U Are Here exhibition events

Imaginative sculptural birdhouses tell stories of migration to Birmingham and the Black Country

Eastern European support organisation U Island CIC and artist duo Juneau Projects have been working with families from Russian speaking countries as well as Latvia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and the UK to create imaginative sculptural birdhouses telling their stories of migration to Birmingham and the Black Country and sense of home.

Families and individuals have been creating their birdhouses through a series of online workshops and conversations with artists Ben Sadler and Phil Duckworth since April 2021 and now the houses are about to take flight for a tour of Sandwell.

Taking inspiration from bird migration to and from Eastern Europe to the UK, folklore, architecture, and family traditions, the final artworks are now having the finishing touches applied to them, in readiness to be shown at a touring exhibition across Sandwell over the first three weekends in September. 

The exhibition features five amazing exhibits that all have a unique story to discover, enjoy, share, and celebrate with others and will pop-up at Haden Hill House on the 4-5th September, Thimblemill Library on the 11th September and Lightwoods Park and House on the 18-19th September.

U Island Director, Irina Oshenye said: “We hope that the project will encourage people to find out more about other cultures and have a greater understanding of what makes a place home.

It has been a really enjoyable experience working with Juneau Projects to make the exhibition happen during the pandemic. The young people involved have really embraced the opportunity to tell the stories of migration to a new country and share their experiences.”

The project has been made possible thanks to Arts Council England, SCVO Vision 2030 Fund, Creative Black Country and Discover Sandwell.

Exhibition Tour Dates

Haden Hill House
Saturday 4th – Sunday 5th September 2pm - 5pm
Halesowen Road. Cradley Heath, B64 7JU

Thimblemill Library
Saturday 11th September, 10am – 4pm
Thimblemill Road, Smethwick B67 5RJ

(Please call the library in advance of attending to avoid disappointment, as Covid safety rules may affect access. Further information can be found here capitadiscovery.co.uk/sandwell/home)

Lightwoods Park and House
Saturday 18th – Sunday 19th September, 11am – 4.00pm
Adkins Lane, Bearwood, Smethwick, B67 5DP