End of a Busy Time

A whirlwind of overlapping projects came to a crescendo last month. In addition to featuring in WAC, Wells Cathedral, I had 2 venues during Somerset Open Studios - one an art residency and solo in the spacious Loft above Heritage Courtyard Gallery and Studios.  The second was our Inch by IN:CH finale. I ran workshops as part of these events, and invigilated daily.  All went surprisingly well, though felt shattered after takedown last week!

Loft Residency & Solo Exhibition

My residency was a great opportunity to test ideas and curate a body of work in an interesting space.  Some pieces were reconstructions; others new and exploratory. Threads connected the drawings to sculptural installations, loosely hinged on entanglements.  I welcomed conversations with visitors and appreciated the feedback.  There was a sense that the sculptures were alive. 

Visitors’ comments:

‘Awesome, imaginative installations, gives me some inspirations to move me forwards’

‘Very stimulating. Captures so much’ 

‘What impresses me most is the subtlety of sewing together the most varied colours and shapes into a cohesive and harmonious whole’

‘Inspiring, energetic insect-like pieces’

‘Fabulous, intricate, complex - great to see work in progress. Very evocative!’

‘..made me think of Merlin Sheldrake’s book on Fungi. Exhibition captured me immediately’

‘Otherworldly and thought provoking’

‘Fascinating range of exploratory work’

’So-o-o inspiring working with the natural materials..’

I’ve loved my time there and really grateful to Heritage Courtyard Studios for their support. I’ve made a short film of the residency - thanks to Rebecca Barnard for footage, and Dan Hopkins, Jack Robson and Nigel Evans for some of the photos:

Inch by IN:CH Collaboration

Inch by IN:CH, now over, was a formidable undertaking at a difficult time.  We had many conversations with visitors, in relation to the work and wider issues. Taking our work to places where people didn’t expect to see art, responding to changing environments and pressures, our project accomplished what we intended - transporting art and ideas into local communities. 

We had a fantastic finale at the Gauge Museum, West Somerset Railway, ending 3 October.  It was filled with activities, visitors, participants and creative energy!  We ran several workshops, linked to The Big Draw.  Mixed ages created together using a range of media and techniques, 2d to 3d.  We were delighted with the large turnout of participants and their responses.

Jenna Myles (Somerset Cool/BBC radio) visited and interviewed us, trialing a Sculpture and Shadow Drawing Workshop I ran with Shirley Sharp.  I featured on BBC Breakfast radio with Charlie Taylor on the last day (1:53 - 1:58).  We were thrilled with an excellent review of our project by Fiona Robinson, for Evolver magazine. 

It’s been wonderful travelling around parts of the south west to such an interesting range of venues over the past 5 months! We’ve learnt so much as a collaborative artist group, and thrilled that it’s been a success!  Hard work.  But an incredible journey.  We’re so grateful to all our visitors and supporters.  

Hope of a Tree, The Gauge Museum. Photo by Jenna Myles

WAC

It was sad taking down my Snakes and Ladders (I) installation from Wells Cathedral, a highlight of this year.  Feedback has been very positive. Many thanks to Nick Weaver, WAC and Wells Cathedral team for helping with de-installation. It was an honour to be part of this fabulous show!

Snakes and Ladders (I). Photo by Dan Hopkins

A big thank you to everyone who came to see my exhibitions and supported along the way!
Things are easing a bit for me, and I’m beginning to feel restored :-)

Other News

My work Pyre will be on show in Taiwan soon, as part of the International Biennal for fibre art: Change, 12 Nov ‘21 - 10 April ‘22

My giant Octopus installation, created with students at Eastover Primary School, Bridgwater, via SPAEDA is being appreciated by the school. See pics from a site visit/photoshoot, and below.

Me with pupil and giant Octopus installation, Eastover Primary School. Photo by Alice Crane, SPAEDA.

Time to focus on my ongoing installation for a group exhibition with Royal Society of Sculptors ‘Together We Rise’, Chichester Cathedral 2022, being curated by Jacquiline Creswell.

A very exciting London exhibition is coming up (details to be announced soon)!

I’ll be working on my website e-commerce shop in time for Christmas, and currently making a batch of small copper bowls for Durslade Farm Shop, Hauser & Wirth Somerset. Always grateful for sales ;-)

I’m part of a Reading Circle ‘All We Can Save’. Rather than just hope, we’re discussing ways to act in courage. ‘All you touch changes’. ‘Indigenous ways of knowing.. [deemed] primitive.. are now being ..sought to save our environment..’ ‘Diversity fosters social coherence’; we need to ‘evolve into a state of interbeing with the rest of life..’

Countdown to COP26 in November requires ‘injections of imagination about how harmful systems and embedded inequalities can change for the better’…

Dreams

Collaged impression of my ideal place for Snakes and Ladders (I) for WAC - in the cathedral nave

It’s wonderful when dreams of possibilities become a reality.  Sometimes things evolve beyond expectations, sometimes there has to be a compromise, and one thing always leads to the next. Two new exhibitions involving installations in cathedrals have developed - both thrilling to be part of! Lots of exciting things are happening at once, so the next few weeks will be a challenge which I’m embracing!

Chichester Cathedral

After a year of Zoom meetings and drawing sessions with fellow Royal Society of Sculptors members, a group sculpture exhibition curated by the eminent Jacquiline Creswell is now in planning stages for Chichester’s Year of Culture 2022.  The theme is loosely based around our group solidarity during a difficult year, new hope, and offers an opportunity to take risks.  We had a fabulous day last week on a site visit to the magnificent Chichester Cathedral, and it was great to finally meet some of the group in real life.

The Cathedral is steeped in art with a startling Marc Chagall stained glass window, John Piper tapestry and Graham Sutherland painting, among other works. Thanks to Walter Hussey, Dean of the Cathedral at the time, Pallant House, nearby, houses an astonishing art collection. I spent a lovely morning catching up with old friends and wandering round the Gallery.

I’ve started working on ideas for it, which I’ll be gradually developing over the next few months. It will be an alternative altar piece with hand woven multiple pieces, inspired by the plight of pangolins - the most trafficked mammal in the world. 

Wells Art Contemporary

I’m excited that my work Snakes and Ladders (I) has been selected for Wells Art Contemporary installations at Wells Cathedral!  WAC received 200 applications for installations this year and Simon Periton chose 28. I proposed that my piece might be suspended in the Nave (see top image), but that’s no longer possible, so it will be in the South Trancept, another grand space in the cathedral.

The exhibition will coincide with the installation of a new Antony Gormley work to be exhibited on the West Front of the Cathedral!   The exhibition runs 28 Aug - 26 Sept; PV Fri 27 Aug, 7pm.

Snakes and Ladders was created for B-Wing, a project I co-curated in 2019. The series of dysfunctional ladders and hangings were installed across 3 floors of the massive wing in the decommissioned Shepton Mallet Prison. They ranged in size from 3-7.5metres. Initially inspired by Piranesi’s ‘The Bridge’, from The Imaginary Prisons series, the work relates to the human cycle of striving, greed, suffering and waste. There’s an element of hope, and dreaming.. Snakes and Ladders (I) is a suspended piece, a skeletal structure which appears winglike and bone-like, reminiscent of flight and extinct animals hung in museums. Made from found and recycled materials including wood and newspaper, my use of discarded materials relates to waste, our relationship with matter, nature, and ourselves. 

Snakes and Ladders (I). Photo by Barry Cawston

Thanks to Nick Weaver who will be my technical assistant in the installation process, and who helped me originally.

Inch by IN:CH

Hope of a Tree at ESR, just before the storm. Photo by Linda Ashe

Our travelling group project Inch by IN:CH has now toured to 3 locations - the most recent was East Somerset Railway, a heritage steam railway station in my village, Cranmore. I invigilated daily when open, and got to know the station more intimately. At each venue the focus and work change, there are different people, challenges and achievements. 

We’ve engaged all sorts of people in conversations about the work and wider issues, so our project is doing what we intended - transporting art and ideas to local communities. 

The staff and volunteers at ESR have been so helpful and and intrigued. We’ve had some great interaction from visitors with our Drawing from Cases sessions and my intergenerational sculpture workshops. 

This slideshow gives a snapshot of my work in situ and some of the events I ran. I’ve been moving my piece around, trying it in different spaces..

Our next stop is Backwell Playhouse (23 Mariners Drive, Backwell, West Town, BS48 3HT), involving free shadow drawing workshops led by Shirley Sharp and me, this Saturday 7 August. Exhibition:12-3 pm; Drawing Workshop: 1-2pm & 2-3pm, book via eventbrite.

My Residency in the Loft, above Heritage Courtyard Gallery, Wells will be starting soon. It will give me a chance to re-make, document and focus on new work, as I grapple with unresolved themes and ideas.  The space will be a real treat for me. I’ll be showing the work in Somerset Open Studios 18 Sept- 3 Oct.

Front Cover of a magazine!

Thanks to Mark Adler for taking this great photo and placing me and my work at Frome Museum on the front cover of Mendip Times, August issue!

Other news:

My All The Colours lenticular Chameleon (created with community participation) is travelling around Somerset on the buses - particularly the Bridgwater to Taunton route. Here we are with one of the exterior panels.

Windows on Nature Trail: my mini solo continues at 51 Fore St, Trowbridge BA14 8ES; June-Sept. All work is for sale

I’ll be taking part in Somerset Reacquainted Touring: Re-imagining Nature, Yeovil Art Space (23 Vicarage Walk, Quedam Shopping Centre, Yeovil BA20 1EU).  There will be a selection of work by 20+ SAW artists. Open 4 Aug-11 Sept, Wed-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat 11am-5pm

I’m running the following Workshops:

Wire Sculpture Workshop inspired by nature: Holburne Museum (outdoors), Thurs 5 Aug, 10.30am-1pm, ages 5+. £12, book via Eventbrite

Sculpture Workshop using recycled & found materials, Sat 14 August, 11am – 4pm, Five Trees Bowlish

Other thoughts:

A webinar that particularly struck me was Rivercide with George Monbiot. It’s about how filthy and toxic all the rivers in England have become, linked to poultry intensive farming and sewage works.  Happy Eggs are not happy..  and I’m glad I don’t eat chicken.

The challenges that continue to face artists can lead to burn out and serious financial instability. I’m looking into infusing my practice with more of a business element - watch this space!

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!

All The Colours - CALL OUT!

Help brighten up the buses! 

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

‘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.’

In my project All The Colours I am inviting people to create a collage or submit a photo in one dominant colour, reflecting on your responses to the past year. The images will be transformed into a hologram chameleon. This will change colours at different viewpoints and will be featured on buses for passengers and community to enjoy.

I’ll be running free (covid-safe) workshops; there will be prizes (tickets to Somerset Rural Life Museum), and an online exhibition of all submissions. 

For further information about the project please visit Art First. To submit an image visit All The Colours. 

I’d love you to get involved!

Thanks to those who’ve submitted already.

Image submissions below by: (top) Ann Diment, Jo Hudson, Susie Horner, Carol Fry; (centre) Dimitris Koutroumpas, Diana Terry, Daniel Clayton, Karen Mates; (bottom) Susie Deeprose, Nessa Lloyd-Jones, Carol Fry, Sue Dragt

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

A few updates to round off the year:

Exciting news!  I’ve been selected for a commission with SEED and First Bus.  I will be working with the community to co-create artworks to be installed on First Buses across Sedgemoor in 2021.   It will be something a bit different to my usual work, and will stretch me in new ways.   More details coming soon…

Our travelling group exhibition is getting more compelling as plans develop.  Inch by IN:CH is an artist-led project for ‘21, bringing contemporary art out of studios and galleries and into communal areas of our everyday lives.  Small-scale works in cases will be transported from place to place, migrating outwards in a spiral.  11 artists will engage with local communities through workshops, talks and performances.  We’re looking for match-funding for our ACE application, so if you can help in any way, financially or in-kind, do let me know!

My latest piece The Fall is almost at the point where I can call it ‘finished’ (see previous post for details).   A quote from The Overstory (Richard Powers) sums up my thinking: ‘Trees talk to one another... through the networked soil... Mats of mycorrhizal cabling link trees into gigantic, smart communities... there are no separable events. The bird and.. branch.. are a joint thing.. linked creatures..’  Human frailty, greed, the Icarus factor, is the sorrow.

The Fall in progress: steel, copper, found wood, wool, sisal, twine, rope, leaves, feathers, naturally dyed cotton, wax..

My work is on sale at the Artisan Christmas Market, ACE Arts, Somerton.  I will be invigilating there tomorrow (Saturday 19 Dec) - do come and say hello if you’re in the area, and maybe consider buying some hand-made Christmas gifts :-)

Small and Affordable (Frome) is Black Swan Arts’ fundraising exhibition with 100% going towards keeping the wonderful Black Swan Arts alive.  All works are under £300 and under 30cm sq. There are some great pieces for sale donated by artists, for a great cause.

My offering: New Beginnings, found and recycled paper, wax, steel, copper.

My next Online Sculpture Course runs 11 Jan-14 Feb.  If you’d like to learn new 3d skills using sustainable materials, or know someone who does, please visit this link. Places are filling up so book asap!  It could make a stimulating start to the New Year and/or a Christmas present for someone who wants to get more creative ;-)

Also, it’s your last chance to benefit from a 10% discount offer to friends and supporters in my online Shop  (ends Sat 19 Dec)! 

Red Line Art Works trophy. Photo by Jason Bryant

On a positive note, here are a few special moments from this year:

A bronze trophy arrived in the post for winning the Red Line Art Works global award!

Despite most of my exhibitions and commissions being cancelled, I took my work online, launched a sculpture course and made several films. I was lucky to receive ACE funding for Life in the Undergrowth.  

I showed at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition, curated by Robert and Nicky Wilson, Jupiter Artland. The pangolin mask I made out of cotton offcuts, dyed with avocado pits, all hand-sewn, has come in very handy.  I feel acutely sad for the plight of pangolins. I’ve scaled back my Christmas cards this year and instead donated to Flora and Fauna to help pangolins, who are being slaughtered en mass to the point of becoming endangered. 

Exhibition trips, seeing my son, other family and friends in between lockdowns, making art and being in the garden have kept me sane. I’ve learnt more about resilience, and the importance of being kind to nature, and each other.

Goodbye to an extraordinary year which has deeply affected us all.  Looking forward to turning the corner!  

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and here’s to a better, healthier year in 2021!

Do keep in touch via my social media channels:

Instagram fionacampbellartist

Facebook Fiona Campbell Art

Twitter @fionasculpture

Best wishes and take care,

Fiona x