New Year, New Weaving

My New Years resolution is all about metal weaving by hand with the different types of metal available, and see where the journey takes me and of course I will be recording the findings and results on my trusted blog.

After a nice relaxing break over Christmas, it was back to the studio today full of ideas for new sculptures. Over the course of last year my experimental weaving was mainly with paper and plastic coated wire to help create some interesting new shapes and forms for my latest commission. It introduced me to the weaves of Corn Dollies which I would still like to continue with after finding a delightful old book whilst on holiday in a bookshop on the Isle of Wight. 

So after a full day of weaving with Aluminium wire, my fingers are very sore but I am pleased with the results. Take a look at the photos to follow.

The Grand Spheres feature swirls of woven willow withies over a steel spherical frame, which are preserved traditionally with Linseed Oil. As each willow withie is woven by hand, it creates a unique sculpture as no two Spheres will be identical. Rachel’s Grand Spheres have been exhibited across the UK and at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show and recently at the Kyiv Botanical Gardens, Ukraine.  

The Grand Spheres create a stunning focal point for any size garden, and here at Charlecote the Grand Sphere’s echo the symetrical layout and design of the topiary garden.  

More Sculpture at Charlecote Park

Mirroring the symmetrical layout of the Parterre is the Willow Drops, which combine a powder-coated tendril strand with either a light green or plum colour, fitted with a woven sphere of willow which will sway and spin in the breeze. The Willow Drops are easy to move around the garden to where ever you require a focal point and the Parterre’s box hedge layout is perfect for highlighting the possible uses for sculpture in the garden.

My latest installation at Charlecote Park, Warwickshire. 

The cedar lawn in front of the orangery provides the perfect blend of wilderness and order from the beautifully maintained flower beds to the wild nature of the cedar trees, it was this that inspired Rachel to install her latest sculpture which was this years RHS Chelsea showcase. Fifty Four individually woven spheres of willow are transformed into a sweeping installation across the lawn, viewers may stroll around the work or simply sit back with a coffee and watch as each sphere gently moves with the breeze. Rachel will be making regular visits to Charlecote to create new formations with the Willow Alliums on the Cedar Lawn.

wallacegardens:

Jaehyo Lee. View of work at Sculpture in Woodland, Ireland (2002).

Love the use of length of timber to create these stunning spheres

Murray Park school art commission - as part of my recent commission in Mickleover, I have been working with the pupils of Murray Park to create art from natural materials, taking inspiration from artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Derbyshire traditions such as Well Dressing.

To mark the end of the project and record its success, the GCSE students were given a mini commission, to design an art installation for the walls of the ADT department which will feature over 100 images of students work.

This is the fantastic winning design which will be manufactured into large art panels to cover the walls.

Sculptor Ronald Pope - In 2008 three of Derby’s institutions came together to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Ronald Popes death. Here is a snippet of the exhibition guide with kind permission from Robert Burstow.

If you would like more information about this event or the sculptures currently owned by the University of Derby, please get in touch with Robert - R.Burstow@derby.ac.uk 

These two students used the torn sections of paper to create effect by careful arrangement

Ripping and tearing the paper gave the individual pieces texture, curling helped to add depth to the paper art 

Using tone and pattern as the brief and nature as inspiration the pupils at Murray Park School created some stunning art works, with this first batch using scissors to cut shapes.