Stour Valley Arts

For this project i was to create a proposal and to present my ideas to a client from Stour Valley arts. This corporation was in charge of educating people about Kings wood as well as commissioning artist to install site-pecific art relating to there experience of the forest.

Photo 1

In a group walked I walked around this forest during the month of February which meant most of the plants and trees were leaf-less and hibernating, this dark, cold and dull atmosphere gave me a sense of needing to be protected which was highlighted when it started to snow. (Photo 1). But through the whole forest the one thing that stuck out more than any thing was the bright moss that was thriving no matter what the weather. it was clinging to anything that was damp and exposed to the light. it was protected by the tree or rock it had attached it self to as well as protecting in return with a blanket appeal to it. (Photo 2)

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Photo 2

Another artist who influenced me was Stephen Turner with his "Tree Rings" which he placed paper underneath the base of certain trees and left them there to collect any thing falling onto it which the end result is beautiful is appearance and concept. (picture Below)

Stephan Turner "Tree Rings"

From when returned to my studio space I then started to draw directly from the forest literary using stripped bark i had felt over from making my maqutte, (Image 1 below) as well as framing nature (Image 2 & 3) like Herman De Vries work "journal la palma" were he frames pieces of nature to try and reintroduce it to the views as he feel that, todays world appears to have forgotten the beauty of the forest. (below)

Image 1

                                       

                                                  Image 2                                Image 3

Herman De Vries "journal la palma"

Referring back to proposal of a piece of work to be installed in the forest, i continued with my research into Moss and how and why it grows. During that time i collected some samples and with the help of the science department i roughly made some videos of moss under the microscope.( below) but i did not have enough time to complete it. I may come back to it one day and develop it into another piece of work.

After this and by looking at different shapes within the forest i decided to create a moss covered wall, (a bit like a cocoon) that could be integrated into it surrounding environment and to give a place to sit within the forest and allow people to sit and reflect on there surroundings. I created an maquette which i then added to a photo to help portray my concept. (image 4 & 5)

Image 4

Image 5

Overall this was a great project for learning how to research and prepare an proposal which has given my more confidence for future references. i early enjoyed making the maquette and drawing with new materials. i.e. the trees.