A whirlwind of overlapping projects came to a crescendo last month. In addition to featuring in WAC, Wells Cathedral, I had 2 venues during Somerset Open Studios - one an art residency and solo in the spacious Loft above Heritage Courtyard Gallery and Studios. The second was our Inch by IN:CH finale. I ran workshops as part of these events, and invigilated daily. All went surprisingly well, though felt shattered after takedown last week!
Loft Residency & Solo Exhibition
My residency was a great opportunity to test ideas and curate a body of work in an interesting space. Some pieces were reconstructions; others new and exploratory. Threads connected the drawings to sculptural installations, loosely hinged on entanglements. I welcomed conversations with visitors and appreciated the feedback. There was a sense that the sculptures were alive.
Visitors’ comments:
‘Awesome, imaginative installations, gives me some inspirations to move me forwards’
‘Very stimulating. Captures so much’
‘What impresses me most is the subtlety of sewing together the most varied colours and shapes into a cohesive and harmonious whole’
‘Inspiring, energetic insect-like pieces’
‘Fabulous, intricate, complex - great to see work in progress. Very evocative!’
‘..made me think of Merlin Sheldrake’s book on Fungi. Exhibition captured me immediately’
‘Otherworldly and thought provoking’
‘Fascinating range of exploratory work’
’So-o-o inspiring working with the natural materials..’
I’ve loved my time there and really grateful to Heritage Courtyard Studios for their support. I’ve made a short film of the residency - thanks to Rebecca Barnard for footage, and Dan Hopkins, Jack Robson and Nigel Evans for some of the photos:
Inch by IN:CH Collaboration
Inch by IN:CH, now over, was a formidable undertaking at a difficult time. We had many conversations with visitors, in relation to the work and wider issues. Taking our work to places where people didn’t expect to see art, responding to changing environments and pressures, our project accomplished what we intended - transporting art and ideas into local communities.
We had a fantastic finale at the Gauge Museum, West Somerset Railway, ending 3 October. It was filled with activities, visitors, participants and creative energy! We ran several workshops, linked to The Big Draw. Mixed ages created together using a range of media and techniques, 2d to 3d. We were delighted with the large turnout of participants and their responses.
Jenna Myles (Somerset Cool/BBC radio) visited and interviewed us, trialing a Sculpture and Shadow Drawing Workshop I ran with Shirley Sharp. I featured on BBC Breakfast radio with Charlie Taylor on the last day (1:53 - 1:58). We were thrilled with an excellent review of our project by Fiona Robinson, for Evolver magazine.
It’s been wonderful travelling around parts of the south west to such an interesting range of venues over the past 5 months! We’ve learnt so much as a collaborative artist group, and thrilled that it’s been a success! Hard work. But an incredible journey. We’re so grateful to all our visitors and supporters.
Hope of a Tree, The Gauge Museum. Photo by Jenna Myles
WAC
It was sad taking down my Snakes and Ladders (I) installation from Wells Cathedral, a highlight of this year. Feedback has been very positive. Many thanks to Nick Weaver, WAC and Wells Cathedral team for helping with de-installation. It was an honour to be part of this fabulous show!
Snakes and Ladders (I). Photo by Dan Hopkins
A big thank you to everyone who came to see my exhibitions and supported along the way!
Things are easing a bit for me, and I’m beginning to feel restored :-)
Other News
My work Pyre will be on show in Taiwan soon, as part of the International Biennal for fibre art: Change, 12 Nov ‘21 - 10 April ‘22
My giant Octopus installation, created with students at Eastover Primary School, Bridgwater, via SPAEDA is being appreciated by the school. See pics from a site visit/photoshoot, and below.
Me with pupil and giant Octopus installation, Eastover Primary School. Photo by Alice Crane, SPAEDA.
Time to focus on my ongoing installation for a group exhibition with Royal Society of Sculptors ‘Together We Rise’, Chichester Cathedral 2022, being curated by Jacquiline Creswell.
A very exciting London exhibition is coming up (details to be announced soon)!
I’ll be working on my website e-commerce shop in time for Christmas, and currently making a batch of small copper bowls for Durslade Farm Shop, Hauser & Wirth Somerset. Always grateful for sales ;-)
I’m part of a Reading Circle ‘All We Can Save’. Rather than just hope, we’re discussing ways to act in courage. ‘All you touch changes’. ‘Indigenous ways of knowing.. [deemed] primitive.. are now being ..sought to save our environment..’ ‘Diversity fosters social coherence’; we need to ‘evolve into a state of interbeing with the rest of life..’
Countdown to COP26 in November requires ‘injections of imagination about how harmful systems and embedded inequalities can change for the better’…
