SUMMER Newsletter 2021 Growth

Midsummer is upon us. The Croft feels energetically charged with

life - abundance - growth.

Everything is shooting forth and every time you pass a fruit tree you can see the fruit swelling a little bit more than the last time you looked! 

Restrictions are due to be lifted, but still uncertainty lingers as to when that is going to be. Throughout this pandemic, as well as with other unknowns in life, I get reassuring solace from the seasons cyclic return. Summer time is particularly optimistic, with the calming strength of the trees in their finest greens and the coloured accents of the wild flowers interspersed within the meadows.

So many visual treats to notice and capture your attention. 

SOOA

ARTIST FEATURE

Peter Ward

“It has been said that artists remind us of what we have lost, and this is certainly true of Peter Ward. He connects us to the very beginning: to the beginning of the earth, to the beginning of art and to the beginning of life.” Sandy Brown, Resurgence magazine.

Peter Ward has spent the last 13 years researching the geology, social history and creative applications of earth pigments gathered and processed by hand in southwest England. His current research explores the character and ecological implications of pigments from mining waste and natural landforms in West Cornwall.

Peter shares his work through paintings, photography, workshops, installations and presentations.

Since early 2020, and throughout the Covid crisis, he has expressed and documented his experience through the use of earth pigments and other found materials as a body and face painting medium.

Peter is currently based in Boscaswell, West Penwith.

His latest work can be seen on his Instagram account @peteward.artist.

Visit his website ://peterward-artist-illustrator.co.uk

Having participated on this course myself, I highly recommend it's accessibility, relaxed approach yet comprehensive practical and informative content.  Pete is a generous and highly knowledgeable facilitator passively steering an interactive collaborative art piece which culminated perfectly an enlightening, enjoyable and expansive day course.

Seasonal News!

Just last week we did our first tentative mow, managing the balance of excessive growth being too much for our little vintage tractor and topper to cope with and keeping plenty of wild patches for pollinators and pollinisers to thrive. As well as leaving an abundance of aesthetic flora for artists to enjoy and immortalise.

My exciting news is I have a 'primary'  pigment garden developing nicely. From left to right ; a Madder patch, which eventually will yield a red pigment, yellow will hopefully be possible as my Weld plants expand from 3 - these have been the least successful to grow from seed. Lastly the blue is prolific in Woad plants, which I have been told will be possible to extract this year! I have read that the combination of Woad and Weld create, famed by Robin Hood and his Merrymen's atire,  a 'Lincoln Green'. I also have a strong crop of 'Hopi Black Sunflowers that I am really looking forward to blooming and observing their solar rotating at the sun passes over the Art field. These will produce a purple pigment. Magic!

The pigment garden is situated next to the 'Pigment Processing Plant - or Earth Station ' glazed with repurposed doors from Goohilly Earth Station  - a satellite communications station situated locally here in Cornwall.  I also like to refer to this 'barn' as 'The Mother Plant'. A central point for extra resources, a covered teaching space and winter home to the 6 Pod Studios that I designed and had made thanks to a creative investment grant from 'Cultivator' - a business development programme that supports the creative sector in Cornwall. 

The Pods are Portable Outdoor Studios that reverse the concept of a studio space, no longer confined by walls your artistic expression can run wild! 

I like to see the pods as creative seed pods, that off shoot from the 'Mother Plant'  sending out creative tendrils holding the tools and media, easily accessed encouraging creative flow to grow and bloom in an individual and unique way.  Supported and inspired by mother nature.

Many more courses and opportunities and events to come so keep an eye out on social media and the website for updates. 

Coming Soon......

Find out more daily at SOOA social media accounts.

Seasonal wishes and wellbeing to one and all.

Thank you so much for reading.

Oll an Gwella