[ad_1]
The Birds & Bees exhibition (April 4 – 23) celebrates both the natural world and the delicate craft of handmade works. Durlston Country Park and Nature Reserve, on the Jurassic Coast near Swanage, has inspired three remarkable Dorset artists – Angela Knapp, Lydia Needle, and Nina Gronw-Lewis – who respond to the park’s rich ecology exploring the vital role of wildlife and the natural world through their unique artistic lenses.
Angela Knapp is renowned for her exquisite, embroidered representations of birds, delicately capturing the beauty and fine details of avian life. Her intricate textile works reflect a deep connection to the natural world, with each stitch bringing to life the creatures that grace our skies. Knapp’s stunning embroidered birds – including puffin, turtle dove, hobby, swift and lapwing – reveal the diversity of species found at Durlston.
Lydia Needle is an eco-artist and activist known for her thought-provoking installations. For Birds & Bees, she has focused on British bee species through her Fifty Bees project and the importance of bees in our daily lives. Without their pollinating skills we would have no fruit or vegetables. Needle’s practice incorporates repurposed materials to highlight environmental issues. Her work also draws attention to the significance of bees within the local ecosystem, as well as the global challenges they face. Needle’s engaging pieces are designed to spark conversation around sustainability and conservation.
Royal Society sculptor and artists’ bookmaker, Nina Gronw-Lewis, brings her expertise in sculpture and book arts, creating works that fuse her passion for the natural world with three-dimensional techniques. Known for her innovative use of materials, Gronw-Lewis’s focus on paper offers a tactile and immersive experience, inviting visitors to explore the landscape and environment of Durlston through the lens of contemporary artists’ books. Additionally, Angela Knapp and Nina Gronw-Lewis present sculptural paper books responding to the ecology of the site.
This rich, multi-disciplinary exploration of nature and craftsmanship promises to be a visually stunning and thought-provoking celebration of Durlston’s biodiversity, with the three artists responding to the unique landscape, flora, and fauna that make this National Nature Reserve such a special part of Dorset’s natural heritage. Knapp, Needle, and Gronw-Lewis not only highlights the beauty of birds and bees but also raises awareness about the many ecological issues they face and their importance in our world. Birds & Bees is an exhibition which also highlights the hand-made and ecological themes that are resonating within the art world this spring. ENDS
Birds & Bees April 4-23 at The Fine Foundation Gallery, Durlston Country Park. Open daily and free of charge. durlston.co.uk; angelaknapp.co.uk; lydianeedle.com; ninagronw-lewis.co.uk
[ad_2]
Source link
