‘Abundance’ is a new curatorial programme for Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2013 (21st September to 6th October), featuring exhibitions, new commissions and events. The programme is organised by Somerset Art Works, in partnership with National Garden Scheme (NGS), supported by Friends of SAW and funded by Arts Council England Lottery Funding. It aims to connect the wider public with the creativity between the cultivation of gardens and art making in Somerset.
This will be the first time for many garden owner to offer their space and share their knowledge to the artist, as well as for artist to work in the garden setting. Abundance Blog recorded the on-going dialogue and development of the commission, including the changing season of each of the garden, and to reveal the final stage of the commission in September.
Abundance Garden Trail
SAW and NGS will work with numbers of gardens across Somerset to develop a series of site specific contemporary arts commissions, setting the work within the wealth of cultivated garden landscapes of Somerset. The commissions will be celebrated as a specific garden trail as part of Somerset Art Weeks Festival. Artists are selected by the ʻAbundanceʼ Steering Group which consists of representative of Friends of SAW, The NGS and SAW Team. This particular programme aims to support emerging and mid-career artists to develop new work and audiences in Somerset.
8 artists are selected in Feb/March to create new work by using different materials and approach of their own choice in responing to the theme of ‘Abundance’ in a wider social, cultural, political and historical context. They are encouraged to use locally source materials in response to the landscape, culture and knowledge from each of allocated cultivated garden in Somerset.
Artists are: Megan Calver, Fiona Campbell, Alison Cockcroft, Kitty Hiller, Leah Hislop, Sue Palmer, Gillian Widden
Gardens are: (Click the link to the information on NGS website)
The Walled Gardens of Cannington (nr Bridgwater, Sedgemoor) Art Weeks Venue 17
Little Yarford Farmhouse (Kingston St Mary, nr Taunton) Art Weeks Venue 34
Stoke St. Mary Gardens (Stoke St. Mary, nr Taunton) Art Weeks Venue 40
Aller Farmhouse (Williton, West Somerset) Art Weeks Venue 26
Tintinhull Garden(Tintinhull, South Somerset) Art Weeks Venue 56
Esotera (Foddington, nr Babcary) Art Weeks Venue 55
Henley Mill (Wookey, Mendip) Art Weeks Venue 90
Abundance x Exhibition
All about gardens! An exhibition featuring limited-edition and multiple artworks inspired by nature’s abundance as revealed within the gardens of Somerset. Artists include Laura Pearcy, Chris Dunseath, Judy Willoughby, Emma Riley, Nadja McDevitt, Jan Ollis, Rachel Waldock, Sue Lowe, Margaret Wall, Judith Champion, Freya Morgan and Linda Bristow. Sale commissions will be donated to the NGS.
Exhibition take place at Malthouse Gallery, East Lambrook Manor Gardens. FREE entry.
Abundance Feast
To celebrate the opening of the Abundance X exhibition and Abundance Garden Trail, SAW will host a special presentation of experimental food found only in Somerset. Artist Tasha Tucker – Valecillo and professional chef Damon Palmer will create a special ‘micro-taster’ menu that will explore sustainable food supply and the natural processes within our food production.
Event take place on Friday 20th September 6-8pm, East Lambrook Manor Gardens. FREE event, limit numbers, booking via SAW office: info@somersetartworks.org.uk or call 01458 253800
Abundance Pop-up Meadow
During the Summer Term 2013 a Pop-up Meadow will be created as part of the Abundance Arts Education Programme by primary school children from four Taunton Schools working with artist Freya Morgan (www.freyamorgan.com)
The aim of the project is to connect children and the wider public with the creativity of the cultivation of gardens and art making in Somerset. The project has been devised to develop 2d and 3d visual art skills and as well as learning around themes of cultivation and growing.
A showcase of the artworks will be developed and ‘Pop-Up’ in Taunton at various locations over the summer. Then it will be toured to two locations in Abundance Garden Trail: Stoke St. Mary Garden (from 21st and 22nd September) and The Walled Garden of Cannington (26th September to 6th October)
Limited editions of Freya’s work will be exhibited in Abundance X Exhibition at Malthouse Gallery at East Lambrook Manor Gardens.
Visiting
Admission prices apply to all gardens as published in the NGS Yellow Book, ranging from £3.50 to £5, free entry for child under 16 and full time students. Proceeds will be donated to the NGS and its beneficiary charities.
FREE entry to the Abundance X exhibition at the Malthouse Gallery in East Lambrook Gardens, Pop-up Meadow at different locations in Taunton. Abundance Feast is a FREE event, but numbers are limited, booking essential. Booking via SAW office.
The Special Abundance Pass will cost £20 and covers entrance to all Abundance Trail gardens (excluding East Lambrook Manor Gardens), a 10% discount on all purchases of artwork at the Abundance X exhibition, invitations to special events and private views, including the Abundance Feast, and entry into the Somerset Art Weeks Visitor Prize Draw.
For more information
Visit: http://www.somersetartworks.org.uk/abundance
Contact: SAW office 01458 253800 or email info@somersetartworks.org.uk
Please also see the Somerset Art Weeks Festival Guide which available in Tourist Information Centre and Library across Somerset from July onward.
Contact SAW office: 01458 253800 or info@somersetartworks.org.uk
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