Quercus

DISFRUTAR EXHIBITION 1st February at the Museum in the Park, Stroud

studioquercus — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:16:44 +0000

Quercus are hosting two seminars, supported by SVA and ALIAS, in conjunction with the exhibition. The first, on the 11th February at SVA, will present Dr Neil Armstrong the founder of Tremenheere gardens in Cornwall and Clive Adams, director of the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World. The second, on the following weekend at the Museum in the Park will present John Phibbs from Debois Landscape Survey Group talking about his work with ‘Little Sparta’. Both events are free and will include a viewing of the exhibition and the walled garden at the Museum. More details through SVA or the Museum in the Park.

Artists in Residence at the Museum in the Park, Stroud

studioquercus — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:17:18 +0000

Quercus are working as artists in residence in the unused and overgrown walled garden at the Museum in the Park, Stroud. The year long residency will culminate in an exhibition in February 2012 at the museum. Quercus initially worked with the walled ‘secret garden’ as part of their Big Draw workshops, for the last 6 months they have be making work in, and inspired by, the garden.

Back to Square One…

studioquercus — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:26:51 +0000

Back to Square One, exhibition shots

Back to Square One – exhibition and discussion event

studioquercus — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:01:05 +0000

Exhibition of collaborative work at the Space, Lansdown, Stroud. 6th- 11th February.

private view 6th February 7-9pm

Discussion event and funky brunch, 7th February, Stroud Valleys Artspace, John Street, 11-1pm.

Join us for a discussion bringing together artists, actors, poets, musicians and other creative practitioners to discuss the challenges and outcomes of collaboration.

The Secret Garden Workshops, The Big Draw…

studioquercus — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:02:59 +0000

After the success of the bunting workshop at the Museum in the Park, Stroud, Quercus were invited to facilitate a series of workshops based on the overgrown ’secret garden’ at the Museum, which is due to be cleared and re-planted. Each 3 hour drop-in workshop was aimed at adults and attracted on average around 20 participants. The first of these was a mono-printing workshop focusing on autumn leaves, which was run by Alison and held in the bandstand:

Alison then ran a paper collage workshop based on Rousseau’s jungle paintings. The results were these bold, striking collages:

The third workshop was drawing on clay, led by Emily. Clay ivy leaves were made and painted with slip, which was then scratched through to reveal the clay underneath:

Anna led a ‘rubbings’ workshop using leaves and other resources from the park and the secret garden:

The next workshop was led by Ann-Margreth who made delicate web collages using mixed media and drawings of the secret garden:

Finally, Anna and Ann-Margreth led a web workshop inside the secret garden itself. The group worked together to create one piece; a giant web spanning several trees, which would catch the autumn leaves as they fell:

The Big Draw – 11/10/2009

studioquercus — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:29:58 +0000

Many budding young artists joined Quercus on the 11th of October for a free drop-in workshop at the Museum in the Park, Stroud. Together we celebrated the biodiversity of native British trees through drawing as part of The Big Draw, a nationwide drawing event www.thebigdraw.org

All artists contributed to a larger artwork that adorned a native Beech tree in the arboretum at Stratford Park. Much fun was had by all as you can see!

Site 09 – June 2009

studioquercus — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:05:32 +0000

Every year Stroud sees the ‘Site’ arts festival throughout the month of June. This year for site 09, Quercus, in response to various walks around the boundaries of Stroud town, created collaborative works for the courtyard at at John Street studios, the base for Stroud Valleys Artspace.

www.sva.org.uk

Beyond the Verge – April/May 2009

studioquercus — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:57:29 +0000

As part of the investigation into the collaborative process, Quercus undertook a series of five walks to negotiate the boundaries of Stroud town. Not always easy to find, our ‘boundary’ discovery involved some hedge hopping and wall scaling. Quercus recorded sounds, sights and feelings during the journeys.

Adolescent playgrounds, detritus.

Sweaty junky hideouts. Many trees wounded by embedded barbs.

Birdsong and Channel 5

A 6am Sunday outside Tricorn House. Razor wire.

Giant Hemlock skeletons.

A hollow oak on the Cotswolds way and a stagnant floating barge next to the lock keepers cottage.

The severed viaduct

Man lying in the sun – is he dead?

Smell of barbeques

The coal merchant in the quarry. Twisted red vines.

Sunshine

Deer

Rabbits

View over to Middleyard.

Gold hoops in shattered glass – gun shot wounds

Flasher child.

The walks resulted in a series of texts, drawings and sculptures that were displayed in the courtyard at Stroud Valleys Artspace during the site09 festival (See Site09 post).

Alias Research Trip – Cornwall 21/3/09

studioquercus — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:01:28 +0000

In March 2009 Quercus undertook a research trip to Cornwall to begin networking with various artist-led groups, funded by Alias (Artist Led Initiatives Advisory Service).

This opportunity for Quercus to meet up and discuss their working practices and experiences with other groups was a key step in forming relationships that may lead to futher collaboration, events and exhibiting opportunites for all artists involved.

Studio Swap 23/4/08

studioquercus — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:29 +0000

Quercus is a group of 5 sculptors who use a variety of materials and techniques. The artists are united in their appreciation of hands-on craft based making skills, despite much of their work being highly conceptual and ideas-led.

One early excercise they undertook was to experience each other’s working environment in the form of a studio swap. This was a day event where each artist was able to use materials and processes that were not part of their usual practice.