Experimenting with casting winter animal tracks, in this case ‘polecat’. Natural history detective investigation as artwork.
Duncan Cameron 27/2/15
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Month: February 2015
Artist Research Trip 2
On 19th February, one of our artists, Stuart Frost, flew over from Norway to do a recce of our Mendip quarry sites in Somerset. We were unlucky with the weather again as it poured with rain all day, but the 3 of us – Nick Weaver, Fiona Campbell and Stuart – managed to visit 4 quarries and our indoor sites – Somerset Earth Science Centre and Black Swan Arts. Joined by step in stone artist Suzie Gutteridge and photographer Duncan Simey in the afternoon, we took a minibus trip into Whatley quarry. This isn’t part of the Trail, but it was incredible to venture into one of the largest quarries in Europe right on our doorstep, accompanied by Juliet Lawn from Somerset Earth Science Centre and donned with hard hats and glasses. Whatley is owned by Hanson UK who also own Westdown, where we will be installing some work for our event this summer.
Thanks to Duncan Simey for taking some great photos of the day.
Fiona Campbell 27/2/15
Fairy Cave Quarry Friday 27th February
I met up with Fiona today and we both went up – down? – to the Fairy Quarry for a drawing session.
Sketching morning
What different weather we had from the Artists’ Research trip a month ago. Though pretty cold it was so bright, and the colours were changing across the rocks as the sun came out from behind a cloud (video opportunity?)
Red Rocks panorama
The Buddleia is going to be quite spectacular come the summer:
Buddleia
Being in the quarry is like being in a cave without the lid.
Stone mountain
Fiona said it felt like being in Africa..
Africa?
Spot Fiona in the landscape
Spot Fiona
Bron Bradshaw 27.2.15
Artists Research Trip 1
An Artist Research Trip on a cold, wet day in January gave those involved an opportunity to get together on site, explore various starting points and develop ideas and artwork for the project.
“It was very inspiring despite the weather and I got home buzzing!” says artist Suzie Gutteridge.
The 3 quarries have very different characteristics – Westdown/Asham is disused, massive and dramatic, with a long pathway and stream, neighbouring Asham Woods SSSI. It was used as a backdrop for filming Dr Who. Halecombe is a working quarry with a peripheral circular public pathway overlooking the site, while Fairy Cave Quarry is mysterious with stunning limestone rock formations and renowned caves.
“I found the quarry landscapes really fascinating, alien, exciting …” artist Ralph Hoyte.
Fiona Campbell 9/2/15
