Rivers Within
A ceramic exploration of the River Wear and the legend of The Lambton Worm led by local artist Ruth Flowers
About Rivers Within
It’s not just mining that makes up Durham’s heritage, there’s also magic to be found within our wondrous local landscape.
Rivers Within is a creative project by homegrown artist Ruth Flowers who has recently been exploring Durham folklore legend, The Lambton Worm and connections to the River Wear. This has been made possible by the support of Cultivate Commissions, a strand of Into the Light initiative delivered by organisations No More Nowt and Northern Heartlands.
During a series of clay workshops, Ruth and various groups of participants including River Wear Trust and Durham University students, created various vessels and tiles playfully inspired by the folklore tale as well as Palace Green Library’s own River collections, forming ideas around our relationships with the local landscape and how we have and still do interact with wild water.
You can see a selection of works on display in Palace Green Library from January to March 2025.
Hand-illustrated agateware by Ruth Flowers (2024)
Hand-illustrated agateware by Ruth Flowers (2024)
A hand-illustrated vessel by Ruth Flowers (2024), inspired by a found ceramic bottle from the River Wear.
A hand-illustrated vessel by Ruth Flowers (2024), inspired by found ceramic bottle from the River Wear.
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Thank you to everyone who took part in the workshops and gave us permission to share their creativity and creations; including Martin, Maria, Amy , Tracey, Sean, Nina, Abigail, Cynthia, Paul, Lianne, Emory, Freya, Dan, Alix, Emily, Alfie, Gill, Chris, Miles, Carrie, Cat, Charlie, Annie, Diana, Luis, Vanessa, Sophie, Ross, Amanda, Morwenna, Helen, Karen, Daniel, Alison and Gavin.
About Ruth Flowers
Ruth Flowers is a visual artist based in County Durham. Using the power of play through craft-based making, she explores the interactions between 2d and 3d spaces regularly utilising themes of storytelling, community and nature.
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