'step in stone' revisited

We are gearing up to our 'step in stone' exhibition at Salisbury Art Centre, which I am curating with Amanda Wallwork. The exhibition runs Thursday 18 August - Saturday 24 September. "This exhibition tells the story of a unique event held last summer in the South West.  Fourteen artists, all with connections to South West England (including two from Wiltshire) but from as far afield as Norway and Australia, created a collaborative and multidisciplinary series of site-specific artworks that fused art and the natural landscape in response to the nature of quarries and their place in the environmental, cultural and industrial heritage of the region.

The pieces were installed in six venues (three disused and working quarries and three related indoor exhibitions), and staged in three “steps”, the quarries’ natural history, ecology and geology inspired works in surprising forms. Aiming to link culture and the environment, the extraordinary artscapes gave over 8000 visitors a free opportunity to encounter contemporary artworks while exploring the spectacular, wild landscapes of abandoned and working quarries in rural East Mendip.

‘step in stone’ really engaged audiences, encouraging them to consider the environment around them, our place in it, how it evolves, the benefit we get from it, our impacts upon it and how nature responds and reasserts itself. It engaged a whole spectrum of the public, including school children, families and the elderly, many who had never visited these interesting spaces."

Exhibiting artists include Artmusic, Catherine Bloomfield, Bronwen Bradshaw, Duncan Cameron, Fiona Campbell, Duncan Elliot, Tessa Farmer, Stuart Frost, Suzie Gutteridge, Ralph Hoyte, Sally Kidall, Caroline Sharp, Amanda Wallwork and Christina White

We’d love you to join us for the launch event on Friday 19 August from 6 – 8pm

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b2079d5a8ed14f73b9a18f049&id=c0be67ca0b&e=08ce98bbc4

I will be showing my large 'Cirri' pieces and sketchbooks:

Other artists' work will include the following:

Viking Cruises Mekong Garden - RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Just back from a stint at Chelsea Flower Show celebrating the success of the Viking Cruises Mekong Garden's gold and best artisan garden awards, Nick Weaver and I were overawed by the massive interest in our focal pieces for the garden, which appeared to have the wow factor.

A seemingly endless stream of visitors in their 1000s admired and appreciated the garden, designed by multi-gold award-winner Sarah Eberle.  People expressed how much they would love to lounge on Nick's boat and chill, with the water gently lapping around them and visitors were charmed by the 'ethereal beauty' and colours of my canopy, many intrigued by its makeup.  Sarah Eberle described it in her BBC TV interview this week with Joe Swift as her best bit of the garden: “I love the canopy.. like a celestial beam.. wonderfully charming”!

I was commissioned by Sarah Eberle to create the canopy for her Artisan Mekong Garden, inspired by Cambodia’s floating gardens, traditional fishing nets and silk weaving in the Mekong River region, following Sarah’s journey on board sponsor Viking Cruises Magnificent Mekong.  Nick made a lounger styled on a traditional fishing boat.

The 7 x 5m garden is entirely water with a small deck leading to the boat/lounger and cantilevered canopy suspended above. The beds follow the style of the region and contain an eclectic mixture of fruit, flowers and vegetables. Harvested hazel, other reclaimed woods and a plethora of woven wire, silk and found materials have all be used to harmonise with the planting.

I was approached by Sarah after seeing my installation piece “Lichen” at the Maureen Michaelson Gallery stand at GROW London last year.  The 4 metre textured fishing net/canopy I made by hand incorporates incredibly fine woven copper wires, fruit netting bags, twine, silk, wool and other surprising found and reclaimed materials like fish skeletons!  I also made 3 wire baskets used as props. It was a great pleasure and honour working with Sarah for Chelsea Flower Show and amazing to have achieved such highly acclaimed awards. The team involved many others, including Nigel Evans (paint effects on boat) and Angela Morley (supplied trombone squash), and we are grateful to all who have supported us, given materials and helped!

After over 4 months of hard work, I am a little exhausted but elated!

To see more photos of the Chelsea Flower Show work in progress visit my Art Facebook Page

Next show - The Hidden Garden Art Show, at Maureen Michaelson Gallery, Hampstead, London; 4 – 12 June.  I will be showing a range of my work, alongside other selected artists (see poster below).  On Sunday 12 June this Gallery is also hosting a day as part of Chelsea Fringe Festival, where I will be demonstrating my sculpting techniques from 11am – 5pm, with a talk at 3pm.  Do come along!

www.maureenmichaelson.com or www.chelseafringe.com

Back in the Swing

My blog is suffering under the weight of too many other things going on!  After a lovely trip to Kenya over Christmas, I returned with tonsillitis, which didn't help my approach to January - one of my least favourite months. However, I have tried to get out, see some art and socialise despite the grotty weather. At the Holburne, Bath I saw the paper cut out piece by Nahoko Kojima (beautifully delicate, but felt it could have been hung lower) and visited Kurt Jackson’s 'Place' exhibition at Victoria Gallery.  Particularly loved some of his larger pieces, contrasts of misty, cold northern Britain and vibrant views of Glastonbury Festival. New Dimensions at the Museum of Somerset is intriguing, a great exhibition in response to the museum collection by fellow artists including Ralph Hoyte, who showed with me during step in stone. His postcard exhibits have a wonderful quirky humour and Chris Dunseath's sculptural responses to cauldrons and skillets captivated me. A recent trip to Hauser & Wirth to see 'Qwaypurlake' and 'Don McCullin' with Mendip Creatives was also very inspiring - some of it mesmerising, questionable, extraordinary, heart wrenching, and I’m looking forward to attending the panel discussion with curator Simon Morrissey and participating artists this Saturday.

I’m still in the process of making a lifesize steel bishop for Bishops’ Palace, Wells – his completion imminent.  He is supposed to be killing a dragon that hasn't been made yet.  Getting the posture right has involved a few sessions drawing and taking photos of friend Nick posing (once in the Bishops's cope) and a vicar at Wells Cathedral, who didn't seem to mind when I spontaneously asked him to pose for me in dragon-killing stance!

Things are progressing with my Chelsea Flower Show commission, which I will be working on with Nick Weaver for landscape designer Sarah Eberle.   I’ve been experimenting with crochet and weaving samples and will soon be starting the 4 metre woven canopy, inspired by Cambodian fishing nets.

As Trustee of Black Swan Arts, I’ve been getting more involved behind the scenes, and excited about our plans to make this year's 30^th anniversary a good one.  Also helping with education aspects including the Black Swan Arts Young Open - such a great opportunity for young people!

And by the weekend the dreaded tax return will be submitted... roll on February!