Bermondsey and Rotherhithe residents learned how to make lanterns last week (Friday February 18) ahead of a festival next month.
Rod Kitson, resident artist at Surrey Quays shopping centre, ran the workshop in the shopping centre, ahead of the Illuminate Rotherhithe and Bermondsey annual festival.
Festival organisers provided the materials for local people to come and make their own willow and tissue paper lantern at Rod’s Art of Isolation unit in Surrey Quays.
This was just one of a series of workshops for local residents. The lanterns that people created will feature in Illuminate Rotherhithe and Bermondsey’s 2022 lantern procession, which will take place at 5.30pm on Friday March 4.
This year’s theme of the annual event is trees, and a spectacular display of lanterns will be held in Southwark Park alongside free food, barn dancing and music from Ceilidh Tree Band, who specialise in lively, fun folk music.
Rod Kitson, Surrey Quays’ resident artist, said: “The annual Illuminate Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Festival is a great way for the local community to connect… So far, we’ve already seen lanterns made in the shapes of fruit, squirrels and even a snail!”
Vi Chu, centre manager at Surrey Quays, said: “The workshop is a great way for locals to get their creative juices flowing and we can’t wait to see the lanterns feature in the procession as part of the annual festival.”
