The Green Man in the town of Stoke-upon-Trent

The Green Man in the town of Stoke-upon-Trent

An Artistic Exploration of Architectural Motifs in Stoke-on-Trent

A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit. Commonly used as a decorative architectural ornament, Green Men are frequently found on carvings in churches and other buildings.

The simplest depict a man's face peering out of dense foliage. Some may have leaves for hair, perhaps with a leafy beard. Often leaves or leafy shoots are shown growing from his open mouth and sometimes even from the nose and eyes as well. In the most abstract examples, the carving at first glance appears to be merely stylised foliage, with the facial element only becoming apparent on closer examination.

Primarily the Green Man is interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, or "renaissance," representing the cycle of growth each spring.

Kate Lynch
Exploring The Green Men of Stoke

Two week open studio/residency with drop-in workshops @ SHOP
Sat 31^st July-Sat 14^th August 2010

'The Green Man' is most commonly represented as a face surrounded by leaves, or with vegetation sprouting from the nose, mouth and head. Sometimes the face is composed entirely from leaves and foliage. Green Men are used as decorative architectural features, usually representing fertility and the regenerative cycle of the seasons.

Kate Lynch showcased a range of artwork based on the Green Men of Stoke. The Artist has been researching the figure of 'The Green Man' which appears on many buildings in Stoke Town centre as architectural decoration.

The Artist was interested in re-interpreting 'The Green Man' as symbol of the city of Stoke-on-Trent at this point in time; a motif that not only represents a sense of regeneration and renewal but one that could also be used to bring about changes, by highlighting what is effectively public artwork that already exists.

'The Green Man' can be seen in many forms on some of the town's buildings. Throughout the residency the public was introduced to the Green Men of Stoke through artwork, maps and sight-seeing trails- allowing the built environment of the town to be explored and interpreted in a new way. Ongoing drop-in workshop sessions within the SHOP allowed the public create their own 'Green Man' face using a range of locally sourced materials including clay, discarded ceramic lithographs, and found wallpapers from around the city.

The public also contributed to ongoing artwork by considering what these leafy-faced characters may have witnessed in the town since being installed on the buildings, and what they are currently seeing happen in the town. The work will therefore be a document of Stoke Town at this point in time, as seen through the eyes of The Green Men that peer down from the buildings there, whilst also providing an insight into the town's history and people's hopes for the future of Stoke.

The Green Man' is most commonly represented as a face surrounded by leaves, or with vegetation sprouting from the nose, mouth and head. Sometimes the face is composed entirely from leaves and foliage. Green Men are used as decorative architectural features, usually representing fertility and the regenerative cycle of the seasons.

I am interested in reinterpreting ‘The Green Man’ as symbol of the city of Stoke-on-Trent at this point in time; a motif that not only represents a sense of regeneration and renewal but one that could also be used to bring about changes, by highlighting what is effectively public artwork that already exists.

Kate Lynch - Artist, Stoke-on-Trent

People's aspirations for Stoke Town.......

'The Greening of the City'
'Stoke becomes a place to visit'
'Hope & Change'
'Prosperity'

also see: The Green Man in Stoke-on-Trent

also see: The Green Man in Stoke Minster and other places

contents: 2010 photos