Art and Community

My focus this past month has been The Gleaning, a community art project I’m co-curating with Gill Sakakini. It’s thrilling to see all the installations looking so fabulous in the church windows, and to receive such wonderful reception. it’s been a huge success - all-consuming, as usual with ambitious projects involving numerous strands and people. We had a great Launch on 22 September, opened by Rt Rev Bishop Ruth Worsley (of Taunton, and Bath & Wells Diocese), and have since had excellent attendance at our exhibition with numerous events almost daily, still ongoing. This weekend is the finale of our exhibitions/events, part of Somerset Art Weeks Festival.  The project has been rewarding in many ways, and I’ve enjoyed collaborating with so many different people.

Open Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5, St Peter & Paul’s church, Shepton Mallet, Church Lane BA4 5BW

Events

Sat 8th Oct, 3pm, "Song & Celebration" - Local School Choirs perform a specially-commissioned song for The Gleaning with a balletic response by dancer Joe Ducille

Sun 9th Oct, 8-10pm, Evening at the Gleaning. A celebration: poets, musicians and artists share their responses to The Gleaning

We’ll reopen for Shepton on Show next Friday evening, 14th October 6-8pm.
We’ve had some excellent publicity. This evening (Fri 7 Oct) I’ll be chatting to Jenna on BBC Somerset Radio at 6.10pm 95.5FM, if you fancy listening in!

To see the development of the project visit instagram page

Thanks to supporters including Shepton Mallet Town Council, The Arts Society Wessex Area, Diocese of Bath & Wells, Glastonbury Festivals, Tesco, The Eaton Fund, Cranmore Parish Council and Chrisi Kennedy.

Special thanks to Polly Hall, Bella Frey, Chris Lee, Rosalind Teesdale-Ives, Lizzie Britain, Steve Bruce-Jones, Alastair Bolt, Dominic Weston, Mark Adler, Vaughan Ives, Martyn Sheppard, Jenny Short and Beacon Photography Group. And thanks to the many people who joined us in the making process, and who donated recycled materials to the project. The project relied on a great deal of time, labour, goodwill and voluntary work. We have a donate button on the website if you’d like to support.

Do visit if you can!

Curators Gill Sakakini & Fiona Campbell, with Polly Hall, Shepton Mallet church. Photo Vaughan Ives

ACE Developing Your Creative Practice Award

I’ve been researching Kenyan artists in advance of my trip to Kenya later next month. Have also been sketching, walking, stitching, and gathering a few more ideas. Visit my DYCP instagram page for details.

The Gleaning

Over the Summer, I worked with various people on textiles artworks in my garden and locally for an exhibition The Gleaning launching this month.

Earthlings in progress, created by me with community involvement. Test hang in St Peter & Paul’s church

The Gleaning is an inclusive arts project co-curated by Gill Sakakini and me, working closely with writer Polly Hall. For over 5 months, we’ve been working on several large-scale textiles panels concurrently. Each panel has a theme, including Earthlings, War, Peace, Gratitude, Ruth’s Story, Place, Care and Repair, Journeys, Generosity. Stories reflect different styles and cultures using found and recycled materials, all created with involvement of local community. People from all walks of life around Shepton Mallet have joined together in making elements for our collaborative exhibition. Translucent textile and paper artworks will be suspended in front of 11 clear glass windows in Shepton Mallet’s beautiful 12th century church, as part of Somerset Art Weeks’ Festival, supported by events. They combine a range of found objects gleaned from our locality, incorporated into mini artworks, hand-stitched together. Parts have been printed in workshops on fabric dyed with rust, indigo, buddleia, onion skins, tea, and other home-made botanical inks, which I’ve enjoyed developing. Other processes include drawing, collage, tie-dye, batik, appliqué and patchwork on recycled fabric, paper and plastic. Sustainability has been key.

The exhibition launches Thursday 22 September, 6-8pm, open from 23 September-9 October, Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm. Hope you can visit!

See our instagram page @thegleaning_shepton and do follow!

It was an immense privilege to be part of Together We Rise at Chichester Cathedral, an exhibition by members of Royal Society of Sculptors, curated by Jacquiline Creswell. Delighted that London Art Critic Tabish Khan selected it for his Top 5 summer exhibitions! I took down my installation Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand this week. The work related to the plight of pangolins - most trafficked mammal, care and repair. It was sad to leave that wonderful space.

Time playing with ideas in my studio has been precious. I’ve been making small scale 3d sketches with found objects, revisiting the concept of taking a line for a walk and line as life, energy.  Entangled Life (Merlin Sheldrake) - a great book about fungi - describes the way mycelium infiltrates roots and other life forms - fascinating and vital. Mycelial ‘highways’ interact across boundaries/species, and can be environmental remediators.

I’m gradually discovering new plant dye colours (iris bulbs produce an intriguing pale lilac grey) and experimenting with bundle-dyeing, a multi-staged process of gathering flowers/leaves, mordanting/fixing, creating the bundle (sandwiched flowers etc in fabric, wrapped round stick), steaming and untying to reveal the imprints.. it’s addictive!

Work in progress inspired by roots and algae hanging into the water at Vobster Quay where I’ve started swimming.

Play is an important element in the process.  There’s a synergy between consciousness and chance, allowing intuitive, tacit responses.  I’m allowing myself to explore various paths, not necessarily leading to conclusions. Hoping to spend longer hours developing new work over the coming months.  Check out my instagram page @fiona_campbell_dycp dedicated to my Arts Council England funded ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ work.

Deeply saddened by the passing of our Queen, I am so grateful for her support of Arts Council England, and the arts and culture sector in general over so many years, from which I have benefitted along with so many others.

New Work Developing

Maquette; found objects: pondweed, buddleia dyed fabric, khadi paper, plastic netting, leaves, wire, sisal, steel, aluminium

Developing Work (Developing Your Creative Practice funded by Arts Council England)

I’ve been revisiting concepts of Life in the Undergrowth, reading Entangled Life (Merlin Sheldrake), and experimenting with making new plant dyes and ink. My latest discovery, literally on my doorstep, is buddleia, which produces a wonderful vivid yellow, ochre and olive green.  So abundant, buddleia is ‘one of our best wild sources of yellow in the UK… plenty to share with butterflies and bees…’ (Flora Artbuthnott).  A studio tidy up gave me a chance to pick through a few collected objects to inspire.  I’ve been drawing roots and iris bulbs, which had survived in a bucket since a pond clean up 2 years ago.  They will potentially provide me with some black iris bulb ink soon..  This has led to a few small trial sculptures. ‘Radical’ derives from the Latin ‘radix’ = root. Excited to see where the roots take me.

For more info and to follow my development please visit my new instagram page: fiona_campbell_dycp dedicated to my ACE DYCP work.

Together We Rise

It’s been over a month since Together We Rise opened at Chichester Cathedral.  Last Saturday I revisited and really enjoyed showing London Art Critic Tabish Khan round our exhibition, along with Maria (Royal Society of Sculptors), Jo (Jo’s Art History) and Nia (Tate). Photo credits (below): 2 Martyn Sheppard, 7, 8, 9 Paul Gonella

I’ll be taking part in an Artist Talk event alongside fellow sculptors and curator Jacquline Creswell, this coming Wednesday 17th August at 11am and 2pm, Chichester Cathedral. ‘Hear about how the show was conceived through meetings on zoom during the pandemic, learn about materials and processes, and join in the discussion on how the works resonate with the architecture and context of the Cathedral.' Tickets £6, book here - or call: 01243 813586

Hope to see you there! There’s a month left to visit the exhibition - it ends on 6 September.

The Gleaning

I’ve been working on textiles panels and leading workshops for The Gleaning - a community arts project I’m co-curating with Gill Sakakini.  The work involves gleaning materials, ideas, people, cultures..  We’ve had some wonderful collaborative sessions, most recently at Collett Park with a group of people drawing together on fabric for our Shepton panel, which will represent the town’s iconic landmarks.  We used wax crayons and oil pastels, followed by ink - mainly homemade botanical mixtures including turmeric, onion skin, avocado pit, oak gall and buddleia inks. The wax resists the ink - a great way to build up colour in layers. We return to the bandstand on Tuesday 16 August, 10-12 for another free workshop. Do join us!

I’m delighted to have been supported by The Eaton Fund, enabling me to buy a sewing machine and other materials for The Gleaning.  Hand-stitching is important for some of my work, but it’s not always ideal for large-scale pieces! Thanks also to our funders Shepton Mallet Town Council, The Arts Society Wessex Chrisi Kennedy & Cranmore Parish Council. We’re still seeking some funding - get in touch if you can help.

Check out our instagram page: thegleaning_shepton

Tomorrow I’ll be running a free swan sculpture workshop at Wells Museum via Somerset Art Works - free drop-in!

'Art is always about reappraising the way we look at the world. It can speak more eloquently than propaganda because it can inject emotion into facts. And sometimes it can work like a Stealth Bomber: it can slip under the radar and hit home’ Cornelia Parker.

Summer News

ACE DYCP Grant!

Some great news!  I’m thrilled to have been offered an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant! This will enable me to spend dedicated studio time and research to move my practice forwards in terms of conceptual rigour, sustainability and reach.  I'll be undertaking bi-monthly artistic mentoring sessions with Mark Devereux Projects; exploring new processes and ideas (especially regarding environment/climate justice); and expanding networks and cultural perspectives via a research trip to Kenya, my birthplace.

I did an ACE DYCP workshop with Mark Devereux Projects, which I’m sure helped in my successful application.

I’m very excited and so grateful to ACE for this funding after a difficult time.

Prep for The Gleaning

The Gleaning, a collaborative community art project I’m curating with Gill Sakakini, has been absorbing me with extensive time spent hand-stitching patches of remnants together.  I’ve also been printmaking and hand-dyeing/tie-dyeing with home-made plant- based inks (eg oak galls, onion skins, rust, avocado pits, indigo and turmeric).

Me and Gill testing swatches in front of windows for The Gleaning, Shepton Mallet Church. Photo by Dominic Weston

The project leads to a final exhibition of 11 large-scale textile installations suspended in front of windows in St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Shepton Mallet during Somerset Art Weeks Festival, 24 Sept - 9 Oct.  Our aim is to bring environment into community, reusing what we have around us. The work is being created using a range of fabric, plastic and paper scraps. We have a great steering group including Lizzie Britain, Rosalind Teesdale-Ives and Polly Hall.

I’m currently working on a panel themed ‘Earthlings’. On this piece, stories within a story celebrate fauna and flora, the value and importance of non-humans, and life’s interconnectedness - micro to macro. We’ve started engaging others.  I’ve been working with a young person (Fergus), whose story is about overcoming his fear of insects. His contribution has been created using lino and string prints on tie dyed muslin (with turmeric pigment). Looking forward to working with others over the summer.

Small printed panel in collaboration with Fergus

Our first workshop is tomorrow 11 June at Collett Park Day (10-5, Collett Park, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BP). We’ll be offering printmaking on various surfaces, and story gathering with Polly Hall, most of which will become part of our collaborative art exhibition. See below a list of our other Gleaning workshops this summer. Do join us!

Poster designed by Chris Lee

Featured in Cranmore Grapevine

It was great to chat to Luke Knight on BBC Radio Somerset breakfast programme about The Gleaning last Sunday. Listen here at 2:50-2:57. We’re also grateful to What’s on Somerset and Shepton Journal for features.

We’re fund-raising, and gathering material contributions. If you can help with funds or you’re nearby in Somerset and have any sheer fabric to get rid of, please get in touch.

Together We Rise

In 10 days I’ll be installing Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand in Chichester Cathedral for Together We Rise.  The exhibition comprises over 26 artworks by Royal Society of Sculptors members, curated by Jacquiline Creswell. The work responds to the artists’ experience of the pandemic, their resilience, sense of community and collective hope. 

It’s been a long labour-intensive process creating multiple bodily forms from recycled materials.  The layers of stitching, dyeing, casting, weaving and waxing unwanted materials relates to care and repair, artisan techniques and invisible hands across the globe. The title refers to Renaissance religious paintings (especially by Durer) of the same title. I’ve subverted this to confront issues about multi-species justice, the plight of pangolins, and value of non-humans.

Behind the scenes I’ve been working as part of the steering group.  The exhibition runs from 27 June to 6 September. Our Private View is on 1 July, 6.30pm.  If you’d like to attend this event, please let me know as guest numbers are limited. There will be artist talks during the show (dates TBC - with this space).

Above: work in progress for Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand. Bottom pic: paper casting from trombone squash. Photo by Jack Robson

I’ve updated my website galleries to include some excellent photos taken by Kate McDonnell of Snakes and Ladders II and Of Bones in Walcot Chapel for Materiality. Take a look!

Wishing you a lovely summer!

Many Happenings

So much happened in April, it flew by and we’re now a third through May!

Materiality

In late April I showed my work in Materiality, an exhibition at Walcot Chapel, Bath, alongside Kate McDonnell, Kelly O’ Brien and Nicola Turner. It focused on the importance of materials through contemporary sculpture and installation.  There was real synergy between the works.  The exhibition ended last Sunday after an incredible week. We were thrilled by so many visitors, and had fun interacting at our various events. Clare Whistler intrigued audiences with her sensitive performative responses to our artwork. Her movement activated the space, and her poetic interpretations of our use of materials offered wonderful insights. 

Snakes and Ladders II, 2022, Materiality

Materiality. Of Bones in foreground

Materiality, Walcot Chapel, Bath. Photo by Kate McDonnell

Of Bones (detail). Photo by David Bird

Materiality, Walcot Chapel, Bath. Photo by Kate McDonnell

As part of our events I ran a sculpture workshop. I loved seeing how intergenerational participants explored the materials in a different way.  Our Materiality Salon involved a candlelit dinner one evening, surrounded by the installations. We had great food, service and conversations around materiality. The evening closed by reflecting on the etymology of materiality - mater (mother). On the last day we held our Artist Talks with Q&A.

Photo credits above: 3 Lou Baker; 4 Juliet Duckworth; 6 Kate McDonnell; 11, 14 Nicola Turner; 15 Rebecca Newnham; 20 David Bird

‘I think this is probably the best exhibition I have seen in this space with the work of all 4 artists making the most of this beautiful building.’ (Anya Beaumont)

‘Spectacularly meaningful and nourishing work… a really inspiring and informative show, fascinating talks, beautiful performance and great workshop! I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in sustainability and materiality for the day…. Being with the work and working in the space with you was such a tonic and pivotal to my own practice’ (Karen Goonewardene).

Thanks to everyone who made it to the show and participated! 

Pyre is back from the International Bienale, Taiwan. This film (made by me and my son Jack Robson) gives some insights into the work.

I’ve been enjoying the ritual of stitch in my latest projects. My multi-form piece 'Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand’ (inspired by the pangolin plight) is in the final throes of its making. It will be part of an exhibition Together We Rise at Chichester Cathedral with Royal Society of Sculptors members, 27June-6 September, curated by Jacquiline Creswell. PV 1 July, 6.30pm. Would love to see you there!

I’m beginning to focus more on my next project The Gleaning, which I’m co-curating with Gill Sakakini. It’s a community arts project of immersive textiles installations, celebrating diversity. Large-scale translucent artworks will be suspended in front of clear glass windows in Shepton Mallet’s beautiful church.  Stories will reflect different styles and cultures using recycled and found materials, all made with the community. The final exhibition will be part of Somerset Art Weeks Festival (themed ‘Sanctuary’), 24 September to 9 October ’22. Preparations are in progress for our first workshop at Collett Park Day, Shepton Mallet, on 11 June. As the title suggests, this involves a lot of gathering - of ideas, materials, and people. It’s been fun working with Gill, compiling unwanted sheer fabric, used teabags, tie dyeing with indigo, oak galls and other plant inks, printing samples, collaging, and stitching. We’re seeking funding, so if you can help please let me know!

Prepping for workshops for The Gleaning, with Gill Sakakini

Workshops:

On Earth Day (22 April ) I ran a Greening the Arts workshop via Somerset Art Works, funded by SSL at Somerset Earth Science Centre. Participants used a range of 2d/3d found/recycled materials and objects, including home-made plant inks, made drawing tools from found debris eg feathers and grasses, experimented with processes and combinations, in between discussions about sustainability and the climate crisis.  Everyone made drawings, translucent fibre collages, and small sculptures.  As part of it I compiled a Greening arts Resource list, which will be live on the SAW website.

Greening Arts Workshop

Circle of Life was a project I worked on via SPAEDA, involving Churchstanton Primary schoolchildren making headdresses, masks and costumes using recycled and found materials, inspired by the Lion King production, African art and ecology. These came together in a final story/dance performance in early April. Covid affected the project as several of us went down with it, but still very pleased with results!

Photos (above, bottom row) by: 1, 2,3 Jenna Creasy, SPAEDA; 4 Steve Richardson, Somerset County Gazette

Below: colourful outcomes from a Birthday Party wire workshop I ran

In my voluntary role on the Black Swan Arts Programming Group, I helped Simon Hitchens curate his exhibition Beyond Body (Long Gallery).  The work explores the notion that there is the possibility of a state of being, sentient or otherwise, that is post-human.  His talk will be on 19 May 6.30-7.30pm.

Alongside, I’m showing Verticals in Black Swan’s Round Tower as part of Celebration, an exhibition which celebrates the people behind BSA’s community arts centre.  If you’re in Frome, do visit.

I did an Instagram Takeover for the Ingram Collection last week. Head over to their page to spot my posts.

Just spent a weekend in Devon and Cornwall, including a site-visit to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, wonderful tour by owner Neil Armstrong and picnic with Royal Society of Sculptors members.  It’s staggeringly beautiful, with lush tropical architectural plants, magnificent trees, many used to embrace or support the installations by sculptors including David Nash, Richard Long, Kishio Suga, James Turrell and fellow RSS member Seamus Moran.  We’re planning a group show there in 2023 - exciting!

See my instagram page for regular updates.  And do visit my shop for drawings, cards, gifts and more…


Thanks for reading this bumper blog, and hope to see you at a future event!

Fiona x