Head of Bacchus

This is the head Paul has created for his sculpture of Bacchus god of male fertility, wine, and growth ,which will be on show at Stourhead .There is a classical sculpture of Bacchus at Stourhead and Paul wanted to make a modern version from trash and found materials.

Heron Sculpture

                                                    We have all become heron conscious
                                                    as we are making a flock of herons to
                                                    stand in a lake at Stourhead. Wiltshire in
                                                    a sculpture trail on show throughout the
                                                    month of  September. Anthony saw these
                                                    two heron sculptures at Easleach House in
                                                    Gloucestershire.

                                                  

Some completed work

These new Cocoon sculptures by Fiona will initially feature in an Exhibition 'Mystery and Mutability' at Bridgwater Arts Centre (30 April – 26 May).  The Exhibition evokes concepts of change, growth, hidden worlds, emergence and transformation.    


Some of these pieces will later be shown in the Scraptors' Sculpture Trail at Stourhead in September.

The Frogs mock King Heron

Scrap

Fiona and Anthony have just been to a meeting at Stourhead today about our Sculpture Trail in September.  Stourhead looked so gorgeous in the sunshine, with buds blooming and daffodils out.  The Trail is going to be fab, and as long as it doesn’t rain, the launch will be a very inspirational event!

Stourhead in Spring

We are looking for sponsorship (some already secured) and contributions of scrap (ie mild steel, wire, colourful aluminium cans, bottle tops and plastic) to create pieces for the Trail.  To donate please contact: (01749) 880394/01985) 840223/(01373) 836786.

Fiona was very fortunate this morning to have been given 2 large 6mm off cuts of steel sheet and have them plasma cut (by Sam in Doulting) into the shapes she wanted.  They will form the bases of 2 Cocoon pieces she's working on – ready for her Bridgwater Exhibition in May.  Some of these Cocoons will also feature in the Stourhead Trail.  See her website for further images:  www.fionacampbellart.co.uk

Detail of nestling Cocoon

Drawing for Cocoon on spike

Hercules with strangled Serpent by Anthony Wilson

Anthony has finished his Infant Hercules with Strangled Serpent and set it up in his garden. It will be on show in the Beyond the Garden Gate Exhibition at Stourhead in September 2O11.Its tail will emerge from a bush or a lake to make it appear even longer than it really is.

Forging ahead

Several months have passed since Stourhead (National Trust Estate) first raised the possibility of our group creating a circular sculpture trail at Stourhead entitled 'Beyond the Garden Gate'.  Various site visits, meetings, designs and much discussion have finally led to our Trail being given the go ahead.  Yay... all very exciting!  We decided it would be fun to have a brand name and this week 'Scraptors' came into being.  Just to push the boat out (and have a dip in the lake - a bit silty as Rachel discovered...) we made some Heron masks and had a PR photoshoot with the help of vj Jack's fantastic photography skills (of http://vjultra.blogspot.com/)  - see our photos below.  

Heron - Paul Boswell/RachelMacleay

Frog - Anthony Wilson

Flower  detail - Rachel Macleay

Flora amongst bulrushes - Rachel Macleay

Cocoon - Fiona Cambell

                                                Posing as Herons with Heron and Frog



The plan is to create a series of sculptures which will explore themes connected with Stourhead, the story of the garden, the Hoares, the iconography of the temples and grottoes, wildlife and flora.  Some will be collaborative and some will be made by us individually.  Here are a couple of designs so far:

Bacchus crouching beside the lake, chasing a maiden/nymph - Paul Boswell

Arched forms, which will meet and entwine in a nest structure over the wooded path - Fiona 

Campbell

Now for the real stuff of making...  Watch this space!