Wander_Land, DYCP, Sovereign Nature

Above and Below (detail)

I’m delighted to invite you to

Wander_Land

1 July - 5 August
An exhibition of sculpture by members of the Royal Society of Sculptors at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and Gallery. I will be showing 2 new works made this year, Flags of the Forest and Above and Below, around the theme of woodlands/forests, biodiversity, rhizomic systems and entanglements of matter. I’ve been developing the Flags as an outdoor installation. Both works are made using eco-friendly materials and approaches: recycled, found, discarded and re-purposed materials, including home-made botanically dyed textiles, hand-stitched.

Inspired by a pilgrimage route that passes through Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Wander_Land explores our relationship between landscape and wandering. 

Please join us for the Private View:
Friday 30 June, 6 - 8pm

1st July: Artist Talks 2.30-4pm

5th August: Closing Event am & pm

Open 11am-4pm daily
Tremenhere Sculpture Gallery, Nr. Gulval, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8YL (T: 01736 448089)

Instagram: @wanderland2023

Below: pics of work in progress for Flags of the Forest. Thanks to Nigel Evans for his assistance.

As my Arts Council England ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ Award draws to the end of its year, I’ve been looking back at what I’ve learnt and achieved. Huge thanks to ACE for the grant, Mark Devereux Projects for the bi-monthly mentoring sessions, and all who’ve contributed, engaged and followed my progress.

I’ve really appreciated the conversations and advice given my Mark Devereux over the 6 sessions. They were helpful in staging my progress, each building on the last. Mark helped to pinpoint key aspects of my practice, made sensitive observations and offered suggestions for development. In light of his questioning, I’m thinking more about presentation, the sensory, and my Kenya connections.

Kenya (my birthplace) is an underlying thread which I’m drawing out in my work. The tie is emotional. I’m focusing more on making do, ingenious uses of materials, embedding life and art, use of colour, textiles, space, connecting with earth, creatures, plants.. In my new series of work, I’ve explored and tested scale, materials, processes, ideas and different qualities through maquettes, drawings and larger pieces. I’m planting a dyers garden which will enable more home grown inks to be produced, expanding my repertoire of botanical dyes and eco prints. 

I was asked to create a river train and oak copse crown/headdress for a giant puppet’s costume (ACE-funded project via Spoken World). I used recycled/found materials to create the pieces, including eco-dyed fabric, wire, plastic, found wood and leaves for the crown. The river train took many hours to stitch together! I led a community workshop at Create@#8, Shepton Mallet to create some of the elements, and grateful to all those who helped. The giant Sovereign Nature has been processioning at Somerset Festivals. I enjoyed performing with her at the Green Scythe Fair.

Jem Dick made the giant and worked with project director/storyteller Sharon Jacksties and community groups to create the gown.

Upcoming giant processions:
15-16/7 Pitchfolk Festival
3-6/8 Fanny’s Meadow
and appearances at various residential care homes. 

My work House on Fire is showing at Stone Lane Sculpture Exhibition, Stone Lane Gardens, Stone Farm, Stone Lane, Chagford TQ13 8JU, 1 June-31 October. The gardens are magical and there’s a great range of sculpture on show - do visit!

Solo Exhibition extended, and Eco Sculpture Workshop

solo exhibition, photo by Russell Sach

Over 60 people joined me last Saturday at the Opening Event of my solo exhibition, the culmination of a 3-week residency in the large empty shop space (Create@#8, Shepton Mallet, Somerset ).  I've been developing work related to our natural world, and its continuous entanglements, (part of my Arts Council England DYCP award, which also supported my recent research trip to Kenya).   I’ve loved my residency - it was a luxury being able to spill out, expand and respond to the space, with its wonderful pale pink plaster walls and exposed ceiling structures. I managed to ‘complete’ a new sculpture and other pieces.  I’ve now transformed the space into a gallery, comprising sculptural installations, drawings, collages, sketchbooks and the in-between - a range of suspended, wall-mounted and free-standing works.  An evocative soundscape enhances the experience, created in response to my work by Ushara Dilrukshan. Massive thanks to Amanda Hirst and Gill Sakakini (SMart CIC) for their support during my residency. Thanks to all who attended my Opening, to Polly Hall and Jack Robson for helping at the bar, and Doug Siddons for kindly loaning his sound system. And I’m immensely grateful to photographer Russell Sach for his superb photos of the event.

I’d love you to come to my exhibition, now extended for another week, open Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm, until 25 March.

Solo Exhibition, photos by Russell Sach

Visitor comments include:

'I really enjoyed discovering your work yesterday, being able to turn the pages of your sketchbooks, see your process and walk around your wonderfully poetic installations.’

‘Stunning new exhibition by Fiona Campbell.. launched today, which really takes advantage of this new gallery space. Both the building and Fiona’s work are deconstructed and reconstructed into thought provoking and inspirational new forms, immersed in a mesmerising soundscape by Ushara Dilrukshan.’

‘Fabulous exhibition. You’ve made a gallery of evocative, found, salvaged things. Love the hanging down and reaching up’.

‘..Fiona Campbell's work.. was surprisingly moving… it seemed to pull me in, coupled with the background soundscape, the piece that particularly drew me was ‘The Fall’.  Based on the myth of Icarus, the burnt feathers dangling from the branches somehow spoke of sadness but also the hope of transformation; there was so much life & hope in walking around these pieces.’

‘..thought provoking and beautiful in an unexpected way’

‘Very engaging… love the hangings’

‘Beautiful work using nature and recycled elements to portray something deeper. Really enjoyed the music in the background too, fitting the tone for the pieces.’

Last chance to book a space on my Eco Sculpture Workshop!

Alongside my exhibition I’ll be running an Eco Sculpture Workshop on Saturday, 18 March, 2-4pm.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eco-sculpture-workshop-tickets-524375831227

It was fun to chat to Matt Faulkner on BBC Radio Somerset, 15 March

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f4mrkv.   Listen from 3:44-4:02

‘Human exploitation of nature and the climate crisis dominate Fiona Campbell's work ‘

Delighted with this article about my work by Fiona Keating on Creative Boom’s website:

https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/fiona-campbell/

Thanks to Theresa Simon for the introduction, which led to an interview.

Delighted to have my work selected for Stone Lane Gardens 2023 Sculpture Exhibition/Ashburner Prize.  The exhibition runs throughout the summer from June.  The last time I exhibited in these beautiful gardens was over a decade ago. 

Other Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions:

Darkness to Hope, Atkinson Gallery, Millfield, Street, Somerset BA16 0YD, 27 Feb-30 March, Mon-Thurs 9.30am-5pm

Measureless, East Quay 1-23 April. Launch 1 April 6-8pm. Readings eve: 22 April 7-9pm. Linked to the Quantock Poetry Trail led by Ralph Hoyte.

Wander_Land, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens & Gallery, Cornwall.  New work by Royal Society of Sculptors SW group about landscape and walking, 1 July-5 Aug

Opening Event!

OPENING EVENT: SATURDAY 11 MARCH, 2-4PM

Create@#8, 8 Town Street, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BG

I'm developing new work as part of an Arts Council England 'Developing Your Creative Practice Award' which also supported my recent trip to Kenya.

During my residency in this empty shop space, I've been developing work related to our natural world. The residency culminates in an exhibition of ongoing work. The Opening Event is on Saturday 11 March and I hope you'll be able to join me.  

Two of the pieces created this year will also be exhibited in Wander_Land, a group show at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and Gallery featuring work by members of the Royal Society of Sculptors.

I’ll be running an Eco Sculpture Workshop on Saturday, 18 March, 2-4pm, Book: eventbrite.

I hope to see you on Saturday 11 March!

Flags of the Forest, Residency, Exhibitions, Workshops

Flags of the Forest (in progress). Photo by Russell Sach

Happy New Year (I think I can still say that as it’s still January, just)!

Knuckling down to studio work has been a priority this past month. I’m developing new work as part of my Arts Council England ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ Award. The award supports a year’s development, including my recent research trip to Kenya (see film), and mentoring with Mark Devereux Projects - which helps motivate me. I’m working on several pieces, leading to upcoming shows, including a residency/solo exhibition in a large empty space, Create@#8, Shepton Mallet, and Wander_Land at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and Gallery, with Royal Society of Sculptors this summer.

Inspired by walks in woodlands, I’m creating a series of Flags of the Forest. The flags celebrate bio-diversity, hopeful of nature being more cared for, and thriving.  These involve a combination of sculptural lines and fields of colour in space - hand-stitched patchworks of semi-translucent fabric and plastic remnants.  Some I’ve botanically dyed, eco-printed or embedded with found objects collected on walks.

I’m really grateful to photographer Russells Sach for visiting me last week for a photoshoot in my studio. It was a great opportunity to test out how the separate elements of my Flag pieces work together (and have a tidy up!).

Flags of the Forest (in progress). Photos by Russell Sach

Woods and forests provide vital ecosystems - crucial to our survival. Trees and their underground connections with mycelia fascinate me. Trees inspire awe, such slow-moving tolerant beings with ancient energies. My labour-intensive process is key to the work. Care and repair, making do, reusing, avoiding wastefulness. The binding, weaving and hand-stitching is cathartic, a form of suturing - healing through making.

If you have any green fabric/old clothing you’d like to get rid of, please let me know. I can collect if in the Somerset area.

Collage for Above and Below - a sculpture I’m developing

Botanical-prints on khadi paper, created after watching online demo with Suzanne Ledesma-Sikkerbøl

I plan to create a dyers garden. This will take time, so while I set up, I’m on the look out for certain leaves and flowerheads (unwanted) for eco-printing eg: eucalyptus leaves, african daisies, chocolate cosmos, dahlias, coreopsis, madder root… If you’re able to save me any of these, please get in touch!

During my residency at Create@#8, 20 Feb-10 March. the space will be open to visitors on Fridays and other days by appointment.  From 11-19 March, ongoing work will be showcased in a solo exhibition (Mon-Sat 11am-4pm, 8 Town Street, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BG). The Opening Event is Saturday 11 March, 2-4pm - save the date, I’d love you to come!  There will be a compositional soundscape in response to works by Ushara Dilrukshan. I plan to show a range of suspended, wall-mounted and freestanding works in the empty shop space, including a few pieces from my Life in the Undergrowth project. All welcome! 

I have some workshops you might be interested in (pics below of one I ran last weekend):

Join me in creating small snowdrop-inspired sculptures as part of Shepton Mallet's Snowdrop Festival on Friday, 17 Feb, 2-4pm, at The Art Bank Cafe, 13 High Street, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AA. Supported by Snowdrop Festival. Tickets £5. Book: eventbrite.

Shepton Reflections: a FREE one-day art and creative writing workshop with me and Polly Hall, Fri 3 March, 10am-4pm at Shepton Mallet Library. Using written word, poetry, botanical dyes and textiles we’ll make a suspended artwork featuring the Market Cross.  Supported by Shepton Mallet Town Council. Book: eventbrite.

Linked to my exhibition at Create@#8, I’ll be running an Eco Sculpture Workshop on Sat, 18 March, 2-4pm. Tickets: £18. Book: eventbrite.

Very happy my piece Entangled VI was selected for an exhibition Darkness to Hope at Atkinson Gallery, Somerset, opening 27 Feb. For more details please visit current and forthcoming events.

Looking forward to Spring!

Film: Kenyan Art Research Trip

I’ve made a film about my Kenyan Art Research trip. 

I immersed myself in Kenyan culture, met some inspiring contemporary artists and curators, visited galleries, museums, markets, other places of interest, and had wonderful adventures. In the final week I went to Nanyuki, on the edge of Ol Pejeta game reserve which overlooks Mount Kenya, for more wildlife, sketching, a bit of relaxation and family time.

I learnt so much and made many new connections.

Threads of ideas are brewing for new work.  I brought back various materials/found objects, sketchbook of notes/drawings, photos/footage/sound recordings (used in this film), and bark rubbings, now made into a small handmade book.

I’m very grateful to Arts Council England for supporting the trip via my DYCP award, and to those who hosted/supported me in Kenya including Untethered Magic, Ian & Andrew Campbell. And thanks to all artists, curators and galleries who gave their time.