'Landmarks' Artist in Residence, Shapwick Heath

Julie Lyons
32 Spring Walk
Whitstable
Kent
CT05 4PP

(07900) 803 935
(01227) 266 094
lyons_jules@hotmail.com

Thisresidency was the first Landmarks project and environmental sculptor Julie Lyons, who lives in London, started work in October 2002.   This was her first major residency and her first environmental art commission since leaving art college.  She was based at Shapwick Heath Reserve on the Somerset Moors and worked in close partnership with the host organisation, English Nature, and the staff at the Peat Moors Centre. Julie’s initial brief was for a 20-day residency, as follows:

• To develop a workshop event at Shapwick Heath that would involve disabled visitors to the site as participants.
• To
  use this workshop as a starting point for the development of a commission for Shapwick Heath that would be accessible to visitors to the site.

However, this brief was expanded twice over the next 18 months, which was made possible by extra funding provided by EN.

In early 2003 Julie was invited to expand her own brief to include the following:

• A second workshop with children with disabilities
• An open day workshop at the River Parrett Festival in May 2003, which would feature the development of bird box “kits”.
• The research for a CD Rom for a Discovery Trail at Shapwick Heath

In early 2004 Julie’s brief was expanded once again to include:

• The development of a CDRom for the Discovery Trail
• A second open day workshop at the River Tone Festival in May 2004.

In March 2004 EN decided not to develop the CD Rom.

This was an immensely successful residency in that it achieved all its short-term goals as follows:

• The development of an excellent working relationship between the project partners.
• The development of new audiences for EN in Somerset through:
• The presentation of a workshop for young people with disabilities
• The presentation of two promotional workshops for adults and young people.
• The promotion of the Landmarks Project and EN in Somerset through:
• The instigation of a web showcase and exhibition at the Brewhouse in Taunton, which is currently touring.
• The workshops (above)
• The development of good promotional images associated with the above.
• The development of EN and Peat Moors staff (approximately 5 people).
• The training of the artist through SAW and Spaeda schemes.
• The creation of a new piece of work for Shapwick Heath
• The creation of a series of community-built bird boxes during the promotional workshops.

In working at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve I first had to discover what I considered to be the distinguishing characteristics of the site. In spending lots of time there I discovered that the peculiar elements to Shapwick that stood out the most for me were the actions of hiding for safety whilst also being able to see. Whether a bird of prey, a bird that is prey, a small mammal or even a bird watcher they all at times hide and are still in order to see what else is in their surroundings.In considering the sculpture I decided to make it in two sections but both parts of the work will be based upon the natural forms of seed heads, flowers and other plants on site. One piece of the work will be built in such a way that it can be used as a hide for people to look out of and see the wildlife, and the other will be more exposed for the birds to perch upon and see their surroundings more clearly. The plant-like sculptures will be tall and meandering like the reeds themselves with the pod like heads pointing either up or down depending on who is intended to interact with it. The human hide sculpture will have the plant-like forms enclosing a space, the heads of the sculpture will be mainly pointing down to create a more protective feeling and to allow the details of the work to be seen more clearly. The sculpture intended for the birds will be in an area with a good view of the surroundings and will be built to be perched upon or even nested within. The work will be a mixture of permanent, possibly man-made materials and natural materials that will alter and change colour and form along with the site itself. By placing the sculptures in complimentary positions to one another any wildlife activity attracted to one sculpture will be easily visible through the other.       

Julie Lyons

Landmarks Brewhouse Exhibition

Perchable Sculpture in the mist

Detail, Shapwick Heath

Final Piece, Shapwick Heath

Long View, Shapwick Heath