Owl Tree at Stourhead

Back at Stourhead installing stuff for the Beyond the Garden Gate sculpture trail to be in place throughout September. Paul painted an owl on the Owl Tree which has owl sculptures on it. The two little owls in the holes above Paul's painting are by Anthony made with recycled glass.. The flying owl in the lower image is a sculpture made from a recycled car fender by Anthony. In the distance it looks like a real bird to the confusion of twitchers.

One of the themes of the trail is the legends of Ancient Greece and Rome which inspired the Hoares, creators of the iconic landscape garden. The owl was revered as a symbol of wisdom in Ancient Greece.

SCRAP – THE NEW ALCHEMY!

Pylle Motor Spares (near Shepton Mallet) long established in the scrap business, have become art patrons!  They have donated scrap to the Scraptors, who scavenge incessantly for material for their sculptures.

The spirit of alchemy overcame our photographer VJUltra – creating a palindrome image of our scrap hunt.

VJUltra will be doing an animation film at the preview/launch of our Trail at Stourhead on 1st September (5.30-7.30pm)

Pylle responded to an appeal by the Scraptors for bits and pieces for their forthcoming Trail at Stourhead.  Sarah Herring and Ped Rossiter, at Pylle Motors said “it’s great to see some things being created into art rather than crushed”.  Although individual in style, South West 'Scraptors' Fiona Campbell, Anthony Wilson, Paul Boswell and Rachel Macleay all use mainly recycled and found materials in their sculptures.  Their new venture will be a circular sculpture trail “Beyond the Garden Gate” at Stourhead National Trust Estate, (1-30^th September ’11).  With no funding for the project, the Scraptors have been relying on their own ingenuity to source materials.

Now that the price of scrap metal has reached new heights, the Scraptors are finding it more difficult to obtain donations of scrap, such as steel and copper wire, for their work.  These days, people are understandably even more likely to save their scrap metal to trade in for extra money!   It’s a lucrative business for scrap merchants.

In additon to finding materials on walks, at scrap yards and in skips, some off cuts of steel and scrap have already been kindly donated by friends, together with companies such as John Shepherd Feeders and Pylle Motor Spares.  In response to a newspaper article, a lady, Karen Green, invited them to collect a supply of metal tools from an elderly man (Ed’s) sheds, as he no longer required them. It turned out to be a treasure trove of trash – literally shed loads of interesting shapes for their new pieces! (See article Ed's Sheds below)

Fiona has been a regular customer at Pylle Motor Spares, scouring the huge heaps of scrap, usually to find various steel parts and colourful copper wire, which she buys.  “The range of rich reds and oranges that come from alternators, for example, are fantastic colours for my woven sculptures.  I like the concept of reusing things – giving them a rebirth – and the playfulness of creating forms from given shapes”.  Apart from the obvious environmental benefits of using scrap, Paul says “ I enjoy creating work out of scrap as it leads to an interesting collision of different materials.” In the mountain of scrap at the yard, Paul instantly saw a hippopotamus, giant dog and gorilla!  “As a child, my nickname was ‘Stig-of-the-dump’” says Rachel “..not alot’s changed!!”  Utilising coloured plastic bottles, Rachel creates exotic flowers and creatures.  Anthony says “My idea of heaven is a giant scrapyard!”  In his large, wild garden even the bushes become sculptures – nothing is safe from his zoomorphic touch!

Further donations of scrap steel, copper wire, colourful bottle tops, beads and buttons would all be much appreciated.  Tel:  (01749) 880394/(01373) 836786/scraptors@hotmail.co.uk