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!

Studio Time

Collage, recycled materials and found objects: paper, plant debris, metal, botanical dyed fabric remnants, plastic, tea bags, wool

Maquette, recycled and found steel, copper, sticks, wire, pondweed

Flags of the Forest (detail), recycled and eco-printed fabric, wool, plastic, leaf

Drawing, inks, plant-dyed fabric, netting, paper

I’ve been working through new ideas in the studio, making sculptures, textiles pieces, collages, eco-prints and drawings.

Developing a series of flag pieces that might all work together. Large-scale drawings in space with fields of colour, celebrating diversity/bio-diversity, hopeful of nature being more cared for, and thriving. Flags represent a shared ideal. Hoists may become growing lines.

A series of maquettes and collages are chasing an idea for larger pieces in conversation. Interconnected entangled substrates with vertical lines supporting infinite small life forms in cyclical transformation. Layered surfaces made up of debris and ‘found’ objects - some found on walks. Vertical lines piercing woven surfaces. Intersecting roots, rhizomic systems, strata, fragile edges. Life above and below.  ‘Fungal networks lace woodland soil… slow stories… making and remaking’ (Robert Macfarlane, Underland).

Been eco-printing on fabric and paper with some success, thanks to Nicola Brown's free bootcamp videos, and online botanical printing demo with Suzanne Ledesma-Sikkerbøl via Zen stitching.

Mentoring sessions with Mark Devereux Projects are helping to challenge my practice. Still overjoyed and so grateful to have been awarded an Arts Council England ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ Award. My instagram account @fiona_campbell_dycp is documenting progress.

In between making, I’ve been preparing for my Kenyan research trip later this month. Really excited to be meeting the team at Untethered Magic and other Nairobi-based artists. I’ll also be visiting art galleries and museums around Nairobi and Malindi.

Lovely to have been interviewed by Art Etcetera editor Jordan Brinkworth and featured as an artivist in a special edition on eco-art. The Artivists is almost twice the size of their standard digital editions, with an extra 30 pages dedicated to eco-artivism.  In an effort to push for greener alternatives to paper, they are offering a special digital environmental edition for just £1.99 using promo code GODIGITAL on their website.  The edition is partnered with Art From Heart (who selected me as artist of the month in March).

I took part in ‘Lore & Draw’, an event celebrating Coleridge’s 100th annniversary at the Ancient Mariner. We made mud and charcoal mixes, and used sticks/feathers as drawing tools. Inspiring ideas for future workshops.

Recent Inspiration:

Books: Underland - Robert Macfarlane (highly recommend); The Man Who Planted Trees - Jean Giorno; Women on Nature - edited by Katharine Norbury

Podcasts: Brilliant talk by Frances Morris on Louise Bourgeois (currently on show at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, where I occasionally invigilate). Becoming Fungus: poetic sound art with reading by Merlin Sheldrake - extract Entangled Life

Exhibitions: Visited William Kentridge at Royal academy of Arts. A mind-boggling range of powerful expressive multi-media work focusing on South African politics: apartheid colonial oppression, conflict, loss. The impressive scale of work spans drawing, prints, film, theatre, collage, tapestries, sculpture. One large room with 5 films features multiple charcoal drawings as animated films (drawings for projection), through an erasure technique ‘palimpsest’ and stop-motion camera. I wish I could have stayed longer, there’s so much to take in.

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.

Earthlings

Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand, Together We Rise, Chichester Cathedral. Photo by Ann Purkiss.

I’ve had a full-on month!  Some of the stand out events:

Together We Rise opened in Chichester Cathedral at the end of June.  A major exhibition of work by 25 artists from Royal Society of Sculptors (South West), artist-led, curated by Jacquiline Creswell.

My piece Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand was created over a period of 10 months and took 5 days to install - slow, meditative art that is addictive and healing.  Described by another sculptor as ritualistic. The installation process felt like a short residency.  As I worked in the cathedral space, up tall ladders or perched on scaffolding, visitors chatted to me about the work.  It felt important to discuss it. There are over 50 bodily forms relating to the plight of pangolins. These intriguing delightful creatures are the most trafficked mammals in the world. - see my previous blog for details and more images.  I’m frequently having to conquer my fear of heights and I was grateful to those who helped.

I’m in awe of the exhibition and venue. The placement of work is very sympathetic to the space and fabric of the building, thanks to the expertise of curator Jacquiline Creswell.  Extraordinary light and beautiful choir and organ sounds accompany the work, giving it gravitas.  I’m feeling hugely grateful to be part of it, for the support of the Society group, the Cathedral team and hard work of our excellent curator.  As Jacquiline says: ‘we all put our hearts and souls into this exhibition and you can see and feel it’.

The PV was fantastic, with opening talks by Richard Cork (FT Art critic), and The Dean.  I was moved by a highly emotional response to my work:  Friend Sarah James was brought to tears at the sight of it. The exhibition feedback so far: ‘multi-layered, surprising, professional, diverse, strong, symbiotic with cathedral, sits beautifully, remarkable, spiritual, special…’.

The cathedral also has work by Chagall, John Piper and Graham Sutherland among others.

The exhibition runs until 6 September.  Hope you can visit!

Above photos: 1, 2, 3 by Paul Gonella. 4, 5, 6 by Ann Purkiss

Projects often coincide or collide.  I’m co-curating/working on The Gleaning, a collaborative community arts project celebrating diversity, connectivity, and the environment.  Large-scale translucent textile artworks will be suspended in front of clear glass windows in Shepton Mallet’s beautiful church.  Working with Gill Sakakini, Polly Hall and others, we’re delivering a series of free workshops - 2 this week. See full list, funded by Shepton Town Council, Cranmore Parish Council and other donors.

20th July, 10am-12pm – Sweet 11 Cafe, High Street, Shepton Mallet: Cake & Collage

21st July, 3-5pm – St Peter & St Paul Church, Shepton Mallet: Stories with Art

I’ve been working on a large-scale panel themed Earthlings. Stories within a story celebrate fauna and flora, the value and importance of non-humans, and life’s interconnectedness.. For weeks I’ve been hand-stitching remnants together, printmaking and tie-dyeing with home-made plant inks.  On top of collaging and arranging shapes, it takes hours and hours to appliqué pieces together.  We had a lovely time at Collett Park Day with people of all ages getting involved and creating fabulous prints for the panels. A work experience student, Pippa, and local artist Juliet Duckworth worked with me on the Earthlings panel last week.  Many more people have been involved in donating fabric offcuts, fruit nets etc.  We are fund-raising, thanks to our steering group Rosalind Teesdale-Ives, Polly Hall and Lizzie Britain.  Do get involved in some way..

Work in progress for The Gleaning - Earthlings collaboration with Juliet Duckworth

Following on from wire creature workshops with St Benedicts C of E Junior School via LIFE beat, I made a Copper Tree for permanent siting in their Peace Garden, presented on the school’s Wellbeing Day.  Made of recycled copper piping, the tree is designed to support the little sculptures. The creatures represent the school’s ‘Elly’ animals - each having important characteristics to nurture.

Copper Tree with wire sculptures (made in workshops), St Benedicts C of E Junior School, via LIFEbeat

I’m really pleased that Entangled I has been selected for the Royal Society of Sculptors Summer Exhibition by curator Isabel de Vasconcellos. The show will be at 4 Cromwell Place, London SW7 2JE 19-24 July, 10-6 daily.

Entangled I, recycled steel, wire, filter papers, 25 x 26 x 27cms

I made the piece during lockdown 2020 as part of my Life in the Undergrowth project. I was fascinated by roots, shoots and worms in upturned turf in my garden. Work evolved using to-hand and found materials.

I’m clearing the decks a little so I can get stuck into more studio work, and will set up a separate blog for my ACE DYCP work..

Hope you can visit some of these events. And enjoy the sunshine!

Together We Rise

Photo Paul Gonella

This week the exhibition Together We Rise opened! Set within the awesome architecture of Chichester Cathedral, the exhibition involves 25 Royal Society of Sculptors members who, during the pandemic, found solidarity by meeting online. Curated by Jacquline Creswell, who was ‘the driving force behind Salisbury Cathedrals’ pioneering art programme’, this unique exhibition is an expression of those meetings.

“Together We Rise is a counterpoint to the challenges of the last two years and an expression of the artists’ perseverance, by coming together through virtual means to overcome isolation, fear and doubt.  The result is a flourishing of creativity, demonstrating the power of shared adversity overcome by shared endeavour. “ (Jacquiline Creswell)

My new work Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand is an installation in the North Aisle of the Cathedral. It tackles the issue of trafficking and slaughter of thousands of pangolins.  Covid - a zoonotic disease - originated from wildlife wetmarkets. Unethical human practices continue to contribute to our own demise as well as increasing animal extinctions at an alarming rate.

Multiple forms suspend, rising and pouring. Some appear skeletal, poised between completion and incompletion, in varying stages of translucency and decay.  Stifled, vulnerable, the ghostly forms suggest pain, loss, death, but also resurrection, and tenderness.

The work has an environmental undertone.  I used recycled materials that are hand-sewn, wrapped, tie-dyed with home-made plant inks, and waxed over woven structures. Stitch by stitch, the labour-intensive process adds to the message of care and repair.  While raising awareness of pangolins, my work is a way to channel and overcome loss, make do and mend.

The title echoes Renaissance religious paintings of the same title. The work also refers to the Ghent altar piece - the bleeding lamb of god an object of religious devotion.  I’ve pivoted the concept to raise awareness around multi-species justice.

Further info: chichestercathedral.org.uk/together-we-rise

Instagram: @togetherwerise2022

Exhibition runs 27th June - 6th September
Mon - Sat, 9am-5pm, Sun 12-2pm
Chichester Cathedral
PO19 1PX

Photo: David Clarke, Solent News

Photo: Russell Sach