Art On The Move

Hope of a Tree, Frome Museum stairwell. Photo by Jack Robson

This past month has been full-on, eventful, punctuated with thrilling news, exciting outcomes and new possibilities.  At times, I’ve felt the strain of too many things on the go at once. It’s been a test of endurance, but I’m just about keeping sane, and my passion for all things nature and art spur me on. I’ve been grateful for my garden, where I find joy and peace just being with the birds, and my supportive son and friends.

Two ongoing projects are about art on the move:

All The Colours

A community art project, part of Art First with Seed Sedgemoor and Buses of Somerset

The art on buses is now out and about and the online gallery of all submissions is now live.

I popped into Bridgwater bus station hoping to see a bus with our Art First artwork on, and was lucky to see the exterior panels on 21 & 21a (Bridgwater to Taunton routes).  The buses were on the move, but I managed to get a quick video and depot manager Jason took a pic of me by one.

I was really pleased with the lenticular effect and think the t-section panel looks cohesive, considering the difficulties involved.  We will be having a proper photoshoot soon…

If you’re in the Sedgemoor Somerset area look out for buses with these panels on them, and interior cove cards on bus routes: 21, 21a, 14, 75, B1, & college contracts.  

Let us know if you spot one and please send a pic to: fionacampbell-art@sky.com

Inch by IN:CH

Last month we had a successful time at the Garages, Bath, next to the river and tow path. It brought many visitors who wouldn’t normally visit a gallery; we had lovely conversations with people and the work looked great in the transformed garage setting.

We have several more stops on our tour, now sited in Frome for the Festival. This week I installed my work beside the spectacular spiral staircase, Frome Museum - a space rarely open to the public. I’ll be there daily 10-4 during Frome festival.  I’m offering free daily drop-in taster workshops. On Friday 9 June I’ll be doing a performative window drawing at Jude’s of Frome with Shirley Sharp. Come and watch us - 8.15-9.15pm.

Hope of a Tree, Spiral Stairwell, Frome Museum. Photo 2 by Jack Robson

After Frome we’re heading to East Somerset Railway, Cranmore - on my doorstep! (21-31 July, open Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun) Events include Drawing from Cases: daily when open; Artists-in-Conversation: Sat 24 July, 11am - 1pm. With me and Philippa Edwards; Sculpture workshop with me: Sat 24 July, 2 - 4pm. Book via eventbrite. £5 for materials. (Suitable for 8 yrs-adult); Sculpture Workshop using recycled materials: Sun 25 July, 11am - 1pm.  With me & Angel Greenham.  Free, drop-in, all ages

I made a slideshow of our work:

11 artists have created artwork in cases. Integral to the exhibition, each case contributes to the work. Some are large, with work spilling beyond its frame; others are smaller, more self-contained.

Listen here for my radio chat with Jenna from Somerset Cool (first half).

International Biennial Exhibitions in Taiwan 

I’m thrilled that Pyre has been selected for an international biennale exhibition in Taiwan.  Transfiguration: From Nature to Art runs 12th November 2021 - 10th April 2022.

Further info can be found here: http://biennialartpaperfibre.com/blog/

Pyre is a response to the catastrophic Amazon and Australian wildfires last year. It is a collection of offerings, remembrances, wailings, grief bundles.  The piece was initially created for Incendiary 2020, curated by Patricia O’ Brien.

It’s a real honour to be part of this exhibition!

WAC

I’ve been short listed for Wells Art Contemporary installations.. more news on this soon.

New work 

I continue to feel deeply sad about wildlife wet markets that have picked up again, and the plight of pangolins (most trafficked mammal in the world). Millions are slaughtered each year for their protective scales, and their meat is a delicacy in Asia. I’ve started new work on this theme, weaving linear coiled bodily forms. ‘Nothing can hold on unless it puts out a line, and unless that line can tangle with others. Most if not all life-forms.. (are) combinations of blob and line’. Tim Ingold, Life of Lines

Solo/Residency 

Coming up in August is my 2 month solo residency at The Loft, above Heritage Courtyard, Wells. It’s light, spacious, rich in ambient abandoned decay.  I’ll be showing work made there as part of Somerset Open Studios (18 Sept - 3 Oct)

Windows on Nature Art Trail, Trowbridge Art Trail

Some of my earlier work is on show as a mini solo in an empty shop window at 51 Fore Street, Trowbridge BA14 8ES. The trail aims to raise awareness of endangered wildlife. My chosen charity for the event is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Drawings continue at Sculptors Drawing Space, 1 hour online sessions with Royal Society of Sculptors members. A poem was written about the event.

Workshops

This week I spent 3 days in Bridgwater running workshops at Eastover Primary School via SPAEDA, creating elements for a giant Octopus being installed on a 5metre wall at the school.

On 14 August I’m running a free workshop at Five Trees Bowlish for Summer in Shepton. There are still spaces if you’d like to book.

Sculpture Course

This time last year I launched my first online sculpture course, which proved a success.  I ran it again earlier this year, and will be offering an updated version in the autumn.  If you’re interested in booking please get in touch.

Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest news: https://www.instagram.com/fionacampbellartist/

Enjoy the summer!

Autumn News

An update on a few projects I’m involved in, which may be of interest.

An exhibition I took part in via Maureen Michaelson Gallery at GROW London this summer has led to a commission to create a large woven canopy piece for Chelsea Flower Show ’16 as part of Gold award-winning Designer Sarah Eberle’s ‘Floating Gardens of Mekong’ theme.  I am starting to formulate ideas and very excited by it!

I’ve also been commissioned to produce a life size steel Bishop for Bishops Palace Gardens, Wells and hope to have this made and installed by the end of this year.

The excitement and momentum of my main project this year ‘step in stone’ is building up to a crescendo with its third and final step, which will embrace three more venues to make up the final six.  Part of Somerset Art Works Festival 2015 and Momentum programme, step 3 launches on 3rd October to include Black Swan Arts, Frome Museum and the magical Fairy Cave Quarry.  Special performances and events will include Frome-based Artmusic’s ‘ECHO’ sculpture and sound installation at Fairy Cave Quarry (3-18 Oct, weekends, 11-4).  This will be animated by live performances of Artmusic’s BLAST (Sats 3, 10, 17 Oct, 2-3pm).   Bristol Poet Ralph Hoyte has created a poetic ‘sound intervention’ for visitors perambulating around Fairy Cave Quarry’s amphitheatre.  For the Westdown/Asham quarryscape, Ralph has created a downloadable GPS piece for visitors to listen to as they walk through.  The aural word-symphony needs to be downloaded onto your smartphone from Ralph's website before you go to Westdown (ralphhoyte.com - click “SIS link to QR”).

A few of us are running workshops as part of step in stone's Finale and Artist Talks include an insight into the work of internationally celebrated Tessa Farmer, whose fantasy worlds of tiny malevolent fairies, insect wings and taxidermy create an intriguing contrast to the largescale environmental installations by Sally Kidall and weathered stone works of Duncan Elliott.

step in stone is open now and continues until 18^th October 2015.  I attach an invite to the step 3 Preview at Black Swan Arts and Finale Do at Somerset Earth Science Centre. 

Hope you can visit one or more of our venues!

Curating, making and installing for Step 2 - step in stone

It’s been an incredible few weeks, unleashing inner reserves of energy I didn’t know I had! Thank goodness for the unyielding patience and support of partner Nick Weaver, helping me to pull off the installation of Step 2 for 'step in stone' (a project I'm running), while finishing off artwork, getting signage done for 2 venues and co-ordinating it all.  In between, I have been keeping things going at Somerset Earth Science Centre (our Step 1 venue), and maintaining my diatoms, which have been taken over by birdlife and getting mucky in the process! Halecombe and Westdown/Asham quarries are now open daily for all to visit – see Duncan Simey’s wonderful selection of pics from a very rainy Friday.  Jack Offord filmed us for the project documentary – looking forward to seeing the results of that at our Preview evening, 2nd October at Black Swan Arts, Frome.

Below is a selection from our Step 2 installation days and a couple of photoshoots by Duncan Simey taken since.

Finished work by some of the artists at both venues:

My work:

My main pieces - 'Cirri' (last images above) are based on crinoids (see the making process)!   These are ancient sea creatures whose fossilised remains are common in carboniferous limestone and whose descendants can still be found living today. Crinoid tentacles (cirri) are reminiscent of branches, tendrils, feathers or the microscopic pattern of neurons. They cling to the seabed (some now vertical rock faces) by long spiny stems, others are without a stalk but have tentacle legs or long arms, which enable them to drag themselves along.  I'm inspired by the tenacity and diversity of life and similarities of form that occur in different organisms.

Sadly a couple of heavy steel springs (components of my work) have gone missing and other parts tampered with at Westdown – if anybody spots these lurking in the bushes there, do contact me, they might be from my work!

The past fortnight was filled with our workshops, guided walks and talks, held at SESC, Westdown and Halecombe Quarries.  The guided walks, in collaboration with Rosie and Pippa from Somerset Wildlife Trust, were really well attended and greatly enjoyed.  Workshop participants of all ages explored a range of creative approaches related to the project, Sally Kidall’s talk was much appreciated and I was chuffed that my talk for 27 Active Living members received a wonderfully receptive and enthusiastic response.

Last week culminated in a very inspirational performance at Westdown/Asham: Artmusic’s ‘ECHO’ sculpture and sound installation on Saturday 22nd August was animated by live performances of Artmusic’s ‘BLAST’ – a theatrical response to the rock and mechanics of quarrying, with specially composed trumpet music being played from locations which echoed around the quarry.  We had a great turn out and the audience seemed to really enjoy the unique show and setting. “A delightful melange of live and recorded fluttering trumpets grab our attention this way and that while butterflies flit among the stones…. As they move slowly up the valley from stone to stone, always edging closer to melody, we begin to follow, or not, or meander above and below. ..”  Caroline Radcliffe

People brought picnics, dogs, cameras, sketchbooks and the sun was scorching all day!

Can’t wait to download Ralph Hoyte’s GPS Soundwalk ‘ANTICLINE‘ – now available for your smartphone before visiting Westdown.

I'm now working on the next stage for Step 3, which opens on 3rd October at Black Swan Arts, Fairy Cave Quarry and Frome Museum.  Hope you can visit step in stone soon (www.stepinstone-somerset.co.uk)!