Following on from the successful exhibitions in 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 (see films on webpages) Dulverton Weir & Leat Conservation Trust was pleased to stage a much larger Exhibition in 2021. As usual sculptures were exhibited on ‘pitches’ set in Dulverton’s historic mill leat and this year were joined by other works of art by professional artists displayed around the town itself. In total there were 20 works of art to be seen.
As always, the exhibition offered artists a challenge in terms of design and manufacture. The large number of visitors always in the town at this time of year and the exhibition’s open air location (which breaks down barriers between artist and viewer) offered artists considerable public exposure with a great opportunity to engage directly with the public.
This year’s event was especially interesting because the Trust participated in the Oxford University research project: THE RIPPLE EFFECT: NOTICING RIVERS PAST AND PRESENT which took place at the same time as the Kinetic Exhibition in collaboration with Oxford University School of Archaeology’s Artist-in-Residence Miranda Creswell. This interdisciplinary project brought small bursts of unexpected culture and knowledge directly to people at specific sites in the landscape both on location and through online engagement.
This public engagement project is connected to the Archaeology School’s Leverhulme Trust-funded research project: EBB & FLOW – EXPLORING RIVERS IN LATER PREHISTORIC BRITAIN.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT takes archaeological places near rivers and turns them into Outdoor Culture Hubs, creating a series of artworks, learning materials and short films all accessible online, to reach people both indoors and out, to enhance their experience of Riverine Landscapes and expand their sense of time and depth.
**************Official exhibition film expected ************
List of Artworks
1. ‘Transforming Movement’ by Luke Tupper. His steel sculpture captures the essence of the leat, both historically and atmospherically, using the raw energy of water to power a mechanism that references the mills that used it. This sculpture is currently on long-term loan to the Trust – see the 2016 Sculpture Exhibition webpage for more information.
2. ‘Waves’ by Helen Solly. A stainless-steel minimal abstract sculpture, a flowing form imitating the motion of water in waves and ripples.
3. ‘Sun on your back’ by Miranda Creswell (part of the ‘Ripple Effect’ project). A painting on silk suspended over Dulverton Leat and displayed next to a former silk mill. Miranda is Artist in Residence at The School of Archaeology, University of Oxford. This painting is inspired by Miranda’s experience of wild swimmimng and depicts a woman jumping out of the water like a fish. The waving silk mirrors the quickly changing nature of the water itself. You can contact Miranda by email – miranda.creswell@ymail.com. Find out more about the ‘Ripple Effect’ project here – https://ebbandflow.ox.ac.uk
4. ‘On Reflection’ by Pine Feroda, a collaborative woodcut print by three artists (Merlyn Chesterman, Ian Phillips and Judith Westcott) in a unique artistic collaboration who together create large-scale dramatic woodcuts inspired by North Devon & Exmoor. All creative decisions are taken collectively with the entire woodcutting, inking and pressing process carried out by hand with each edition taking the group several months to complete.
You can contact Pine Feroda by email via Judith Westcott – judithwestcott@me.com
5. ‘Watercourse’ by Judith Westcott. A woodcut print illustrating the vitality of the shallow river as it hurries on in its shadowed bed bringing life to the surrounding land. You can contact Judith by email – judithwestcott@me.com
6. ‘Leap of Faith’ by Jo Minoprio. A woodcut print depicting a salmon leaping out of the water. It represents a salmon returning to the river to spawn. “This picture for me represents the hope we should all have that the Atlantic Salmon will one day be swimming in plentiful numbers up the river Barle to start finding their spawning grounds. New life, new hope”. Contact Jo by email – jodown@fhsinternet.com
7. ‘Iris Reflection’ by Sarah Gatehouse. An Acrylic painting showing irises standing in a watercourse. “I prefer to paint what I feel, which results in a much more visual loose and sometimes more abstract style. Contact Sarah by email – sarahgatehouse1@gmail.com.
8. ‘River Barle at Dulverton Weir’ by Leo Davey. A watercolour and mixed media picture depicting a full River Barle just before the new spring leaves appear on the trees around mid-April. “Weather, time of day and seasonal change means a particular location can be painted over and over again without feeling that you’re repeating yourself”. You can contact Leo via his website – www.leodavey.com
9. ‘Canada Goose’ and ‘The Perigrines’ (not shown) by Julian Witts. Woodcut prints of frequent visitors to Exmoor. “I’m striving for a harmonious coming together of all the elements involved: subject, tools and material”. You can contact Julian by email – stormtides@hotmail.com
10. ‘Murmuration’ by Helen Solly. A stainless-steel sculpture depicting swallows.
12. ‘Cut Glass, after the flood-the Barle at Pinkworthy’ by Clare Shepherd. An oil on canvas picture capturing the crisp air and brightness of the landscape after a rainy season on Exmoor. “I wanted to capture the crisp clear air and brightness of the landscape after a very rainy season”. You can contact Clare by email – clare.shep@btinternet.com
13. ‘Flood’ by Anne de Gues. Showing what can happen when water is not channelled, where the smallest disturbance can still form a ripple effect. “My paintings are not abstract, but are abstracted from the subject. They are based on reality but are not portraits of places. They are just what I see and feel”. You can contact Anne via her website – www.anne.degeus.com
14. ‘Ophelia’ by Jackie Leighton Boyce. A ceramic sculpture after the painting by Millais, depicting a character from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, singing before she drowns herself. This sculpture is on permanent loan to the Trust – see 2017 exhibition webpage for more information.15. ‘Wind and Water’by Andrew Jones. A mixed media sculpture. As the flow of water and wind move his sculpture the flow of the leat is contrasted with the vagaries of the wind above. This sculpture is currently on long-term loan to the Trust – see 2017 exhibition webpage for more information.
16. ‘Lotus’ by Helen Solly. A stainless-steel minimal abstract sculpture depicting a lotus growing in Dulverton Leat. You can contact Helen via her website – www.helensolly.com
17, 18 & 19. ‘Small Metal Helix’, ‘Large Metal Helix’ & ‘Galactic Swirl’ by Harry Mansfield. Metal helix sculptures which cast light reflections on walls and water as they rotate. “Helix garden art can be mesmeric. Reflections can catch walls, ceilings and water when in direct sunlight to create organic patterns reminiscent of twinkling water”. You can contact Harry by email – harryman71@hotmail.com
20. ‘Spring Stream, Woody Bay, North Devon’ by Pat Glover. A mixed media painting on board.
“I’m lucky to have lived in North Devon for 30 years where the abundance of moor, mood and seascapes provide constant inspiration”. You can contact Pat by email – gloverglove@aol.com
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