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Step in Stone by fionacampbell
“I am delighted that the Black Swan Arts will be a part of the project and I am personally honoured and excited to be involved.” Amanda Sheridan, Chair, Black Swan Arts Centre, Frome
“This is a worthy project which deserves to succeed” David Weeks, Hansons
WHAT:
step in stone will be a collaborative, multi-stranded art trail around 3-4 disused and working quarries in the East Mendips to illuminate these spectacular, hidden landscapes and explore Somerset’s heritage and beauty. The artists will develop and create a series of research-led site-specific temporary artworks for a curated trail in response to the nature of quarries. Contemporary sculpture, land art, photography, textiles, painting, drawing, sound, spatial poetry and printmaking will be installed within these environments, aiming to surprise, delight, challenge, fascinate and inform.
A free event to the public, the quarry art trail will encompass natural history, ecology and geology. Through partnerships with Somerset Art Works, Mendip AONB and Somerset Wildlife Trust we will inspire and engage the wider community via guided tours, talks and family workshops with contributing artists and linked exhibitions in the Black Swan Arts Centre, Frome and Somerset Earth Science Centre, near Shepton Mallet.
WHY:
Quarries are a huge part of Somerset’s industrial past and present. Limestone concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. Steeped in controversy, mystery and bio-diversity, many quarries are now disused, enigmatic environments, taken over by wildlife, some designated as Sites of Special Scientific interest. Others are desolate underworlds of canyons, lakes, huge ruins and rusting industrial machinery – fossils of an ancient era. The pros and cons of quarrying are ambiguous and controversial, fodder for comment and enquiry. The drama and grandeur of these largely concealed landscapes, which provide an extraordinary backdrop for experiencing art, will be revealed, offering visitors moments of insight and wonder.
step in stone curator and artist Fiona Campbell discovered disused quarries through exploratory dog walks. Fascinated by them, she also found them a useful source of discarded scrap metal for her sculptural work. After 3 years of investigation, Fiona has brought together groups of like-minded passionate artists, scientists and educators for the project.
There are limited arts activities in rural East Mendip.We want as broad an audience as possible to appreciate fresh, contemporary art in inspiring settings. At the same time we want to encourage more people to explore the natural, cultural and industrial heritage of Somerset. As well as leaflets, worksheets, blog & soundcloud we will produce a quality step in stone catalogue & documentary film, creating a lasting legacy.
WHO:
The team includes leading local, regional and international artists, invited and selected with the assistance of Somerset Art Works and Black Swan Arts Centre. Fiona Campbell, with help from Amanda Wallwork (Sherborne House Arts Director & co-curator of exlab & B-side Fest, Dorset) and Zoe Li (SAW & Arts Council manager) will curate the project. Somerset Earth Science Centre and Black Swan Arts Centre will host related exhibitions. Other parties such as Somerset Wildlife Trust, Mendip AONB and Ruth Worsley (Education coordinator, Quarry Faces) will be involved in public engagement and we have so far acquired plenty of public support. step in stone offers new opportunities for cross-fertilisation, challenges and development of practice for featured artists and an opportunity for fresh collaboration between artists, host bodies, local communities and educational groups. Drawn from as far away as Australia, all artists have a connection with the South West of England, most being based there.
To donate to this project click below.
Artists:
Artmusic – interdisciplinary collaborations. See Lachrymae
Cath Bloomfield – low relief sculptures, assemblages, collagraph, and print
Bronwen Bradshaw – abstract contemporary printmaker. See Somerset Printmakers
Duncan Cameron – mixed media sculptural work. See natural history collections in cabinets
Fiona Campbell – sculptor using recycled metal and found materials. See SAW/NGS Abundance Garden Trail; Scraptors narrative sculpture Trail; Glastonbury Festival
Duncan Elliott – sculptures from found rock fragments. See Atkinson Gallery
Tessa Farmer – international artist of miniscule sculptures. See Natural History Museum, Saatchi Gallery, Holburne Museum
Stuart Frost – sculptor & environmental artist. See Victoria Art Gallery, Bath & Professor of Art, Norway
Suzie Gutteridge – multi media artist. See Sheffield Millenium Galleries
Ralph Hoyte – sculptural & spatial poetry. See Bristol’s floating harbour verse & Garden of the 4 Jewels
Sally Kidall – international environmental artist. See Bondi Beach, Sculpture by the Sea & International Contemporary Sculpture Festival
Caroline Sharp – artist & landscape architect. See Walford Mill & Crafts Study Centre
Amanda Wallwork – artist. See Mapping The Jurassic Coast; exlab project & b-side multi media arts festival
Christina White – photographic artist and teacher. See Quarry Faces & Mendip Rocks!
WHEN:
Planned for July–Oct ’15, the finale will tie in with Somerset Art Weeks Festival ’15 and a related exhibition at Black Swan Arts Centre, Frome (3-18 Oct). An accompanying exhibition at Somerset Earth Science Centre will be held from July-October to include Christina White’s impressive quarry photographs..
Workshops during one week in July ’15 at Somerset Earth Science Centre will link with SAW’s InspirED delivery to schools, as well as the wider community.
WHERE:
Halecombe (working quarry – confirmed use by La Farge Tarmac) has a peripheral circular public pathway overlooking the quarry. Westdown (disused quarry – agreed by Hansons) is massive, dramatic, with a long pathway and stream leading to Asham Woods (SSSI). It was used as a backdrop for filming Dr Who. Moon’s Hill (working quarry – Wainwrights) is next to Somerset Earth Science Centre. We hope to site a large sculpture at the main entrance, as a beacon. Fairy Cave (disused quarry – confirmed use for finale fortnight during Somerset Arts Festival ’15) has stunning limestone rock formations and caves. All quarries are in close proximity to SESC, Stoke St Michael and not far from Black Swan Arts Centre, Frome.
BUDGET:
The money raised provides important matchfunding for the artists’ work and community elements of the project. We have already secured some funding eg from Mendip Hills, and currently applying to the Arts Council (Grants for Arts) and other sources in order to achieve funding for the whole project. Please note: If we reach or exceed our goal of £3000 on IdeasTap, these funds will be safeguarded regardless of the success of other grant applications; step in stone will go ahead. If necessary, we will produce a a scaled down version, according to the level of funding achieved, with fewer artists contributing new work. The exhibitions, workshops and tours would still go ahead as we have already raised some funds and have strong partnerships with the host bodies, who have made significant non-financial commitments.
Target funding = £33,829
Expenditure
Artwork/Artist fees (to include research, development, installation, material costs, indoor exhibitions, tour guiding & manning during SAW Festival): £20,000 total
Artist travel costs: £1000
Education: Half day workshops x 14 @ £100 per half day = £1400
Exhibition costs (lighting/materials/print/labour/curating/mentoring/launch costs) = £2000
Design & print of leaflets/maps/educations packs/worksheets/catalogues = £2000
Signage = £280
Insurance = £100
DBS Checks = £66
Management, co-ordination, admin, planning and development 25 days @ £150 per day = £3750
SAW bookkeeping/bank account = £400
Marketing: SAW Catalogue entry = £150 (matched with SAW’S ‘in kind’ of £150) + £1090 (including film, quirky code/sound cloud setup/ads) = £1240
Plus 5% contingency = £1592.80
In kind:
Quarries = some materials + use of equipment; SAW open surgery/advice = £100 + SAW match funding for marketing = £150; ACE surgery; SESC venue + time; Black Swan venue; Film maker Jack Offord = discount of £300; Volunteers (104hrs x £8 p.hr) = £832, Lead Artist and other professionals’ donated time @ 240 hrs x £8 p.hr = £1920; Marketing (80 hrs x £8 p.hr) = £640. Total so far = £5942
Potential Earned Income: Family workshops @ £10 per family = £280 (aprx)
Sculpture Design Competition Entries (x 100 young people): = £500
Catalogue donations = £200
THANK YOU so much for having a look at our project. We’d love your support and please do share via emails, social media and word of mouth. NB: If you wish to donate please click ‘back project’ button. If we don’t reach our target of £3000, we won’ t receive anything via this platform. Every pound takes us a step closer to producing a great project!
