Artist’s Statement.

My interests are working with mixed media and textiles, specialising in Land/Earth Art. Some of my installations are on the theme of recycling, conservation and reclamation, incorporating alternative energy sources, Public interaction is possible as  my artwork and the landscape are inextricably interlinked, consisting of natural resourced materials and certain man-made items which are made into sculptures.  My work poses the question, ‘Where does my artwork fit within the boundaries of the land/earth art movement?’ (A distinction is sometimes made between artwork that’s been placed upon the land and artwork using the land itself, thus becoming part of the landscape.  The former is termed ‘Land Art’ and the latter ‘Earth Art’.)

I have been commissioned by Mike Gale, Zone Manager for Tarmac, Mancetter Quarry, Atherstone, Warwickshire, to install a Public Interactive Water Feature on a natural landfill site called the Jubilee Site.

I have called the installation ‘Inside Out, Outside In’, as it uses alternative power in the form of a hand pump, or bicycle pedal power, to create the energy needed to circulate water up and over the installation and back to its source, the pond, thus implying recycling. It has been suggested that the Installation is a kinetic sculptor, as it depends upon kinetic energy for the water circulation.  The power to do this is ‘green’ as it is generated by hand, or foot, pump.

There is a portfolio relating to this installation, which includes a children’s cartoon colouring-in booklet as well as a DVD about a working quarry and how it interacts with the installation.  Also included in the portfolio are quarry and installation images.