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BOURNEMOUTH GARDENS’ TREES ARE BEING INVADED!

A parachute, giant balloons and fabric mushrooms – the installation of the ‘Cradle’ outdoor art exhibition in Bournemouth Lower Gardens begins in the trees on 22 April 2009.

Three fine art students from the Arts Institute at Bournemouth are bringing their creations to the treetops of the Lower Gardens, with help from local tree surgeons Banyards, who are a sponsor of the annual group exhibition, opening on Saturday 25 April.

On Wednesday 22 April, Banyards tree surgeon Will Jones will be spending the day up in the trees installing a parachute, giant balloons and fabric mushrooms - all in the name of art!



Three student’s work for the exhibition has the common theme of using the trees as the setting for their new sculpture pieces.

Elizabeth Green is putting giant balloons amongst the high branches of a Pine tree on Pine Walk, to represent colossal cells being nurtured and sustained by the healing force of a tree. In the 1800’s Pine Walk was named ‘Invalids Walk’ because the Pine trees along it were once thought to have curative powers.

Fran Morris has been working with an army surplus parachute, cutting out pattern pieces from it to make figures which will be displayed seated on a park bench by the River Bourne, whilst the remaining parachute billows out in the tree above. Fran likes to explore the idea of restriction versus freedom and how these mean different things to all of us.

Lizzie Latham’s work is based around an obscure short story, written by the artist, in which mushrooms fall from the sky and attach themselves onto peoples’ backs. Mushroom-like sculptures will be placed in three leaning trees in the gardens.

“This is completely different to a normal day’s work for Banyards! Our tree surgeons would normally be carrying out selective works to trees for health and safety reasons, whilst ensuring that every precaution is taken to safe guard the health, growth, vigour and wellbeing of the tree to the highest arboricultural standards in the industry. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for our tree surgeons, whose absolute passion are trees, to assist in climbing for fun reasons to portray a serious message through art!” said Banyards Director Jim Edwards.

The annual exhibition is a collaborative project that has been developed in partnership between the Arts Institute Bournemouth, and Bournemouth Borough Council’s Arts Development and Parks and Countryside departments. Cradle marks the sixth collaboration, the project was established in 2003. Leading art magazine a-n described last year’s exhibition as ‘an anarchic outdoor event’ and celebrated the ‘sterling efforts’ of this endeavour in bringing contemporary visual arts to Bournemouth’s attention.

Councillor Barry Goldbart, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Bournemouth Borough Council said: “This is a fantastic project that we are pleased to be involved with each year. It provides a real opportunity for emerging artists to gain experience of showing work in a non-gallery town centre setting and I would welcome residents and visitors of all ages to come down and see their work.”

“Bournemouth Borough Council Arts Development supports the development of this project because it provides a real opportunity for emerging artists to gain experience of showing work in a non-gallery town centre setting. In creating the exhibition, students and council staff consider a whole range of important issues, and working in a meaningful partnership of this kind ensures that each year the exhibition gains in quality and integrity”, said Gill Horitz, Arts Development Officer, Bournemouth Borough Council.

This year 19 selected students are taking part alongside lead artists, artist duo ‘The Girls’. To experience the playful and eclectic works of art for yourself, visit Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens from Saturday 25 April to Monday 4 May between 10am – 5pm. Pick up a free map from the exhibition information point, near the aviary, to read about and find all of the 20 works of art which will be dotted through out the gardens (or download a map from ArtBournemouth.co.uk). The art works are in a variety of media, including performance art – some of which will be timetabled, please check the website (ArtBournemouth.co.uk) for details.

Artist-led guided walks of the exhibition will be at 1pm on Saturday 25 April and 1pm on Saturday 2 May. Meet at the exhibition information point near the aviary, no booking is required, free service.

Several council gardeners will be involved in selecting a winner in a new ‘Gardeners Choice Award’ for the art work which most suits the garden setting. The Deputy Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Anne Filer, will present the award on the opening night, for which Waterstones have donated a prize.

The opening night is on Friday 24 April from 6pm to 9pm, when all the artists involved in Cradle, including the performance artists, will be in Bournemouth's Lower Gardens.

For more information visit the new website www.artbournemouth.co.uk.

ENDS

Editors notes

For more information on the Arts Institute at Bournemouth go to www.aib.ac.uk

For more information on Banyards go to www.banyardsltd.com

For more information on Bournemouth Borough Council Arts Development go to www.bournemouth.gov.uk/residents/arts

For more information on lead artists The Girls go to www.thegirls.co.uk

Images: HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE. Please call Zoe Sinclair on 07915 089722.

Please contact Zoe Sinclair for any further information:
07915 089722, zsinclair@aib.ac.uk