Our first ever outdoor artwork has been unveiled in The Horton Gardens. Patterns In Time is new permanent outdoor mosaic, designed by artist Tina de Domingo and co-created with members of the local community at Creativity for Wellbeing sessions over the last few months.
The eye-catching artwork has been created as part of The Music of Life project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, inspired by The Horton’s rich history of pioneering music therapy.
The mosaic design draws inspiration from the patterns, shapes and colours of The Horton’s restored decorative organ pipes and the original Victorian encaustic tiled café floor, which originally housed the former chapel’s organ and choir stalls.
Patterns in Time has been beautifully set onto an old tree stump, following the curves of the base of the trunk.
Throughout the summer, mosaic artist Tina worked closely with participants from across our local community in Epsom & Ewell. These collaborative group sessions focused on creativity for wellbeing in a relaxed, supportive, and inclusive environment, providing a safe and meaningful space for people – many of whom have with lived experience of mental health challenges.
Tina said: ‘I’m so proud of every single person who contributed . I know most had never done a mosaic before and it’s not easy to create something this complex. I was so thrilled to be given this commission and working with the everyone to create it has actually been really therapeutic for me too. Together we have produced something wonderful.’
The Horton was able to work with local mental health and charity Mary Frances Trust, to promote the opportunity to people would benefit most from taking part.
We celebrated the official unveiling of Patterns In Time on Saturday, 3rd October, sharing the moment with the many participants who have left a little piece of themselves within the final artwork.
Thanks to everyone’s hard work and creative hands, the mosaic is now installed in its permanent location on the far lawn at the end of The Horton Gardens and ready to be enjoyed.
And thanks to Tina’s ‘zero waste’ policy, visitors will soon also be able to hunt for colourful hedgehogs in the grounds too, made from excess grout and tiny ceramic shards.
Come and visit us to see it for yourself.
