In the garden during Open Studios. Photo by Jason Bryant
I had a wonderful fortnight spending quality time with those who managed to get to my Open Studio, part of Somerset Open Studios 2020, in sunshine or rain. I’m really grateful to all my visitors. Along with making a few sales and new leads, I had some really great conversations. Below is a slideshow of the event and some of the feedback:
Fiona reminds us that the sharp divide between the living and the dead is not sharp at all (G.Dunlop)
Love how the garden informs the work and are one (R.Newnham)
A beautiful early autumn day in your magical garden; love seeing the ‘established’ works now blended into the landscape while the new pieces take shape on the lawn. Your new processes - scorching, hanging, collecting - are fascinating. Always something more to be found beyond the immediate (V.Keemar)
Thank you, Fiona, for bringing such beauty into our world. Goodness know we need it. We are Nature and Nature is us. Your work is inspirational (S.Herfet)
Absolutely divine - I adore your work and garden. Such beauty and tenderness. I love the organic nature of your art. Soothes my sore soul. Thank you (T.Potts)
Really inspiring, fascinating to see the range of your ideas and commitments. Truly value your references to world and global issues and your totally fascinating ways of interpreting and bringing it to our attention, as well as making beauty. Thanks you for sharing (S.Hulejczuk)
Somerset Reacquainted continues at Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury until 21 November, Wed-Sat, 10-5 (booking required). Images and objects from my lockdown project Life in the Undergrowth feature in this exhibition, along with work by 62 other Somerset artists. I took part in a podcast with other artists on Friday 2 October. You can listen to it here. Great to see the exhibition featured on BBC Points West.
Earlier this month I installed a new sculpture Blackbird above the entrance to The Art Bank, Shepton Mallet. It features in a Bird Trail around the town, commissioned by Shepton Town Council. 7 artists have created British bird sculptures using natural and recycled materials for a 2 month free art trail for the public to enjoy.
Blackbird 95cm (L) x 68cm (H) x 34cm (D) aprx, recycled and found steel, tin, copper wire, plastic
On Friday 23 October, 6-8pm I’ll be taking part in Shepton on Show, organised by The Art Bank in the centre of Shepton Mallet. I’ll be doing a large-scale backlit performative drawing, linked to the worldwide drawing festival The Big Draw: Climate of Change, in One Craft Gallery, Shepton town centre. There will be surreal fantasy window performances around the town by local businesses and individuals. Come along and watch fantastical performances in windows - a celebration of the creativity in Shepton. Free (safe) fun :-).
Prepping for Shepton on Show
I recently went to London for Frieze Art Week. 2 days visiting exhibitions and another day at Centre of Gravity, Bristol has sated my need to see some contemporary art in person. Images below: Frieze Sculpture, Regents Park: Arne Quinze, Lubaina Himid, Gazelli Art House, Sarah Lucas; Endless Column IV, Cornelia Parker, Frith Street Gallery: immaculately flattened silverware suspended just above ground - so beautiful; Giuseppe Penone, Among the Trees, Hayward Gallery: staggering pieces stood out; Off Grid, Olivia Bax, Standpoint Gallery; 6 Sculptures.., Anthony Caro, Annely Juda Gallery: I found connections between Bax’s work and Caro’s tabletop sculptures. Steel drawn lines against hollow biomorphic forms; line versus solid - perhaps because they’re qualities in my own work; Five Hides, curated by Thorp Stavri: incredible old Victorian swimming pool/boxing ring, now derelict - perfect for huge sculptural and textiles pieces; Centre of Gravity, old Gardiner Haskins building, Bristol: another monumental space ripe for contemporary art.
I had lovely interlude out sketching with my cousin in the sunshine in my local area of Somerset. I feel rejuvenated and ready to start experimenting in the studio again.
I’ll be running another online sculpture course in January. If you’d like details please get in touch.
A few other projects are in the pipeline - watch this space!
Take care :-)