north west for 2012

Handprint is both an online artwork and a physical installation created by North West new media artists Alastair Eilbeck and James Bailey. The artwork will be showcased at the free WE PLAY Expo from 7-9 September in Preston. Come along to add your handprint to the installation, or if you've already signed up for the WE PLAY Challenge come and see if you can spot your hand. Our friendly team will be on hand (pun intended!) to help you find and colour in your handprint in this living sculpture as it's projected onto the bridge in beautiful Avenham and Miller Parks.

Handprints are a unique, yet unifying symbol of our independence and interdependence. We play, create and bond with our hands. Handprint weaves participants who sign up to the WE PLAY Challenge into a visceral living and legacy artwork that promotes and captures people’s connections with the Cultural Olympiad in the North West. It visualises the networks and activities of each member of the online WE PLAY Challenge community and promotes collaboration, participation and interaction.

In its online form, Handprint is constantly growing and changing, personalised to every member of the WE PLAY Challenge community. Anyone can sign up to take part in the WE PLAY Challenge.

Handprint is available to see online at www.handprint2012.co.uk.

The online work will feed into to a live installation that will allow both live and digitally linked up participants to directly influence large projected structures of handprints at the WE PLAY Expo.

The WE PLAY Expo is a whole weekend of unmissable free events celebrating our region’s unique contribution to London 2012. Everyone’s invited to join the party in Preston 7 – 9 September 2012.