Sculpture by the Lakes

I've always been a huge admirer of Simon Gudgeon's work and remember being so excited when Isis was unveiled in Hyde Park in 2009.

I don't think I have words better than the description on the Simon Gudgeon Homepage.

'One of Britain’s leading contemporary sculptors, Simon Gudgeon has a signature smooth style that marvellously concentrates spirit and nature. His minimalist, semi-abstract forms depict both movement and emotion of a moment captured with a visual harmony that is unmistakably his own.'

I find his work beautifully sensitive, sculpture which draws my gaze for long periods.

How pleased I was to learn about the new Sculpture by the Lakes.  Set in twenty six acres of stunning Dorset countryside and bordered by the tranquil River Frome, Sculpture by the Lakes provides the perfect venue to view and appreciate outdoor sculpture in beautiful surroundings.

It is that combination of art and landscape that inspires Sculpture by the Lakes. Whether it is work on a monumental scale that relates to its environment or smaller works that personlise more intimate areas, each sculpture has been placed to visually enhance its surroundings.  This has been achieved to stunning effect by Simon Gudgeon's bronze sculpture, fluid forms with patination giving life in nature's hue.

The aim is to show the importance of outdoor sculpture in the environment and inspire people with the possibilities of what they can achieve in their own gardens.

All in tandem with my recent thoughts about garden sculpture.  I have promised myself a treat to visit when my exhibition A Sense of Place is finished in September.

Waterperry Gardens

Happily weary from my day demonstrating and talking to visitors, one of my evenings at Art in Action was spent in the garden at Waterperry House, exploring and then sitting quietly watching the sun go down.

I'd purchased a loaf made with spelt flour and rye, containing raisins and caraway seeds earlier in the day, and broke off rough chunks to have with my apple and pear for supper whilst sitting in the formal garden and absorbing the glories.  This garden has a sculpture at the centre, 'Lamp of Wisdom' by Nathan David, and is made up of traditional box knot, clipped topiary and medicinal herbs.  I can't say what beautiful relaxed  moments they were - I ate all the delicious bread amidst visual splendour and breathed in the warm fragrant air.

On route to this point I took in the wonders of the waterlily canal, herbaceous border, island beds, roses, alpines and hostas in the shade - all the while coming across sculpture from Chapungu Sculpture Park, Zimbabwe stone sculpture.  I felt very well catered for!

I thought of this garden as a backdrop for my sculpture and imagined where certain pieces I have made would go.   Sometimes, probably most times, when I'm making a sculpture, in my 'mind's eye' I see the finished piece in a garden.

The garden, sculpture, garden sculpture - I meandered, drawing in the beauty, with big dreams.

Springy Glass

I'm still enjoying the effects and memories from my wonderful time at Art in Action.  One of the demonstrations which amazed me was in the glass marquee.  There was a stage, raised up down one side, on which was a glass kiln and also a large drum furnace.  Very spectacular.

The glass workers had long metal poles, at the end of one was a 'blob' of glass - this was plunged into the heat and swizzled and held until hot (melty) enough.  It was swiftly withdrawn and touched to the end of another long pole laid across a workbench and rolled and spun by another worker. The first glass pole person held the blob at just the right distance from the second pole, to keep the fluidity of the glass and the thickness of coil just right - too close and the coil would be too fat and snap on cooling.

This was repeated, the pole with glass plunged into the fire, brought out, touched to the second pole, glass adhered, pulled out and then coils magically appearing.  It was mesmerising.  The heat prevented me getting as close as I would have liked.

The little springs slid off the pole.  This was clear glass, which, prior to being heated, had been rolled in red glass powder, which gave it this pinky colouring. 

I just had to pick it up - and to my incredible surpise, the glass spring, sprung - it worked like a real spring, I squished and bounced it, and the beautiful little glass spiral remained intact and compressed and expanded in my fingers.  I came out of the marquee face burning and red with heat, and blinking in wonder.

I'm not sure which of the glass demonstraters I saw, so I'll just mention them all - the glass work was stunning.  Anthony Wassell, Heather Konschuh, Charlotte Sale, Liam Reeves, Jeremy Wintrebert, Tim Boswell, Graham Muir, Bruce Marks, Louis Thompson, and Phil Atrill

Talk and Demonstration about Sculpture

On Wednesday I gave a talk and demonstration about my work.  I have found giving talks and demonstrating stone carving such a good discipline and so enjoyable (after the nerves subside) that I try to make it a regular commitment.

On this occasion I was visiting the Whitby Art Society, who were a lovely and very welcoming group.  They have regular meetings at Sneaton Castle in Whitby, and it is here that I gave my talk.  Driving up towards the Castle and through the arched gateway made for a very grand entrance and it was lovely to be surrounded by so much magnificent stone.

Sneaton Castle Centre is situated in beautiful and extensive grounds adjacent to St Hilda's Priory which is the Mother house of the Order of the Holy Paraclete, an Anglican religious community.  The Centre is within walking distance of the heart of the historic and picturesque seaside town of Whitby, affording easy access to some of the most glorious countryside, notably the North Yorkshire Moors and coastline.

The castle itself dates back to the 19th Century and following major refurbishment, the buildings have been transformed into an ideal modern venue for Conferences, Training Events, Seminars, School, College and Youth Trips, Church Weekends, Holidays, Individual Breaks and Group Outings.

 

St Hilda's connection with Whitby is famous of course, with the Abbey on top of the cliff.

At the church beside the Abbey, St Mary's, there is a wonderful cross, Caedman Cross and in one of the panels is St Hilda herself, a beautiful carving - and what a face she has!  And I love the birds at the hem of her robes.  You can see something of her determined character, which must have been required in the setting up of her double monastery, for men and women, following a pattern of disciplined life - her Abbey became one of the greatest centres for religion and learning in the North East of England, and in the known world.

My talk covered things on a much smaller scale, such as where my ideas come from and realising them, what motivates creativity, paying attention to emotion and spirit, and transcribing it all into a reality in stone, and the practicalities of doing so.

I wonder if I dare carve a panel of me for eyes in the future - I have to say the idea is rather appealing and I'm thinking about what I might include!

The Best of the Best

I arrived at Art in Action early evening and with map in hand wandered the marquees, just before everything was closing for the day.  There was a large gathering on the lawn in front of the house, lots of chatter, warm sunshine and an excited buzz.  It drew me to a huge tent, full of people admiring the works being shown.  This was a collection of the best work from the event, and visitors had the chance to vote on which they thought 'the best'.  Nearly impossible of course, but a print of a Crow and a Rook got my attention.  But there were other beauties.

Metamorphosis Series by Rachel O'Dell

No-one Likes to be in a Cage by Catherine Hyde

Ceramics by Linda Dangoo

 

Close-by was a sculpture area, which I promised to go back to.

 Sculpture by Brendan Hesmondhalgh and David Cooke

I did get the chance to look round - though would have liked much longer.  The weather for the event was wonderful, and I explored the very delightful Waterperry gardens in the evening warmth (will share some of its beauty next time).  Four days full of care, love, creativity, art, performance, poetry, music  - utterly inspiring!

I came home with a Rook and a Crow by Louise Scott.  I love her prints and saw how she makes them, with beautiful etched copper plates (works of art in themselves) demonstrating her process.  I will treasure these birds.