that had made it all possible – woad. Now finished flowering, but with green seeds that will later turn purple.
At the base of the sculpture the room looks out on, some woad had been sown. In the photo below it is all bent down because of the rain.
Just a symbolic amount, because what was needed for all this wool dyeing was much, much more. It was grown in gardens and plots of land all over this part of the country. By the way, it’s the leaves that are used for dyeing, not the flowers or seeds.
There were talks, too, of course. I was listening, honestly, but I couldn’t help being distracted by the speakers’ shoes. If shoes could talk… Well, actually they tell us loud and clear who are the creatives behind this fab project and who is the local councillor.
In front of the lectern, a small corner of the carpet many hands worked on is visible. People touched the felt wall panels and picked up the cushions, but the carpet was the most tactile of all and actually invited people to lie down on it. I’d love to have something like it at home.
The Aula in Blauw project has been a great success, in my humble opinion. It has made the funeral building into a much more comforting space, and into one that is easier on the ears, too. It has brought attention to the value and possibilities of local wool. And it has added to our knowledge about dyeing with woad. Everyone taking part was given (or will receive) a copy of the new and updated edition of the Woad Handbook.
The organization’s website says that the Woad Handbook is sold out, but that refers to the first edition. I expect copies of the new edition will become available, but I’m not sure. If you’d like to purchase a copy, the best thing to do is contact Pleed here. (Please remember that they are all volunteers who may not have time to answer straightaway.)
Over the course of the week I have unpacked and picked up the thread of life at home. I’m now sifting through the photos I took in Germany and hope to show you some of them next week. See you then!
Wat prachtig de aula te zien met oa onze breisels!
Jammer dat je er zelf niet bij kon zijn, maar zo ben je er dan toch nog een beetje bij.
So comforting and welcoming. Just lovely!
It does make quite a bit of difference, doesn’t it? Comforting and welcoming, that’s a good description of the atmosphere. Thank you.
What a wonderful project! Congratulations on being a part of it!
Thank you, although I played only a small part, it was a great experience and I’m happy with the overall result.