Stilt Structures, As Old as the Hills

A year in the making, As Old as the HiIls has now ended, and with it, my series of Stilt Structures - for now anyway. The project prep began in November ‘23. I became more and more immersed in the project, which I co-curated. It’s been exhausting but exhilarating. So heartened by the quantity of visitors, level of engagement and feedback during our final exhibition and events, part of Somerset Art Weeks Festival ‘24. We had a fantastic Exhibition Launch, incredible turn out with Mayor Lokabandhu opening the event. Entrancing performances by Di Milstein aka Miss Smith, and dance/vocal performance by Katherine Ashworth/Melanie Thompson. We closed last weekend.

Photos above by Jo Hartley

My series of Stilt Structures imply precarity, adaptability and resilience; the work responds to the Zig Zag’s history and Bauhaus architecture. Over the past few months I developed several large site responsive pieces, and smaller sculptures, collages and drawings.

Stilt Structure III, Found, discarded, recycled materials: chicken wire, steel, paper, cardboard, wood, leather, fabric, jute, bark plastic, plant debris, sheep wool, and glue, 365 (h ) x 185 x 185cm. Photo by Jo Hartley

Stilt Structure II, Found, discarded, recycled materials: wood, steel, jute, handmade naturally dyed & recycled fabric, leather, plastic netting, polyester stuffing, old sponges, copper, wire, coir, sisal, wool, thread, nylon tights, vegan leather scraps, 175 (h) x 80 x 65cm. Both photos above by Roger Spear

Photo by Russell Sach

Photo by Russell Sach

Stilt Structure I, Found, discarded, recycled materials: wood, bark, coir, copper wire, leaves, pod, grass stems, charred feathers, fabric, plastic netting, polyester stuffing, jute, sisal, khadi paper, wool, thread, coffee beans, cardamom seeds, nutmeg pods, rice, nylon tights, oil, 108 x 48 x 78cm. Photo by Jo Hartley

Photo by Jo Hartley

Sack, Found, discarded, recycled materials (sourced mainly from marshes, rivers, beaches, industrial wastelands): jute, fabric (some harvested from local plants botanically hand-dyed), twine, plastic, nylon, polystyrene, sisal, rope, wood, wire, thread, 305 (h) x 275 (d) x 190 (w) cm. Photo by Roger Spear

Photo by Jo Hartley

Raft, Found wood and other natural debris, twine, sisal, wire

Photo by Jo Hartley

Nymph, Found, discarded, recycled materials: fabric dyed with botanical inks (2000yr old bog oak and yew, avocado pits, turmeric, onion skin, buddleia..) jute, teabags, paper, oil, rhubarb leaves, wood (incl 2000yr old bogwood), wire, wood, leaves, bark & other natural debris, hair, shoe inner sole (found by river near Zig Zag), copper, wax, thread, sisal, 151 x 60 x 60cms

Nymph (detail)

Nymph (detail). Photo Susanna Bauer

I approach my work as assemblages, using a sculptural bricolage of recycled and found materials. Maquettes and collages are a great way to work through ideas spontaneously.

One of our aims was to appeal to young people. We were especially pleased to have so many under 20’s join in and visit. It was such a joy to see participants visit the show and feel part of it.

Fossilised Fragments: Hangings I, II, III, Miscellaneous found debris (mainly sourced from local rivers & beaches), handmade papers, cellulose paste, linseed oil, Community collaboration, created in workshops with Fiona Campbell & Jan Ollis with children from West Pennard & St Benedicts Junior Schools, & participants at Collet Park Day

Foreground: Fossilised Fragments: Casts, Handmade paper, cast from miscellaneous found debris, mainly sourced from rivers, beaches and bogs - one piece 2000yrs old, Community collaboration, created in workshops with Fiona Campbell & Jan Ollis with children from West Pennard & St Benedicts Junior Schools, participants at Collet Park Day

It’s been wonderful working with such an exciting group of creatives and wider community. Thanks to all involved in the project: co-curator Jan Ollis, and other 8 artists Madi Acharya Baskerville , Nikki Allford, Duncan Cameron, David Kefford, Di Milstein, Penelope O’Gara, Catriona Robertson, Richard Tomlinson, venue owner Chris Black & team Zig Zag, patrons, volunteers (especially Jo Hartley, Andy Ralston, Roger Spear, Nigel Evans), participants, visitors & online supporters.

Thanks to patrons: The Arts Society, a local charitable trust, Gane Trust, Chris Black, Chris Lee, Shepton Mallet Town Council, Curator Space, Somerset Art Works, Paddy O’ Hagan, Chrisi & Simon Kennedy, Ben Malin, Blue Cedar PrIntworks, Red Brick Building, Dr Richard Brunning, Natalie Watson, SPARK Somerset

And steering group: Freeny Yianni (Close Ltd), Damon Bridge (RSPB), Carol Carey (Somerset Art Works), Paddy O’Hagan (WAC)

Listen to ‘Heart of the Art’ (Show 2), Be Somerset, and Rob Bayly Somer Valley FM radio show (01:05:15 - 01:19:24) for some behind-the-scenes insights, and see this lovely short film about my work by Gillian Taylor.

Comments from visitors:

‘..work was outstanding’. Dallas

‘Loved all of it.’ Sam & Imilia

‘..highlights the importance of our surroundings. Amazing, magical’ Susie

‘Absorbing, enchanting. Sue

‘Heaven’ Gill

‘Stunning Show. Magical performances..’ Kristen

‘Fabulous - everything.’ Rachel

‘Ambitious, very exciting to see all these creaturely beings emerging and receding’ Fiona

‘The best show in Somerset. Excellent’. Gary

‘Absolutely amazing exhibition and space. The most intriguing work I have seen in a long time.’ Deborah

‘..Great curation, all the works are converging and humming with life’ Elaoise

‘Absolutely superb exhibition - loved it’ Simon

‘Very interesting use of found materials’ Marietta

‘Incredible space, enhanced by a spectacular and varied show - perfect pairing’ Sue

‘Quite extraordinary’ Alicia

‘Just wonderful… love the contrasts and similarities in the work and the way they speak to one another. It’s like a conversation. Very thought provoking..’ Lou

‘Brilliantly emotional and ecological’ Barbara

‘Wonderfully creative and considered collection of work. Loved how it sits within the building, site and landscape and that you collaborated with the local community. Very inspiring and beautiful work..’ David

‘Utterly fabulous..’ Solange

‘Could have stayed all day’ Jinny

‘the light and historical patinas and surfaces have all chimed so well with the work’. Duncan

‘As Old as the Hills was an amazing show, totally brilliant’ Rebecca

If you didn’t see the show and are in/near Glastonbury later this month, pop in to the Mayor’s Dresses project, where you will see a few of our larger pieces still there amidst the dress on show!

Total participants/interactive audiences: 391; visitors during Somerset Art Weeks Festival: 1000

Further information: As Old as the Hills

Upcoming

Elemental Exhibition
Some of my smaller works will be showcased in Elemental, Sou Sou West (Symondsbury Estate, Bridport, Dorset DT6 6HG), opening Saturday 19 Oct. I’ll be showing sculptures, drawings, collages and maquettes alongside Jan Alison Edwards & Ali Matthews. Open 19 October-10 November, daily 10.30-3.30. Meet the Artists’ 19 Oct, 1-4pm.

As part of this exhibition, I will be leading some day and weekend Eco Sculpture Workshops with Jan Alison Edwards at West Bay DT6 4EL on 2/3 & 9/10 Nov - see eventbrite to book

The Landscape (Re)View II exhibition at Brewhouse, Taunton is now over. I enjoyed leading a taster drop-in workshop and taking part in an artists-in-conversation session. My work is still showing on The Wall at Landscape (Re)View I at Musgrove until 28 October.

I was invited for interview about my work by Textiel Plus for the Dutch magazine’s latest edition, themed up and recycle. See my press page to read the article..

If you’re looking for some creative sculptural inspiration and guidance, please take a look at my ongoing online sculpture course (self-directed) and visit my instagram feed for regular updates.

Zig Zag Residency & Artist Bursary Award, As Old as the Hills

Work in progress. Photo by Richard Tomlinson

I’ve been working in the Zig Zag building, Glastonbury, constructing some of my stilt structures for As Old as the Hills, a project I’m co-curating with Jan Ollis.

I’m interested in placing art in unusual spaces that bring their own atmosphere. The Zig Zag is unique; an iconic example of Bauhaus architecture, light floods in through long banks of windows which span both lengths of the building. I’m thrilled to be using it as a residency and exhibition space, collaborating with such a great selection of artists, and community.

My series of Stilt Structures imply precarity, adaptability and resilience; treading the earth lightly. Stilt dwellings, built to avoid floods, exist on edges of safety around the world; precarious, fragile structures in unstable environments that might collapse. Somali nomads carry their homes - elaborate bundles - on overladen camels (symbols of adaptability, endurance, trade routes). The Landes stilt-walkers of 19thC adapted to their marshy environment. The work also refers to the ancient timber Sweet Track built 3800BC, Avalon Marshes. The walkway, constructed on diagonal sticks, was a way for humans to traverse boggy marshland, once submerged under sea.

My work responds to the Zig Zag building: its history as Morlands sheepskin/leather factory, the verticals/horizontals of its Bauhaus architecture and Bauhaus textiles. I’ve sourced materials from marshes, rivers and beaches, and harvested local plants to dye fabric remnants. Bound, wrapped and hand-stitched, the bundles carry politics of textiles: history of trade, colonisation, mass production, and wasteful fashion industry. In our increasingly unstable climate of floods, famine, extinctions, gyres of waste escalating in the name of ‘progress’, my hybrids - part vessel, house, creature - are past and future imaginings.

Thanks to my neighbour Roger Spear who has been a great help to me with constructing and installing, and Chris Black (Zig Zag) for all his support. Also to Nigel Evans and others who have dropped by to give a hand.

I’m really thrilled and so grateful to have been awarded a Curator Space Artist Bursary to support the development of my new work for As Old as the Hills.

You are welcome to attend our Exhibition Launch on Saturday 21st September, 10 - 5. After party from 5pm

The project and preparations for our Exhibition Launch are going well.  Artists are now working on the final stages of work in residencies at the Zig Zag.  One of our artists, Cat Robertson, has been staying with me, and it has been inspiring working and getting to know her. Our Launch opens at 10am with events happening throughout the day, starting with the opening by the Mayor of Glastonbury, a dance response to the work  at by Katherine Ashworth and Melanie Thompson 11am , followed by a comedic performance by Di Milstein 11.30am, then a talk 2.30pm by Damon Bridge (RSPB/project partner).  Or do come to the exhibition any day 10-5 between 21 Sept-6 Oct , part of Somerset Art Weeks Festival.

Upcoming workshops as part of As Old as the Hills:

Drop in or email: fionacampbell-art@sky.com

Book via Eventbrite

Artists in Conversation, Tuesday 24 Sept, 6.30pm,, £5

Layered books Workshop with Penelope O'Gara and Fiona Campbell, Saturday 28 September, 2-4pm, £12

Workshop working with found feathers, owl pellets, plant & river weed pressings with Duncan Cameron, Sunday 29 September, 2-4pm, £12

'Living on the Edge’: Talk by Zig Zag owner Chris Black, blurring boundaries between urban & rural, Sunday 29 September, 6pm, £10

Pyre is currently on show at Royal Society of Sculptors Summer Show: ‘Reality Check’, Dora House, 108 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3RA, 22 July- 21 Sept,

I have an upcoming exhibition Elemental at Sou’ - Sou’ -West, Bridport with Jan Alison Edwards and Ally Matthews (19 Oct-10 Nov), so am making new work for this

I’m offering an online Sculpture Course (self-directed) - great value at only £40. Do share!

Hope to see you at one or more of these events!

As Old as the Hills

Collett Park Day drop-in workshop, As Old as the Hills. Making & embedding paper with recycled/found river & sea debris. Community work will form part of our final exhibition. Photo: Kirsten Madeira-Revell & me, by Barbara Voules

As Old as the Hills is a community art project I’m co-curating with Jan Ollis. Rooted in heritage and environment, it culminates in an immersive contemporary art exhibition & events in the iconic Bauhaus building (Zig Zag), Glastonbury for Somerset Art Weeks Festival (21 Sept-6 Oct).

The project looks at climate change, floods, water pollution, and the ancient layered history of Mendip & Somerset Levels – interdependent landscapes. The exhibition takes place on the top floor of a disused space, once Morlands leather factory. I’m interested in placing art in unusual spaces that bring their own atmosphere. The Zig Zag is unique; light floods in through long banks of windows which span both lengths of the building. Thrilled to be collaborating with a great selection of artists, working in a range of disciplines from large-scale sculptural installations and textiles to photography and performance: Madi Acharya Baskerville , Nikki Allford, Fiona Campbell, Duncan Cameron, David Kefford, Di Milstein, Penelope O’Gara, Catriona Robertson, Jan Ollis, Richard Tomlinson.

Sadly we didn’t get ACE funding, but we’re very grateful to those who have supported us. Funders include The Arts Society, Gane Trust, Shepton Mallet Town Council, individual donations and a great deal of in-kind.

A range of workshops are open to the public. Jan and I had a great time running a free drop-in workshop at Collett Park Day on 8 June (pics above/below). We’ll be running more workshops in local schools. There are plenty of workshops to join, including a fabulous day at Avalon Marshes: ‘Memory, Mud, Mind’: Walk, Talk, Workshop, Sat 6 July, 10am-4pm, Glastonbury BA6 9TT.  Info & book here.

Photo credits (above): 1, 11 Barbara Voules; 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 Richard Tomlinson; 4 Jan Ollis

Work in Progress

I’m making a series of stilt structures, precarious hybrid forms around the notion of resilience, adaptation, making do. The tripod sculptures are assemblages of recycled & found mixed media, layered, stitched and patched together, advocating reuse, care and repair in the context of global consumerism and waste. They’ll be showcased in As Old as the Hills.

Stilt houses, built to avoid floods, exist on the edges of safety in slums around the world . People in Landes used to move about on stilts in boggy ground. Somali nomads transport their homes/belongings - elaborate overladen bundles - on camels (symbols of adaptability, endurance, trade routes). Growing up in Kenya, I have vivid memories of African women bent over with heavy loads piled high on their backs. My work also refers to the ancient timber Sweet Track found in Avalon marshes, Somerset, dating 3800BC. These stilt structures are a means of survival in adversity, and suggest treading the earth gently. Have always been fascinated by Dali’s elephants.

Stilt Structure II, found, recycled & waste materials: wood branches, coir, copper wire, handmade naturally dyed fabric, leather, plastic netting, polyester stuffing, jute, sisal, wool, thread, nylon tights

Stilt Structure III: maquette (above), found, recycled & waste materials: wood, steel, wire, paper, cardboard, teabags, bark, plant debris, sisal

Stilt Structure III: collage (below), found, recycled & waste materials: cardboard, paper, wood, wire, leaves, leather, plastic, bark, plant debris

Stilt Structure III (far below), work in progress, found, recycled & waste materials: wood, steel, wire, paper, cardboard, fabric, jute, bark…

With limited studio space, working large-scale has its problems. I utilise other spaces including my garden, but with such poor weather this summer in UK, I haven’t been able to work outside much. Luckily I’ve had access to a neighbour’s garage, so my latest piece is developing there.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Delighted my work has been selected for the Royal Society of Sculptors Summer Show, curated by David McAlmont. The exhibition will be held at Dora House, 108 Old Brompton Rd, South Kensington, London
SW7 3RA; 22 July-21 Sept. PV Sat 20 July, 11am-2pm.

I’ll be installing work in Truro Cathedral, Cornwall soon for Solastalgia, an exhibition curated by Summer Auty, It runs 1-14 July. 

I’ll be showing 2 drawings in Landscape (Re)View) at The Wall, Musgrove Hospital, 2 July-29 Oct, & small works at Brewhouse, Taunton in September - part of Somerset Reacquainted.

I have 3 pieces on show in The Piano Shop Bath, 1&2 Canton Place BA1 6AA. Nest, String Theory, & Starfish were created for Played and Remade using discarded piano parts. Available for sale & online.

I have some handmade books on exhibition at Create@#8, 8 Town St, Shepton Mallet, as part of Art Book Shepton. Open 14-23 June (Fri-Sun). I’ll be there on Sun 16th if you want to pop in.

1 Kenyan Tree Rubbings, graphite, paper: I made the tree rubbings in Kenya on an ACE-funded DYCP trip in ‘22. The book is special to me as it documents an important time revisiting my Kenyan roots, and seeing my Dad for the last time.

2. Fungi, paper

For more about my DYCP year see @fiona_campbell_dycp and my film.

I’m raising funds to go on a trip to Vietnam at the end of the year. Please consider purchasing something from my shop. I’ve added an Online Sculpture Course, which has no time limit (self-directed) - great value!

Spring blog

Happy Easter!

I’ve been busy with prep and planning for As Old as the Hills, a community art project I’m co-curating with Jan Ollis. Just submitted an ACE project grant application - second attempt - fingers crossed!  The submission process has been a bit of a slog, but great exercise in working up more detail into our project. As a result, we’ve met and involved new people and organisations in the development of As Old as the HIlls. We now have an even richer social engagement programme leading up to and during our exhibition (Sept-Oct, Somerset Art Weeks Festival). Events will include riverwalks talks, workshops, podcasts and performances led by collaborating artists. If you’re in Somerset, pop along to our drop-in workshop, Collett Park Day, Shepton Mallet (8 June).

I’ve also been making new work for sale, for a recycling project to be revealed soon…

A few upcoming exhibitions and events I’m taking part in:

Casting Shadows ACEarts, Market Place, Somerton, TA11 7NB;  ends on 6 April (open Tues-Sat); with Royal Society of Sculptors members. Stilt Structure I (below) is on show.

Solastalgia Exhibition, Truro Cathedral, 1-14 July. This is connected to an excellent publication on Environmental art, edited by Summer Auty.  I’ll be showing Glut and Pyre.

Tongue, cover of Solastalgia Magazine (issue 2: Terrafurie)

Looking forward to a cross-discipline collaboration with dancer/choreographer Vanessa Grasse.  We’ll be in residence at Create@#8, Shepton Mallet later this week and next. Work will involve collecting materials on walks, and making eco sculptural wearable artworks.

Upcoming Art Courses

I’ll be running some new adult Love 2 Learn art courses at Bath College from 17 April:

Sculpture: (Wed am and/or pm)

https://www.bathcollege.ac.uk/course/view/3109/introduction-to-sculpture-23-24

Drawing and Painting (Wed or Thurs)

https://www.bathcollege.ac.uk/course/view/3069/drawing-and-painting-23-24

Life Drawing (Thurs)

https://www.bathcollege.ac.uk/course/view/3140/life-drawing-23-24

Browse for all courses here:

https://www.bathcollege.ac.uk/love2learn

‘Really varied & enjoyable course - Fiona has a wealth of knowledge - sharing many techniques - and is excellent at encouraging and problem solving personal projects.  The focus of environmental considerations in sculpture is really admirable.’ (L2L Sculpture student) 

'Really enjoyed the course - lots of variety and opportunities to experiment with different techniques and media’ (L2L Drawing & Painting student) 

If interested do book asap.

Images of work by previous students

Other exhibition plans are in the pipeline, more details soon.

Sack

Sack; found, discarded & recycled materials (mostly from Barreiro post-industrial wasteland and Lisbon): jute, fabric (some botanically hand-dyed), twine, plastic, nylon, polystyrene, rope, wood, wire, thread; 2024. Photo by Celso Rose, PADA Gallery, Barreiro, Portugal

Sack (iteration V). I envisaged my final piece being installed in the site that inspired the work - an abandoned post-industrial wasteland of plastic, concrete and steel debris. Image created by Ellie Foreman-Peck. a virtual rendition of my idea, as it wasn’t possible to install due to logistical and time constraints.

Me with Sack. Photo by Ticiano Rottenstein

PADA Residency Exhibition, Barreiro, Portugal. Photo by Celso Rose

Sack (iteration IV), sited on river Tagus beach. I returned dismantled parts of my stilt structure to where they were found here. Photo by Celso Rose

Sack (iteration II)

Sack stitched together, with stilt structure

Me with stilt structure

Sack (iteration I). Sited as a hanging in the post-industrial wasteland, Barriero, Portugal - the site that inspired the work. Photos above & below by Celso Rose

Sack; mixed media relief collage: discarded objects/materials & graphite rubbings

Sack is a site-responsive artwork, created during my PADA art residency in Barreiro, near Lisbon, Portugal in February. The work evolved in stages, as a response to PADA’s history as a jute warehouse, and the nearby post-industrial toxic wasteland. The bodily form, a container of waste, is made from a hand-stitched patchwork of discarded materials/offcuts I collected in the locality, especially jute sacks. The warp and weft of the weavings reflect grids in urban surrounds. Colours reflect yellow wild flowers and lichen growing on concrete; and reds/oranges of iron and sulphur..

In Ursula Le Guin’s The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction, she describes the sack as ‘belly of the universe.. a ‘womb.. tomb…. unending story.’ It follows Elizabeth Fisher’s The Carrier Bag Theory of Human Evolution:. She suggests ’the first cultural device was probably a recipient’ (rather than a spear/stick). Symbol of a softer story. It matters what stories you tell (Donna Harraway).

I loved the residency. It was an intensive month working in a spacious studio alongside other residency artists, exploring the area, and utilising waste materials. My work was documented/filmed in sites relevant to its development, thanks to Celso Rose, and exhibited in our final residency exhibition. Days were long, many hours spent collecting found materials in the industrial park and along river Tagus beach to use in the work; back and forth with trolley loads.. I made a short film of this process (below). The tall stilt structure was made from found wood and rope from the beach. A new process for me was weaving found/to-hand materials into artworks, which became part of the larger piece, hand-stitched together to form the giant sack. They were laborious processes, and at times I wasn’t sure it would all pull together.

Our exhibition Private View event was a great success. It was lovely to see an old schoolfriend, Sonia there, and I’m grateful for the feedback I received from visitors. At the end of the residency, after de-installation, I placed the raft section of my stilt structure on the wall at PADA studios (pic 13 in grid below). I’m extremely grateful to Tim Ralston for hosting and for his technical support, all the artists involved for their comradeship and help, and Tania Geiroto Marcelino for curating the show. Sack is a living sculpture that will adapt, perhaps grow, according to future sites.

Current and upcoming exhibitions and projects:

Casting Shadows ACEarts Somerton, Somerset TA11 7NB;  2 March - 6 April (Tues-Sat), with Royal Society of Sculptors members.

Stilt Structure I; found, recycled & waste materials: wood, bark, coir, copper wire, leaves, pod, grass stems, charred feathers, fabric, plastic netting, polyester stuffing, jute, tennis ball, sisal, khadi paper, wool, thread, coffee beans, cardamom seeds, nutmeg pods, rice, nylon tights, oil; 2024

Sustainable Art Open, Atkinson Gallery, Somerset BA16 0YD. Book a free slot here to visit. Open 9:30am-5pm, 21 Feb - 21 March (Closed Sun - Tues). Tel: 01458 444322.

A giant collage installation with text spanned the galleries of the Baptist Chapel during the Shepton Mallet Snowdrops Festival in February.  Themed ‘Nature Unbound’, the work was created in a workshop with me, Polly Hall, and community, installed by Georgia Freely. Photos below: 1-4,6,8 Andy Ladhams; 5,7 Kirsten Madeira-Ravell

Excited about an upcoming collaboration with dance artist Vanessa Grasse. We will be working together in a residency over a 5 day period to create sustainable wearable sculptures for Vanessa to perform with as part of her choreographic project Elysia.

I’m co-curating an art project As Old as the Hills with Jan Ollis. Residencies will lead to an immersive exhibition with 10 artists + events in the Zig Zag building, Glastonbury for Somerset Art Weeks Festival ’24.

Back to teaching at Bath College. If you’re interested (or know someone who is), do sign up to my next Love 2 Learn Sculpture, Painting, Drawing or Life Drawing courses.

Please follow me on Instagram for more regular updates and images.

Have a wonderful Easter!