We learnt that the woodland area had been undergoing a lot of improvements through a hard-working volunteer gardening team. We sent out an appeal to our members, laying out the proposal and asked for email responses in the first instance. We needed to gauge the mood on the ground. Well, we got about 18 artists who responded. I spoke to each one on the phone - it was so nice to have human contact- and hatched a plan of action in these COVID times. It would be an Art-in-Action event.
To get over the security concerns, the artists were asked to set up in designated areas and stay with their display, showing how they work to the public. I was excited about doing this as I love engaging with the public while I’m working on a sculpture, but would others? They answered "yes"!
We were fresh out of the first lockdown, risks were there, but safety in place. It was a chance to show our worth, engage and educate, even make a few sales using the new electronic sales system (which was superb). Victoria Hunt and her partner, Derek Webber, were particularly good at engaging with the public and made quite a few sales. Also, we had three new members who had never exhibited before.
Barbara Andrews fascinated the public with her skilled handling of Sculpey and Dawn Buckley showed examples of her moulds and resin casts. There was time to really explain processes. We even managed to attract a new member to the Society in Mark Vellacott!
There were some quiet moments and time for us artists to get to know each other, an experience which bonded our friendship. It also meant we could spend quality time on our creations: Malcolm West was busy sculpting a stunning portrait of twin boys; Friedel Buecking hammered and chiseled away at a monumental wood carving; Gill Lawson and Zaid Al-Fekaiki were carving in stone; and I worked on a clay sculpture.
Grip by Caroline Wheaton
Barbara Andrews
22
Sue Ribbans