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!

Winter News

A few more images of my installation Dust of Stars, made from scrap, reused and found materials, some from older work. It questions what is waste, dead, no longer of value. We throw away so much… Looking at the bigger picture, all of life is made from stars made billions of years ago: ‘The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff.’ (Carl Sagan). Matter keeps on going… Loved watching the way visitors interacted with the installation. See my instagram page for video clips of the work. We had some great feedback: ‘one of the most exciting art exhibitions I have seen in a while’ (Jan Ollis, SAW Co-Chair). I gave a talk about Dust of Stars as part of the Hatch exhibition, which will soon be published online via their website.

Photo by Rod Higginson

I’m enjoying the speed and convenience of working at a small scale, trying out different versions of a general idea about precarious structures on stilt legs. The sculptural maquettes are made from repurposed and to-hand materials, treating the assemblages as 3d sketches. These and other sketchbook ideas are leading to upcoming projects, including one I’m co-curating with Jan Ollis (‘As Old as the Hills - working title) for next year’s Somerset Art Weeks Festival. We have some great artists on board and will be taking over the top floor of the Zig Zag building, Glastonbury. The project is rooted in local heritage and environment, linking community with social engagement activities highlighting issues of conservation and sustainability. Culture is an indispensable pillar of climate action. Currently fundraising for the project. More on this soon..

Maquettes: Found & recycled materials: (top left) grass stems, willow, pine, peacock feather, copper wire, wool, roots, steel; (top right) steel, copper wire; (mid left) steel, copper, aluminium; (mid right) sticks, grass stem, khadi paper, leaves; (above left) roots, cardboard, plywood; (right) wood, cardboard packaging, khadi paper

Collage

For many instability is the norm. Dwellings exist on the edges of safety raised high on make-do scaffolding to avoid floods and other threats. In ‘Planet of Slums’ Mike Davis highlights our increasingly unstable urban world. Nomadic Somali tribes carry their homes on camels. Shepherds in France used to herd on stilt legs in boggy ground. I’ve been thinking about resilience, making do. In order to adapt, change the narrative of consumerism and economic growth, imagination is key.

Teaching:

I’ve been running 6 courses at Bath College (3 sculpture, painting, drawing and life drawing). Loved getting to know and working with students on their work - see pics below of students’ work.. ↓ (from top to bottom: Maureen, Mandy, Nick, Cath, Juliette, Sarah, Lynette, Sarah, Martin, Sally, Cath, Fran, Cathy, Pat, Juliette, Jenny, Suzanne, Sally, Judy, Jenni).

Squeezing in my own studio time has taken a concerted effort, and I have been treasuring that.

My next online sculpture course starts in January ‘24. If you’re interested please get in touch, or buy the course direct from my shop. I have other goodies you can purchase too, if considering arty Christmas gifts!

Upcoming events:

My work will be showing in Casting Shadows, Royal Society of Sculptors group exhibition at ACEarts, Somerton, 2 March - 6 April ‘24.

As part of the Snowdrop Festival (February ‘24), I’ll be running a free workshop with writer Polly Hall to create a long scroll-like collage with text, on 20 Jan, 10am-4pm, at Create@#8, Shepton Mallet. The artwork will be installed in the Baptist church for the festival. Get in touch if you’d like to join us.

Really enjoying reading The Golden Mole and other Vanishing Treasure by Katherine Rundell, sent to me by Faber books. As part of the book launch, I was commissioned to make a small Pangolin sculpture, now on display at Hunting Raven Books, Frome. If you haven’t yet, do read the book! Each chapter tugs at your heart with enthralling details about wonderful but endangered creatures.

I’ve been selected for a PADA residency, Portugal in February, and am fundraising for this great opportunity. If you can support me (for travel and accommodation costs), I’d really appreciate a donation via the link below.

Donate

My next blog may be post-Christmas, so here’s wishing you a wonderful festive time wherever you are!

New Work on Show for Wander_Land, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens

Flags of the Forest, reclaimed and found materials, 2023.. Photo Russell Sach

After months of prep and an intense week installing my work is now on show in Wander_Land, a large scale artist-led group exhibition of new sculpture at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and Gallery, Penzance, Cornwall. The exhibition is about landscape and wandering, and includes 28 artists from Royal Society of Sculptors - open daily 1 July - 5 Aug, 11-4. Closing Event 5 Aug 11-4. The show spans several spaces inside and out. Works range in style and materiality, some pushing sculpture to its edges. It’s been a joy working together alongside great colleagues, and behind the scenes with steering group Seamus Moran, Mark Richards, Ann-Margreth Bohl, and curator/writer Martin Holman. See more here. Our Opening Evening was followed by a busy first weekend with Artist Talks. You can listen to artists talk about their work in a series of podcasts led by Doug Burton. Mine is here.

I created 2 pieces: Flags of the Forest (outdoors) and Above and Below (indoors).

Flags of the Forest. Photo Russell Sach

Flags of the Forest. Photo Barbara Beyer

Art writer Martin Holman, who assisted us with the curation, wrote in his introduction to the show:

‘Fiona Campbell’s ‘Above and Below’ distils that essentialness of the all-round effect of nature and transports it into the gallery as if challenging the enclosure that comes with architecture.’

‘The thicket of stem-like upright forms and trailing translucent pennants on the grass bank… suggests another way marker or a minor encampment of a travelling band. At the same time as these colourful ideas emerge, others focused on sculptural properties like line, volume, space and surface occur. The piece assembles a wide array of natural matter and woven fabrics acquired in all manner of exchange and appropriation, or bring obliquely to mind the pattern of commerce, profit and exploitation in the manufacture of fashion items for western consumption.’ (Flags of the Forest).

Grid images below: Flags of the Forest installation process. Photo credits: 4,5,6,7,8,9,24,29 Barbara Beyer

Flags of the Forest. Photos (above x 2) by Russell Sach

Photo Barbara Beyer

Visitors’ silent walk to see Flags of the Forest before Artist Talks. Photo David Bird

Above: visitor with Flag

Left: photo by Jane Jobling

Flags of the Forest took almost a year to make, in between other work. Inspired by walks in woodlands, it was developed from an indoor piece to a large outdoor installation. The flags celebrate bio-diversity, hopeful of nature being more cared for, and thriving. The work includes tall heavy scrap metal and found wood components with fragile hand-stitched patchworks of semi-translucent textiles elements - some I’ve botanically dyed, eco-printed or embedded with found objects collected on walks. It’s a first for me - and a steep learning curve - to include a water feature as part of an installation. Labour-intensive processes included digging a ditch/pond/water feature and carrying many buckets of water uphill…  Have enjoyed seeing the work activated by wind, rain and sunshine.  It tinkles, reflects in the inky water, and casts strong shadows. Have loved chatting to visitors and their dogs. I couldn’t dream of a better view for this work - across the sea to St Michael’s Mount, a tidal island, place of pilgrimage and the inspiration for the show.

Above and Below is a response to the entanglements of matter, rhizomic systems and debris that make up the strata we walk on. Interconnected lines of life, in a process of becoming, growing, ‘frothing and tangling and fusing.. layering and layering and layering…..’ (Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life). ‘Fungal networks lace woodland soil… slow stories… making and remaking…. Vascular systems of forest wisdom.’’ (Robert Macfarlane, Underland).

Above and Below, reclaimed and found materials including metal, wood, insects, twine, tree bark, pods, fishing net, roots, grasses, bones, pondweed, nest, aluminium, sisal,, botanically dyed fabric, wax, 2023

Above and Below, Wander_Land. Photo Russell Sach

Images above: Above and Below install, Opening Evening, Artist Talk and exhibition overview. Photo credits: 1,3 Mark Richards; 4 Rob Marshall; 5,10,11 Barbara Beyer; 8 Jane Jobling; 9,20 Seamus Moran; 14,19 Russell Sach; 16 Doug Burton; 17 Jo Hague.

Thanks to:

Jason Nosworthy and Mike Belcher for helping me install; Seamus and Jo Moran for their hospitality all week during and post install; Jane Jobling and other exhibiting artists; Neil Armstrong & team at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens; Martin Holman for his help curating; Arts Council England for my DYCP award which enabled me to develop this work to an ambitious scale; Mark Devereux Projects for mentoring support this year.

If you haven’t yet, do visit!  And see @wanderland2023 for more..

My year of ACE DYCP has now come to an end, but I will be continuing in the same vein towards a more sustainable practice, taking risks, exploring and developing further.

I was delighted to see my work settled in its new home. Above and Below I (mixed media collage) looks fabulous framed up so beautifully, and in a perfect spot. I’ll now be focusing on new work for Somerset Open Studios (16 Sept - 1 Oct). In the meantime, if you’d like to purchase any of my works please visit my shop.

Above and Below 1, mixed media collage

Opening Event Invite, Wander_Land

I’m delighted to invite you to the Opening Event of Wander_Land, a major exhibition at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens & Gallery, Cornwall, with Royal Society of Sculptors members.  I've created two new works for the show.  The Opening Evening is on 30th June, 6-8pm, and the exhibition runs from 1st July - 5th August, with events. Please see here for further details.

I hope you can make it!