Shademakers
Shademakers design, construct and build large scale kintec installations and present them world wide at numerous festivals. The organisation was founded 1990 in Manchester and 1997 as registered charity in Germany. Under the artistic direction of the sculptor Paul Mc Laren, Shademakers is specialised on design, large scale installations, moving objects and carnival art.
They parade and perform shows for stage and arena. The organisation offers artistic (mas) workshops and seminars, resulting in performance presentations, street festivals and Carnivals.
Shademakers present and produce carnival art from concept to completion. They encourage working partnerships on a local, regional, national and international level as artists and presenters, promoting intercultural forms of public celebration with a world vision. They continually seek new associations and collaborations with groups and individuals, making the unimaginable possible.
Behind the scenes are a small core of dedicated workers, artists and helpers. Many young people from different cultural backgrounds find a common place to be with Shademakers, and are comfortable with the work and achievement they share as a part of the whole production.
Since February 2008 Shademakers operate from the new “Kulturfabrik” Hangar 21 in Detmold and their permanent Artist House in Detmold-Berlebeck. Costume production and workshops take place in both locations. An opportunity to be involved in international co-production and artistic work. Until 2009 the main focus will be on the theme of “Myth”.
“Shademakers is at the forefront of contemporary carnival design, regularly producing high-quality, technically innovative costumes and structures. The organisation is a key contributor to the development of the artform, particularly in new design technology and costume construction techniques. Our funding is towards core costs.”
Since 1991, Shademakers have regularly participated in the Notting Hill Carnival London, and since 2002 at the Mayors Thames Festival. The group regularly performs at events in Bielefeld, Berlin, Hannover, the “Ruhrgebiet-Area”, Liverpool and Belfast. We have performed in the UK, China, Qatar, Denmark, Turkey, Austria, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago. The group performed at the opening ceremony of the Millennium Dome in London, the Hannover Expo 2000 and The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Parade 2002 in Manchester and London.
In the same year Shademakers took part in a workshop project with 120 children from four Berlin schools for the Berlin Philharmony production of Ravels “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” under musical direction of Sir Simon Rattle.
Shademakers organises and is involved in numerous education projects, for example “Klavierfestival Ruhr Discovery Projects” (since 2007).
Since 1994 Designer Paul McLaren won numerous national and international design awards, including 12th King, and 17th Queen of the World, Individual Masquerader of the Year in San Fernando, Trinidad 1997/1998, King of Notting Hill Carnival 1998.
Publications:
Play Mas - Carnival der Kulturen in Trinidad, London und Berlin, written by Uschi Dresing and Paul McLaren, published Kerber Verlag 1997.
Bisweilen Bissig – 10 Jahre Bielefelder Carnival der Kulturen published by Shademakers, Regional Verlag Bielefeld, 2006.
Exhibitions:
Casting Shadows – a decade of mas costume from Paul Mc Laren & Shademakers, Historisches Museum der Stadt Bielefeld, 15.6.-6.8.2006.
Mythen und Maskerade , Hangar 21 in Detmold, 11.11.2007-10.4.2008.