Themed ‘Prospect’ this year’s Somerset Artweeks challenged Artist’s to dig a little deeper to ‘rise to notions of space and potential’.
Artist Alison Jacobs rose to the challenge here at Halsway and took up residence in our summerhouse to make and exhibit work inspired by prospecting Halsway Manor and the Folk Arts. The public and subscribers to our residential courses were invited to visit the installation throughout Artweeks to see the work and talk to the Artist.
Whilst researching and exploring Halsway’s unique and rich library and archives Alison found herself fascinated by Folk Art, craft and lore. She then played with ideas of totemic animals and ritual disguises, made sketches and experimented with crafting objects with recycled paper. Some of the material was salvaged from Halsway and was used as papier-mache, some paper was cut, woven or constructed to create her curious characters. Working in situe Alison also decorated and embellished the summerhouse and Golden Garden. She sketched using her iPad giving demonstrations to the visitors on her methods and techniques.
About her experience at Halsway Alison said “Working on site at the Manor has been magical and inspiring, it’s an Artists’ dream. The Manor and grounds are beautiful and atmospheric. Add into the mix the National Centre for Folk Arts, its history, stories and music, and you have an intoxicating and never ending supply of material to spark your imagination.”