Small Worlds exhibition at the Winchester Gallery, Hampshire

Small Worlds at the Winchester Gallery showcases 3D spheres made from recycled materials by local children, artists, and groups.

The spheres were created by children from more than 30 Hampshire schools and over 40 artists and community groups.

The exhibition at The Arc in Jewry Street also features hundreds of posters and murals by schoolchildren, with an opportunity for visitors to create their own 3D sphere to add to the exhibition.

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Gallery manager and exhibition curator Kate Maple said: “This exhibition is inviting people to think about climate change. People really took that on board when they created works for the exhibition, creating repurposed, recycled and environmentally considered pieces of art.

“I’m so impressed with the creativity and the stories people have told – no one piece is the same.”

One group involved was from Western Primary School in Winchester, who made a large sphere out of pompoms.

Year 6 pupil Ewan Watts shared his experience, saying: “We all worked together to make pompoms for the globe. It was a really fun project and it is important to learn about recycling and looking after our planet.”

The exhibition also features collaborations with artists.

Southampton artist, Joe Ross, the founder of creative company Good Idea Today, worked with Winchester City Football Club to repurpose old footballs into artworks.

She said: “Footballs are such familiar and loved objects, and this was a great opportunity to save some that had reached the end of their life from landfill.

“I hope the exhibition will open up some bigger conversations about climate change and the environment.”

Winchester-based artist, Helen Northcott, worked with Winchester Litter Pickers to create colourful spheres using repurposed litter.

The project is in collaboration with Hampshire County Council’s Climate Unity Project, which aims to raise awareness of climate change.

Jayne Stillman, Art Advisor for Children’s Services at Hampshire County Council and founder of the Climate Unity Project, said: “This is the fifth year of the Climate Unity Project and it has grown into something amazing with a lot of voices coming together to speak up for the Earth.”

The exhibition, which is a free event, runs at the Winchester Gallery until August 16, 2025.

The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday, with varying opening hours.