MICHELLE BRAND
Eco-designer Michelle Brand produces stunning sculptures in direct response to environmental problems. Her inspiration evolves from the unseen beauty of everyday objects.
One of Lime's artists in residence, Michelle says: "Once a plastic drinks bottle is empty it is perceived as redundant and is thrown away. I wanted to challenge this wasteful paradigm"
Using recycled plastic bottles, Michelle's designs extend the aesthetic life of a mass-produced object by giving it a second use. In addition, her work highlights society's throw away culture. Every bottle base in her designs represents a bottle that has been creatively diverted away from landfill. The beauty of her designs is not only its aesthetic quality but also the importance and development of closed sustainable feed back loops. Michelle supports the philosophy of slow design, which is the counter balance for today's fast consumer society.
Michelle sustains her practice through her own local plastic collection round and has been supported by Wishing Well Restaurant at St Mary's Hospital, 8th Day CafĂ, Oxford Road, Manchester City Football Club, the Special Feeds Unit at Pendlebury Children's Hospital and Withington Community Hospital, where elderly patients assist with sorting through used bottles.
Michelle's product range consists of lampshades, window screens, room dividers, decorative LED indoor lights and cards and her award-winning designs have been exhibited and commissioned nationally and internationally. Recently she has received the Gold Award in the environmental section of British Female Inventors and Innovators Awards 2007.
As a Lime artist in residence, Michelle is provided with free studio space at Lime's buildings. Through Lime, she is currently working with hospitals in Manchester on a recycling feasibility study.
MARCUS HERCULES
Actor, director, writer and workshop leader Marcus Hercules has been one of Lime's artists in residence since early 2006.
An experienced performer, long-time Manchester resident Marcus has extensive professional experience, including TV and theatre acting roles, and direction in the theatre.
Marcus also wrote the scripts for Children of a Revolution and his one person show Different Perspectives, which both played at the Contact Theatre. Additionally, he co-wrote Carry Mi Acke, which also played at the Contact Theatre.
Marcus has been heavily involved in two of Lime's key projects. During 12 weekly sessions he worked with elderly patients at Wythenshawe Hospital to produce two theatre performances: "It was different for me working with older people but the results were amazing. It was so rewarding to see their confidence grow week by week."
He has also been instrumental in training and advising actors on Lime's Juice film project, which has seen youngsters from across Manchester produce an educational film highlighting alcohol misuse amongst teenagers.
As a Lime artist-in-residence, Marcus is provided with free office space at Lime's building in Manchester. He said: "I feel really fortunate to have been given this opportunity."
Marcus is in the process of setting up his own production company, Hercules Productions, and is developing the first full production for Different Perspectives, which he is seeking to tour nationally and internationally.
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