Happy New Year!

Stilt Structure, maquette, found & recycled materials, ‘23

Looking back on 2023, I’m grateful that my Arts Council England DYCP award enabled me to complete major new pieces, exhibited in some fantastic settings. I also appreciate all the support and encouragement from so many wonderful people. It’s a tough juggling act surviving and thriving as an artist - hats off to all creatives who keep at it, pushing boundaries.

Residency and Solo in a large disused shop space Create@#8, Somerset, ‘23. Photo Russell Sach

Above and Below, created during my residency, ‘23. A response to the entanglements of matter. Reclaimed & found materials, each with a story

Me with work, The Fall, detail. Photo Russell Sach

Flags of the Forest began as an indoor piece. Photo Russell Sach

Flags of the Forest developed into an ambitious outdoor installation for Wander_Land at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens with Royal Society of Sculptors members, ’23. Photo Russell Sach

Above and Below, Tremenheere Gallery, with assisted curation by Martin Holman.  Loved working with the steering group on Wander_Land. Photos Russell Sach

I’m currently working on a series of small sculptures and collages. I’ve been thinking about precarious stilt structures, and resilience.  Looking at overladen camels of nomadic Somali tribes (camel = symbol of adaptability, endurance, trade routes), boats and homes on stilts, and French shepherds who walked the bogs on stilts. In our unstable climate of floods, famine, overconsumption, and waste escalating in the name of ‘progress’, these hybrids - part vessel, house, creature - feel relevant.  I plan to make large sculptures based on some of these ideas.

Above: collages of tall thin lines supporting stacked assemblages and heaped bundles, made of discarded materials (paper, plant debris, found wood, textiles..)

Upcoming:

I’ve been planning and fund-raising for a new project I’m co-curating with Jan Ollis: As Old as the Hills. Residencies will lead to an immersive exhibition with events in the historic Zig Zag building, Glastonbury for Somerset Art Weeks Festival ’24. Rooted in heritage and environment, with community engagement, we have some excellent artists on board. Fingers crossed we receive grants to make it the best we can. If you’d like to contribute, please let me know!

I still have a few spaces on my forthcoming online sculpture course (8 Jan-11 Feb).  If you’d like to join let me know asap!

Running a Free workshop with writer Polly Hall, part of the Snowdrops Festival ‘Nature Unbound’ (Feb ‘24) to create a giant scroll-like mixed media collage installation, with text, to span the galleries of the Baptist Chapel. 20 Jan, 10am-4pm, Create@#8, 8 Town St, Shepton Mallet. Bring your own lunch. Free but please book via eventbrite as places are limited.

Back to Bath College next week running various short courses (sculpture, painting, drawing and life drawing, in case you’re interested in joining)..

Next month I’ll be off to Portugal for a PADA art residency. I’m looking forward to the creative challenges and adventure.

My work will be featuring in Casting Shadows ACEarts, Somerton, 2 March - 6 April ‘24, with Royal Society of Sculptors members.

At the end of last year I gave a talk, Matter Ongoing, focusing on my Dust of Stars installation for the Hatch exhibition ‘Death and Microwaves’, and other recent work.  The live talk is now published online (thanks to Elaoise Benson for filming).

Here’s to peace, care and creativity in 2024!

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.

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.

Selected for Ingram Prize 2021

Glut, 2018, recycled & found materials. Photo by Mike Garlick

I’m absolutely thrilled to have been selected as a finalist at this year’s Ingram Prize, the leading annual prize for contemporary artists in the UK. 

My selected piece Glut, was created in 2018.  It’s an outpouring, an emotional and physical wailing in response to environmental issues including waste, our consumerist society, factory farming, the plastic oceans, animal extinctions, climate breakdown.  And the loss of our boxer dog.

The materials, especially personal items speak of past lives, loss, textiles, craft. In contrast, the organic forms symbolise death, violence, but also vulnerability and renewal - the duality of horror and tenderness. Materiality and process are part of the message, embedded in the narrative: the work is hand-made, labour-intensive and my use of recycled and found materials relates to our relationship with matter, nature and ourselves. Collecting objects and materials is intrinsic to the process.  

The work is a form of artivism, a suturing in an attempt to heal.  Timely for COP26.

An exhibition of the finalists’ work, including mine, will be held at Unit 1 Gallery/Workshop, 1 Bard Rd, London W10 6TP, Friday 19 - Friday 26 November ’21. I hope you can come!  The winners will be announced on 18 November in London. 

It’s so wonderful to be part of the fantastic line up of artists and prestigious exhibition!

Here’s one of the the latest press articles.

‘From The Inside’

Some of my work from B-Wing, a project I co-curated in 2019, is featured in ‘From The Inside’, a book by Dave Cable, published this year about Shepton Mallet Prison. B-Wing was a 2 week site-responsive arts event in the prison involving 8 artists/writers and special events, part of Somerset Art Works Festival ‘19.

The book has already sold out, which may lead to a second print run. Along with the main book, an extra little booklet was published, devoted to our B-Wing project. It’s a great legacy to our project!

Back in the Studio:

It’s lovely to be back in the studio making again. I’ve been tie dying with various home-made plant inks, stitching, weaving and wrapping. The labour intensive processes are linked to care and repair. 

It took me several days to clear up after a flurry of projects. Due to rain damage, I’ve had to have a new roof made to store some of my work - thanks to Nick Weaver for help with this. I’ve finally made space to develop my next piece based around pangolins and their plight. Pangolins are now an endangered species - the most trafficked mammal in the world.

Exhibition in Taiwan

So glad my work Pyre arrived safely in Taiwan (80+ bound elements), and excited that it will soon be on exhibition at International Biennale, Paper Fiber Art 2021/22, Change: NTCRI, Nantou 54246, Taiwan; 12 Nov-10 April ’22. There will be a film of the exhibition published for the opening - watch this space!

Pyre, 2020, charred found objects (detail)

Forthcoming workshop:

I’ll be running a free Eco Christmas Tree Decoration-making Workshop on 10 Dec ‘21 at The Art Bank, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AD. Inspired by our natural world, you will be creating small sculptural creature or plant forms using recycled and found materials including copper wire and found objects.  We will explore form, texture, pattern, colour…  Materials will be transformed into imaginative, decorative forms.  The workshop will encourage an inventive approach, finding new ways of making.  Ideal for your Christmas Tree or eco hand-made Christmas gifts!

You are welcome to bring along your own collection of colourful beads and buttons to add to your pieces.

Thanks to the support of Shepton Mallet Town Council.

To Book email: fionacampbell-art@sky.com 

Welcome Spring

What a joy to have spring sunshine and bulbs growing, after such miserable cold months in confinement.  New beginnings bring hope! 

It’s surprising what can be achieved under difficult circumstances. Time in lockdown has gone fairly quickly, as I’ve been working on several projects and finding alternative work solutions, although often computer bound.

In between, I’ve been developing new work in the studio, exploring ideas through collages, maquettes, sketches, and gathering materials.  In contrast to my last piece The Fall (see previous posts), my next feels hopeful.  Ideas are developing of ascending lines expanding beyond grid-like constrictions into lightness and recovery, though precarious.  Yellow is my new colour depicting hope and optimism.  I’ve been naturally dying and hand-stitching recycled textiles, rubber, latex, and plastic as patchworks of repair.  Branching umbrella frames may become supporting skeletal structures. 

A lot of the found and recycled materials I’m using have been sourced locally or donated by friends - thanks to those who’ve helped.

Short Film

A short film about my sculptural practice using textiles has been commissioned by Art UK, working in partnership with Culture Street and Royal Society of Sculptors.  Due to covid and lockdown, it was delayed for a year.  In the end, the artist interview was conducted over Zoom and I supplied footage.  Aimed at schools, it’s one of 10 new film commissions about sculptors and their different processes, as part of a major initiative to put online UK’s sculpture collection. I’m honoured to be included in the series!

All The Colours

I’m one of the commissioned artists leading a community art project via Seed, called Art First.  We are engaging the public in Sedgemoor, especially those who travel on buses.

‘Artists Fiona Campbell, Karl Bevis, Jem Dick and Sharon Jacksties are working on three projects, which will produce artworks co-created with Buses of Somerset passengers and staff and other members of the community. The finished works will be displayed on 30 buses across Sedgemoor.  Covering multiple art forms from poetry through photography to collage, our artists will guide you through the process, giving you tips to find inspiration in your everyday lives to create something magical. All creations can be submitted and your submissions will then be combined into artworks to be exhibited on the buses and online.’

In my project All The Colours I’m inviting people to create a collage in one dominant colour, reflecting on their responses to a bus journey, the past year, a particular experience, mood, feeling, moment, personal or global memory. The images will be part of a co-created artwork which will be transformed into a hologram chameleon. This will change colours at different viewpoints and will be featured on 30 buses for passengers and community to enjoy.

I’ll be running FREE workshops, there’ll be prizes and an online exhibition.  Below is a slideshow I made to offer examples of collages in a dominant colour.

For further info and to participate please visit my page All The Colours.  If you’re based in Sedgemoor, and/or have travelled on buses in the area, please get involved and spread the word!  

Inch by IN:CH

I’m part of an artist-led travelling project Inch by IN:CH, bringing contemporary art out of galleries and into community areas across South West UK. Between May-October ’21, 11 artists will each present mixed media works including painting, light projections, assemblage and sculptural installations, transported in cases from one place to the next.  At each location artists will engage the public through activities (covid protocol in place).

The locations we’ve chosen are unexpected venues for art. One of our venues, East Somerset Railway, is in my village.  Our finale venue will be at the Gauge Museum, Bishops Lydeard Station, West Somerset Railway, the longest heritage railway in England. We will show our work in the newly restored museum, in one of two remaining Victorian Sleeper cars, and spilling out onto the platform. These popular venues for families and train enthusiasts are evocative, meaningful settings for art about transportation of ideas.

We’re so grateful to sponsors including The Arts Society, Somerset Art Works, The Gane Trust,  individuals and supportive venues: East and West Somerset Railways, Fringe Arts Bath and Found Outdoors. We’ve submitted our Arts Council funding application, so fingers crossed we receive this crucial support to bring free programming and events to mixed audiences.

Online Sculpture Course

I recently finished running my second online Sculpture Course. The focus is on nature, using recycled and found materials. Participants produced some awesome work, sourcing their own found materials, and finding so many ways to use them creatively. 

Images: Jinny Jehu; Gwynne Penny;  Barbara Griffin; Magdalena Musanovi

To see more please visit Instagram: #onlinesculpturecourse2021
Let me know if you’re interested in my next course (dates TBC).

Inspiration 

Online meetings and talks have been convenient, with the benefit of international reach. Through zoom I’ve loved connecting with fellow artists. Royal Society of Sculptors meet-ups and new weekly sculptors drawing sessions have been helpful to focus and free the mind.  We are currently working on an exciting group exhibition.

The Overstory, a book by Richard Powers, has inspired new work: There are no separable events. The bird and.. branch.. are.. linked creatures..; ‘reiterated trunks .. shooting up parallel like the fingers of a Buddha’s upraised hand.. tufted spires… swirled in the gauze of a Chinese landscape… fungi and lichen everywhere, like splatters of paint from a heavenly can’

Other relevant resources:

Tim Ingold: Facing the Anthropocene: Life is always creating itself.. Lines are animate... I’ve started Tim’s book Life of Lines, and also The Mushroom at the End of the World (Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing)

James Aldridge: Queer Rivers Art Earth: Where does a river stop? Everything is fluid, interconnecting….

Phyllida Barlow: Small works made with the minimum of ambition... Sculpture is a restless art form…

Artists inspiring me: above left to right: Giulia Cenci; Daiga Grantina; Monika Sosnowska; Janet Echelman

Other News

I’m part of the Solargraphic Society of Somerset (Mendip area) organised by Janette Kerr. I put up my pin-hole can camera with light sensitive paper in my garden and look forward to the results in 2 months.

My Bulrushes are now installed in their new home in the midlands (left: pic in snow)

Delighted that my Blackbird sculpture (commissioned by Shepton Mallet Town Council for a Bird Trail last autumn) has been selected as a permanent feature above The Art Bank entrance in the town centre.

Forthcoming Events

Inch by IN:CH a travelling project considering transition, interchange and the transportation of ideas. Various venues, South West UK, 28 May - 3 Oct 

Royal Society of Sculptors 10 gram Challenge exhibition: 28 June – 18 Sept

I’ll be giving an online talk via Red Line Art Works on 25 March, 7pm (GMT). If you’d like to join the talk, please register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApcuiurzkvHtFe6fjc4ZqzB2doWh5SiyNu

In support of the Arts, please visit the Art Is Essential campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of the Arts to a healthy society.

This past year has been a huge jolt to us, and despite the sad and tragic happenings, I’m hopeful that we have come out of it stronger and better.