Sheep - from Lamb to Loom Exhibition Tour
This multi-media exhibition was the result of three years’ fieldwork. Kate travelled the West Country visiting sheep farmers, craftspeople and artisans from the Mendips to Exmoor, and from the Somerset Levels to the sea. The resulting collection of expressive oil paintings and charcoal drawings captures one of the oldest relationships between farmer and animal and forms a fascinating picture of rural life today.
In the galleries Kate’s paintings and drawings were accompanied by a sound piece designed by Alastair Goolden who recorded the ambient noise of the various activities as well as the voices of those involved in the trades.
“I don’t use a harness, it’s quite hard physically, but it depends on how you do it, I try to minimise the energy, try to relax and I think a sheep senses that. It’s like any animal if you force it to do something it’s not going to like it, so try to get as relaxed as you can.” Adrian Reiersen, Sheep Shearer
This universally appealing project commemorates the West Country’s living sheep farming heritage. From the shepherds raddling rams, lambing and shearing, the story continues at the market auctions, with the sheepdog trainers, the butchers and cheesemakers, the tannery and in the workshops of spinners, weavers, felt makers and knitters and offers a unique ‘behind the scene’ document.
A full-colour book “Sheep – From Lamb to Loom” is still available, see above.
The exhibition toured the following venues in 2009:
The Brewhouse Gallery, Taunton, Somerset
14 March – 25 April
www.thebrewhouse.net
Tel 01823 283244
New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
9 May – 21 June
www.newbreweryarts.org.uk
Tel 01285 657181
Museum of North Craven Life, The Folly, Settle, Yorkshire
27 June – 4 August
www.ncbpt.org.uk/folly
Tel 015242 51388
Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset
22 August – 3 October
www.blackswan.org.uk
Tel 01373 473980
Guildhall Heritage and Arts Centre, Dulverton, Exmoor, Somerset
5 – 17 October
www.exmoorevents.co.uk
Tel 01398 323818 |
