Sculpture in a Landscape 1969 - 2020 at West Leaze

 This sculpture exhibition was to have been the Friends fifth and final visit of the year, but due to restrictions imposed by Covid -19, this has been the only visit which is able to take place. Because things are happening differently this year, we have not been able to travel together in a coach, or car share, but we are going independently. I visited yesterday, and wanted to encourage everyone who can do so to visit this very special exhibition in the fabulous garden at West Leaze where the 1969 exhibition took place.

Their website gives this introduction:

'This year our exhibition, ‘Sculpture in a Landscape 1969 – 2020’, has a rather different focus from our previous shows. In 1969 the same property was one of the first private gardens in the country to be used for showing contemporary sculpture. That exhibition was organised by sculptor Roger Leigh and his wife Pat. It featured 18 sculptors many of them with reputations that survive to this day. They included Hubert Dalwood, Denis Mitchell, Henry Moore, William Pye and Austin Wright. The Wiltshire archives hold many of the papers about this exhibition and visitors to the exhibition will be able to get an insight into that event. Work by several of the 1969 artists will also be on show.'

Yesterday was a glorious day to visit, the sun shone properly for the first day in a while, and everything was seen at its best, although not all photographs turned out well, so what follows is a mixture of what photographed well, and things I loved. The sculptures were set out on a slope dipping away from the house in uncut grass with paths mown through, making it perfect for wildlife and chalkland flowers. The sheep in the first photograph look very realistic, and looked fabulous beside the beautiful conifer, they are by Jon Barrett-Danes and are resident in the landscape, they were missing lambs and a dog which have now been installed. Included in the entry fee of £7.50 is a magnificent catalogue giving an excellent summary of each sculptor taking part. If you have visited once, you can return to the exhibition provided you bring new visitors with you, well arrive at the same time.

This installation of five pieces 'Occelli' is made of copper and glass by Peter M Clarke are really reminiscent of .seed heads.

I suddenly saw scabious flowers

and harebells among the grass

And then noticed one of Sara Ingleby-Mackenzie's wonderful creations, 'Uptown Girl' beside the summerhouse. I first encountered her work at Urchfont Manor in 2018. Sara has been creating unique sculpture since 1982. More on her website

Everything at West Leaze has been carefully orchestrated, in the nicest possible way, and this includes things like this delightful planter in front of the summerhouse

The physicality of this work, 'Themis' by Tobias Ford made from welded steel which has been rusted and cured is magnificent.

And now I'm including photos of another two pieces by Peter M Clarke. He says: 'The essence of nature-the patterns, shapes and textures to be found on leaves, bark or seed - provide the inspiration behind the creation of my metal sculptures'

Above 'Pynaceae'. copper on wooden plinth, and below 'Copper Leaf'

Tim then drew my attention to the bark on a nearby tree:

This 'Murmuration' by Diana Barraclough worked really well.

Below Dominic Clare's 'Succession 2020' in western red cedar is an impressive piece. The wood has been shot blasted and burnt exposing the grain by blowing away the soft summer growth. When looking at it, we spoke to someone who has visited his workshop.

We were by now walking uphill, and towards the pond which gave us more entertainment, we stayed for at least 15 minutes watching dragon flies chasing each other around, and water boatmen ducking and diving in the crystal clear water.

I asked permission to photograph this woman posing beside John O'Connor's 'Spring' sculpture.

Matt Maddocks' sculptures on the grass, in the sun looked great, this one is 'Creation' grey granite mirror polished

and this is 'Aurora' in grey granite

Below this is titled  'Dreams Remembered' by Lucy Lutyens

This was a lovely sitting area to one side of the house where pieces by Jane Muir were displayed, I liked the artichoke so much I bought a small one in the shop. It looks lovely in the garden, and a great reminder of the visit.

This piece by Peter Hayes right in front of the house was fantastic. I really admired his pieces in the exhibition at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. There must be a record of it in this blog somewhere.

I'll include another of Sara Ingleby-Mackenzie's girls in long high heeled boots.

The signboards were designed by Mollie Gratland and were fascinating.

I have included a letter from Desmond Morris above, there's information about West Leaze below, and Jimmy Bomford also attended the private view of the 1969 exhibition.

Thank you to everyone who made this such a special exhibition, with special thanks to Lesley Andrews who curated the exhibition. Please spread the word about it.

Tickets are available on the website and must be bought in advance, the exhibition continues until 27 September, and is open every day but Monday and Tuesday.

 

Trip to Urchfont Manor

Last Friday, we were fortunate enough to visit the contemporary sculpture exhibition organised by Friends of the Garden at Urchfont Manor. I was approached by exhibition curator, Lesley Andrews about a year ago, she suggested we arrange a fundraising trip to visit the 2018 exhibition. The Friends of the Garden organisation started in 2007 as a voluntary organisation with two objectives: to foster public appreciation of contemporary sculpture and to fund bursaries for artists has displayed sculpture at Urchfont five times before, this time the difference was that it doesn't any longer belong to Wiltshire County Council, but is now in private ownership. The 5 acre garden consists of fabulous parkland with many mature trees reaching their potential by virtue of being spaced apart from other trees; the part around the vegetable garden has been reconfigured by award winning garden designer DelBuono Gazerwitz.
The garden certainly provides a wonderful backdrop for the works by 21 artists, and although we were at Urchfont for 5 hours, I spent a lot of time looking at some pieces. Lots of information can be found on all the artists taking part by clicking here. I took a few photos, do have a look, they are displayed in the order they were taken:

 The first part of the garden one enters is the formal vegetable garden where there were works by Hayley Jones on display, from the point of view of a gardener, these are perfect because they are ready mounted on old gates, tools and other things!

 Above a blackbird on a watering can, and below a hen sitting in a grass filled trough.

 Then there were some robins dotted around, like this one:

From there I was attracted to some eye catching 'daisies and tulips' by Lynn Baker, these below are made using kiln formed glass in a delicate procedure involving cutting and breaking glass into individual pieces and then reforming it. They are then put into a kiln to fuse and slump each piece.

 Lynn also specialises in working with the graal technique to produce these pieces of blown glass:

Also in the walled garden, we saw Jacquie Primrose's large pieces made especially for this exhibition, here's one below:

 And also the smaller pieces made to complement the white and purple theme in this part of the gravel garden

 Looking as though they are permanent fixtures in the garden, 3 large glazed pots in juxtaposition with the formal layout of the newly planted gravel garden by Taz Pollard

 Lesley Andrews had kindly organised  two of the artists taking part in the exhibition to come and talk to us. The first before lunch was Tom Hiscocks. Below you can see his sculpture 'Many Become One'. Tom is a Wiltshire based figurative artist working mainly in laser cut steel; he talked movingly about inspirations in his life and what his work means to him.

 Here's the group waiting for Tom to start talking,  giving me a good photo opportunity

 After Tom's talk, I wandered around the parkland and was drawn to Giles Penny RWA's bronze entitled 'Man Who Caught the Moon'

 Quite close by, Dominic Clare's 'Knobbly Trunk' demanded more than a second glance

 I rather fancied one of these 'Houses on Stilts' by Alison Berman for the garden

They were situated beneath a catalpa tree, I was keen to get a photograph looking up

 Sara Ingleby-McKenzie showed a series of exotic figures in the beech hedge spiral, this one is called 'Calypso' and would look fantastic in my garden.

 Here are some of Jacquie Primrose's bees and butterflies in the orchard

 I was looking for something to take home from this exhibition, and already having 3 of Jacquie Primrose's mosaics, chose one of these 'Cornflowers' by Ruth Molloy. It looks fabulous in the garden.

 I came across Rosie Musgrave's work across the orchard. She was showing 3 very tactile pieces. Calming, soothing and wonderful to look at. This one is called 'WayMark lll'

 Also in the orchard I came across 'Somerset cranes' also by Hayley Jones

 The gardens and parkland was fabulous, and just look at the stripes on the lawn!!

 Last, but by no means least, Jacquie Primrose talked to us just before we went home about her practice.

It was a perfect day out, do go and have a look at the exhibition before it ends on 8 July. I couldn't include everyone in this blog, but I did appreciate John O'Connor's work and very much liked this quote: 'Our emotional state of being  is reflected in the physical. John's work demonstrates this beautifully'
I've taken this from the website so you know when to visit:

2018 Celebrating Art in the Garden at Urchfont Manor

Our 2018 exhibition is now open at Urchfont Manor, SN10 4RF.
The exhibition will be open until 8 July, 11am – 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday only. Please note that we will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is £5 per adult; accompanied young people under 16 will have free entry.
Only assistance dogs are allowed. Visitors using wheelchairs should note that although the site is flat, access to most parts of the garden is over mown grass paths and these may be difficult for users of push only wheelchairs.
Exhibition entrance is on the western edge of the Urchfont village green. There is NO parking around the green. Visitors should follow "Parking" signs in the village that will take you to a parking area a short walk from the exhibition entrance. Parking for people with a disability and booked coach parties will be available on site, please contact us.
There will be a café in the stable yard serving delicious light lunches, morning coffee and afternoon teas.
A popup shop will be offering work for immediate sale by participating artists.
If you would like to make a booking for an art or garden group or for further information please contact us.
This exhibition forms part of Pound Arts Rural Arts Touring Programme, see www.poundarts.org.uk