Water/Land is the fourth in an annual series of exhibitions at Fen Ditton Gallery which bring together artists and makers, across media, to explore and celebrate aspects of the natural world.
All works are for sale and each exhibition raises funds for a nominated environmental charity for a particular aspect of that Charity’s work with clear connections to Cambridge and the surrounding area.
Water/Land introduces artists who through drawing, filmmaking, printmaking; photography; weaving, sculpting, metalwork and glass engraving open a door onto the magical, shifting and vital presence of water in our lives.
Edges between water and land are revealed and dissolved in the hands of master printmaker Norman Ackroyd RA; a pair of chased and handraised silver Rain beakers by Michael Lloyd will be on show alongside a new water film sequence inspired by them by artist Sue Thomas.
Leading glass engraver Katharine Coleman explores the water insect world of Fens and the shifting effect of water and light. The energy and rhythms of water flow are captured in the dynamic drawings of Annie Cattrell and Peter Randall Page and the woven willow forms of Mary Butcher.
A small specially commissioned set of watercolours by different artists will be on show in the gallery hallway and there will be the chance of participate in a watercolour workshop with Rebecca Jewell.
List of Artists include:
Norman Ackroyd; Lotte Attwood; Mary Butcher; Annie Cattrell; Katharine Coleman; Lizzie Farey; Lizzie Harper; Paul Hart; Justin Hawkes; Joe Hogan; Rebecca Jewell; Michael Lloyd; Richard Long; Frances Priest; Peter Randall-Page; Wycliffe Stutchbury; Sue Thomas; Mary Williams
Water/Land will be supporting the Great Fen Water Works project. The project is conducting trials of 'wet farming' or paludiculture : the productive use of wet peatlands; a land management technique to cultivate commercially interesting crops on wet or rewetted peatlands under conditions that maintain the peat body, facilitate peat accumulation and sustain the ecosystem services associated with natural peatlands.
Kate Carver, Great Fen project manager comments: "An exhibition that celebrates artists’ visual exploration of water in many forms will draw attention to this vital element in the lives and landscapes of the Fens and to our Water Works project. We are really grateful to the gallery for the chance to collaborate and for any donations resulting from proceeds of the exhibition."
Lotte Attwood, Artist and Gallery Owner adds: ‘We are delighted to continue with our art and environment exhibitions with the guidance of Amanda (you can read about previous exhibitions in the series here) and excited to support the Great Fen Water Works project whose linking of nature and people echoes the approach of many of the artists on show’.