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.
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!