Now in its ninth year, Art in the Garden at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens has become recognised, in its own right, as one of the most exciting exhibitions of contemporary craft and sculpture in the UK. Over 150 pieces of art and design from new and established artists are given the opportunity to show their work in a beautiful outdoor setting within the 180 acre Gardens.
Art in the Garden 2008
24th May - Sunday 26th October
Now in its ninth spectacular year, Art in the Garden, curated by Elizabeth Hodgson and set in the grounds of the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey, Hampshire, has become recognised as one of the most exciting exhibitions of contemporary craft and sculpture in the UK. Over 150 pieces of art and design are on display by over 50 artists. Both new and established artists have been given the opportunity to show their work to a new audience in a beautiful outdoor setting within the 180 acre Gardens.
From 24th May to 26th October, the exhibition features a range of local, British and international artists. The artists work in many materials, both traditional and contemporary, including stone, plastics, stainless steel, wood and featuring glass, this year we have also included outdoor photography by Carol King.
As always, there is an element surprise and humor which this year inlcudes Darren Greenhow’s recycled bicycle part sculptures, in particular his Fish on a Bike cycling out of the pond and his graceful herons as well as a ferocious looking dinosaurs. Tania Holland makes you look twice with her amusing menagerie as does Mandy Flynn with her wirework farmyard.
We once again will have some old favourites, Jenny Wynne-Jones with her nostalgic figures who are all sculpted from her family and friends, Antony Sturgiss and his botanic stainless steel pieces as well as Paul Harvey and his graceful cast birds of prey.
Inspiration drawn from the Gardens can be seen in many of the artists’ work, such as Vanessa Rolf’s ‘embroidered’ bark used from fallen wood from the Gardens. Her delicate stitches create a harmony with the texture and beauty of the bark. All around the Gardens there are sinuous glass seedpods that ‘grow’ by the pond area, woven wire nests emerging from the ground and magnificent steel seed heads standing amidst the borders.
Nature’s wonderful process of new growth and plant reproduction are highlighted by this years featured artists Rebecca Newnham with her wonderful collection of hand made glass mosaic sculptures - the largest standing six metres tall, and inspired by the Gardens’ plant seeds and forms from carbon molecules.
Last year, the Gardens offered Rebecca access to our research facilities, herbarium, and extensive plant collections and liaised with our world experts. Rebecca was then offered a special Solo Gallery space by Elizabeth for the new body of work that developed from this exciting collaboration. The Solo gallery is situated around the Vista and Oakfield areas of the Gardens and the solo gallery is set to become a regular feature of the exhibition, enabling other artists to create a new body of work based around the beautiful and valuable collection at the gardens.
We are delighted that Southampton Saab will once again be sponsoring our Artist Residency for the fourth year. New to this year, our featured artist will be working with a new graduate or emerging artist as mentor, who will then work in the gardens from 11th to 17th August as part of their career development programme, and visitors will have the opportunity to follow the progress as their sculpture project unfolds over the week.
THERE WILL BE AN EVENING LANTURN TOUR ON THE 14TH AUGUST, WITH A MEET THE ARTISTS AND TALK FROM REBECCA AND THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, AND ON SUNDAY 17TH AUGUST WE WILL HAVE AN INTERATIVE EVENT FOR GARDEN VISITORS.
Children will be encouraged to explore the Gardens and interact with many of Art in the Gardens’ exhibition pieces through following our Children’s Sculpture Hunt Trail from 24th May to 23rd July.
From 4th to 26th October there will be an indoor exhibition Art Indoors showcasing smaller works of art.
Most of Art in the Garden is available for purchase for you to take home and enjoy in your own home or garden.
Art in the Garden is curated by Elizabeth Hodgson of Underground Art + Design which is a not-for-profit arts organisation set up to promote the work of artists and designers. Visit www.undergroundartanddesign.org for further information on how to exhibit in 2009 or apply for the Mentored Residency please email Elizabeth at underground_artanddesign@yahoo.co.uk.
For all information on Art In The Garden visit www.hilliergardens.org.uk or contact the Gardens’ Visitor Services team on 01794 369317 / 369318 (10am to 4pm, 7 days).
Click here for more information about Art in the Garden 2007 »