Art lovers gathered at Chamber Farm Woods this weekend to take part in an art installation celebrating Lincoln’s Charter of the Forest.
The project, created by the Lincoln Art Programme, complimented the Charter of the Forest Exhibition currently at the The Collection and Usher Art Gallery, showcasing work commissioned to highlight the impact of the Charter of the Forest – an important medieval document that gave people the right to use common land.
The work shown included a piece by art group Via Vaudeville! featuring a charcoal burner giving out smoke signals inspired by traditional protest songs, as well as a unique walkie-talkie led tour by Townley & Bradby and James, requiring participates to radio in to talk with their tour guides.
“We developed this project after initially being invited by The Collection, who devised the concept of developing an art project in the woodland,” Lincoln Art Programme Curator Alan Armstrong explained.
“We spent some time initially walking around the site, trying to think about which artists could utilize this site in relation to their own practice.Then we had a long process to source the appropriate artists and develop new work.”
Armstrong noted a highlight to the project was an installation by Tereza Buskova, who placed a huge billboard in the middle of the forest, exploring the mythology of the woodland in English History.
“The billboard is an example of how we can show 2D work in a wood without being completely lost,” he said.
“Hopefully [this project] will reach new people, and get audience’s to experience things in new places. That’s one of the key aims of the Lincoln Art Foundation.”
Artist Richard de DeDomenici also seemed keen to bring art outside the gallery: “It’s interesting getting work that would usually be placed in a gallery and transporting it into the wildness. I think that’s when magic can happen, when you juxtapose something or put something in an unusual space.”
Dedomenici’s artwork was directing a film which including furry toy animals and patrons as the cast. “It’s furry animal film,” he explained. “We have 5 main character. Fox, the really intelligent one, Raven, Squirrel, a dear and two badgers. The badgers goes evil and the animals revolt.”
“I don’t want to give away the ending, but its the classic story of good versus evil,” he added. The film will be shown in part at the Monk’s Gallery in October.
Having such an varied collection in an unusual location seemed to please everyone, including Patron James Phaily, who noted “it brings art to the outside community. People who wouldn’t usually enjoy the cliquey environment in art shows may come here and find things that may help them think about life and political issues.
“Everyone I have spoken to seems to have had a good time, with no preconceived ideas. they just participated and enjoyed the event,” he added.
The main Charter of the Forest Exhibition will be at the Usher Art Gallery and The Collection until September.
Photos: Kelly Moore for The Lincolnite
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