NOW ON:

11 February - 7 May 2012 (except 17 March) Jem Finer's Still, commissioned by SVA, is installed in the Chapel at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Jem will be in conversation with Ben Tufnell on 26 April at YSP. For more information click here. (photo by Jonty Wilde)

COMING SOON:

GET INVOLVED: WORKSHOPS

Get away from it all and take part in one of our new creative weekend workshops at our forest studio in the beautiful King's Wood, Challock. Each workshop will take a maximum of 10 participants. £75 per person per day. Discount for group bookings of 10 participants or individuals booking 5 or more workshops. Please book workshops at least 2 weeks in advance. Please note that workshops will not run if there are fewer than 5 bookings. Participants will be notified 2 weeks before workshop date.   For booking or further information: info@stourvalleyarts.org.uk or telephone 01233664987

All our workshops are run by professional artists with a particular interest in the environment and ecology of Kings Wood and run from 11am until 5pm. April: 7* Exploring materials with Martin Brockman: wood/paper 21* Exploring materials with Martin Brockman: chalk 28 Uncanny: using photography and drawing to create surreal and uncanny scenes in the forest with Neil Kelly May: 5* Exploring materials with Martin Brockman: charcoal 12 Understanding your digital SLR camera and forest photography with Hope Fitzgerald 19 Drawings and sketching on location: exploring a range of drawing mediums, techniques and scales in response to the landscape with Sarah Spencer 26* Exploring materials with Martin Brockman: clay June: 2 Transforming forest objects with Lesley Davies-Evans: a forest and studio based photo shot 9 Memories and observations: forest stories transformed in to 2d and 3d art with Susan Shaw 16 Summer printing: using materials from the forest as a starting point for mono printing with Sara Wicks July: 21* Exploring materials with Martin Brockman: INK 28 Art nature and manmade: marking art and drawing with natural materials with Cas Holmes *These workshops can be taken individually or as a course. They are process based and explore the potential of each chosen material as a pioneer would; finding the properties and potential of the material for use in art. Looking at traditional skills used to adapt materials for different used. At the end of the day participants will go away with ideas linking a material to King's Wood and a swatch book of artistic ideas.

 

We are in the process of designing a new website with improved news and project information including maps, video and soundfiles. Please be patient with us until this is ready. If you require any information please email us on info@stourvalleyarts.org.uk

ARCHIVED EVENTS AND NEWS:

27 November & 1 December 2011 Vera Möller gave an artist's talk, in conversation with Dr. Peter Vujakovic at Sidney Cooper Gallery, Canterbury and led a fungi-focussed walk through King's Wood
25 November - 17 December 2011 Returning to Kent after a residency in King's Wood in 2009, Vera presented a fantastic exhibition of photographs, watercolors and micro-sculpture at Sidney Cooper Gallery, Canterbury. This body of work is also captured in the book Vera Möller: Fictional Hybrids which includes contributions by Justin Clemens, Peter Vujakovic, Laurie Duggan and Ian Bride.
29 November - 17 December & 4 November - 2 December 2011 The third major exhibition resulting from Mike Marshall's 2010-11 residency in King's Wood and the New Forest took place at SVA Gallery and at Herbert Read Gallery, UCA Canterbury. Co-commissioned by SVA and ArtSway.
14 & 22 September and 1 & 2 October 2011 Freemantle-based artist Holly Story, showed what she was up to during her King's Wood residency with a string-making workshop, an artist's talk and an open studio weekend. (photo by Nigel Green)
10 September - 15 October 2011 London Fieldworks present Monarchy, an exhibition of photographs and a new digital animation. This film is available on DVD with essays by Susanna Paisley and Dominic Rahtz.
10 September 2011 The second major outcome from Lee Patterson's residency in King's Wood and across Ashford's flood plain is Fold a performance work featuring Angharad Davies, Matt Davis and Patrick Farmer. Review of this work can be seen here: Studio International / The Watchful Ear
30 July - 20 August 2011 iFilm, an exhibition of works made by young people inspired by Jem Finer's Still. This project was led by artists Juan delGado and Pauline Alexander
25 June - 29 August 2011 Mike Marshall's exhibition at ArtSway resulting from his two-site residency at King's Wood and in the New Forest. This work was co-commissioned by SVA and ArtSway.
4 - 26 June 2011 Mike Marshall's A Prism Splits Light is shown as part of ArtSway's New Forest Pavillion, 54th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia. Mike's book Open Space is launched.
24 June 2011 The 11th annual Midsummer Picnic within Lukasz Skapski's 2000 planted work Via Lucem Continens. (photo by Laura Thomas)
11 June - 16 July 2011 SVA opens a new gallery in central Ashford with the exhibition Still by Jem Finer.
13 February 2011 SVA host an Action Day to raise awareness of government plans to sell off Forestry Commission woodland.
November 2010 London Fieldworks discuss their recent work Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven (commissioned by UP Projects) in relation to Super Kingdom in this month's AN Magazine.
24 - 31 July 2010 Lee Patterson's sound work Elemental Fields: solid, aerial and liquid vibrations extracted from Ashford’s floodplain and woodland was installed at Tufton House, Ashford. This is the first work resulting from his ongoing research residency in King's Wood and across the flood plain of Ashford. Patterson discussed Elemental Fields in a special radio programme complete with fantastic field recordings made in Ashford and King's Wood. Framework which can heard at www.archive.org
24 - 31 July 2010 Alongside Lee Patterson's Elemental Fields, Vibration Station showcased soundworks and drawings which explored geographic and sound mapping in King's Wood and Ashford. These works by year 4 children from East Stour primary school, and year 6 children from John Wesley primary school were made with artist Louisa Martin. The exhibition title Vibration Station was chosen by the children and reflects their understanding of sound and how it travels through air, water and solid objects.
24 June 2010 10th anniversary Midsummer Picnic within Via Lucem Continens with artist Lukasz Skapski. A conversation between Lukasz and Rebecca Drew, Deputy Director of Photoworks will soon be available to download as a podcast from this site.

17 May, 2010 Monarchy by London Fieldworks was awarded an Honorary Mention in the Hybrid Art category at Prix Ars Electronica 2010. For a complete list of prize winners see Prix Ars Electronica.
9 April, 2010 Australian book launch of King's Wood Illuminations by Gregory Pryor at Lister Gallery, Perth. In 2009 Gregory Pryor made 2 new works in response to his time spent within King's Wood; Miracle of the Legs - carved limbs grafted onto King's Wood trees and King's Wood Illuminations - an artist's book. King's Wood Illuminations is available from Cornerhouse.
5 March - 24 May, 2010 A Marriage in the King's Forest by Bethan Huws featured in her solo exhibition il est come un saint dans sa niche: il ne bouge pas at Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover.
27 March, 2010 Screening of London Fieldworks' new video Monarchy at Birkbeck Cinema, London. Using Super Kingdom, the fantastical animal houses built into the trees of King's Wood as a film set, London Fieldworks have created a digital animation work that portrays this not-so-quiet corner of the forest and its inhabitants.
24 & 25 October, 2009 Impressions Photography Book Fair Weekend, at Impressions Gallery. Selected SVA publications were featured alongside innovative independent photography books from around the country. For further information click Impressions Book Fair

26 & 27 September 2009 A Marriage in the King's Forest by Bethan Huws A film depicting the formal and informal rituals of a real wedding reception taking place within Margate's crumbling Edwardian Winter Gardens was screened deep within King's Wood. Two text works refering poetically to domesticity and long life were also mounted in the Nayland Rock and Marine Drive shelters overlooking Margate Bay. These text works will be in situ until 6th December. This work is jointly commissioned by SVA and Turner Contemporary, Margate.

24 June and ongoing, 2009 Carboretum: From Acer to Quercus, King's Wood Car Park, Challock. The main King's Wood car park is the unlikely setting for Edward Chell's new work which continues his interest in overlooked pockets of the English landscape, those green spaces generally seen through the windscreen of a car. Carboretum makes a playful link between the labelling of botanical specmens as well as within corporate car parks. During the summer, Chell's work could be seen as part of Turner Contemporary Open and found at 3 Little Chef restaurants in the region: www.turnercontemporary.org www.edwardchell.com

18 July 2009 INVOLVE09 - A community arts festival, King's Wood, Challock. Participatory arts activities for all ages led by young people from Ashford Youith Forum, with support from the National Youth Volunteering Programme in the Ashford area. INVOLVE09 included dance and theatre performances and workshops and a collaborative sculpture project.

12 July 2009 Miracle of the Legs & King's Wood Illuminations - launch event, King's Wood, Challock. Gregory Pryor's 'Miracle of the Legs', carved limbs grafted onto King's Wood trees and 'King's Wood Illuminations', his artist's book were launched in the forest.

24 June 2009
Midsummer Picnic, King's Wood, Challock.
The annual Midsummer Picnic took place within Lukasz Skapski's 'Via Lucem Continens' (Avenue Containing Light), a 140-metre avenue of 200 yew trees planted in 2000 by local people. Despite fair weather all day, a last minute appearance of clouds foiled the chance of seeing the setting sun. We look forward to another chance on Midsummer 2010.

20 June 2009
Super Kingdom - guided walk, King's Wood, Challock.
The artists, London Fieldworks, and their commissioned architects, Consarc, discussed their project and described how the challenges of this complicated design were met.
In association with South East Festival of Architecture 2009.

February 2009 Super Kingdom by London Fieldworks features in a new book Beyond Architecture: Imaginative Buildings and Fictional Cities. This is the first publication of its kind to document the creative exploration of architecture and urban propositions in the contemporary arts. The projects collected in this book demonstrate how not only architects and designers, but also artists are taking architecture as a starting point for experimentation. They range from performance, installation art and crafted sculptures to architectural models, alternative ideas for living spaces and furniture, as well as illustration, painting, collage and photography. Artists include Pipilotti Rist, Erwin Wurm, Rachel Whiteread, Mike Kelley, The Chapman Brothers, Thomas Demand, Wang Qingsong, Atelier van Lieshout, Olafur Eliasson, London Fieldworks and more. For further information see www.gestalten.com Beyond Architecture: Imaginative Buildings and Fictional Cities Editors: R. Klanten, L. Feireiss Release: February 2009  Price: € 44,00 / $ 65,00 / £ 40,00 Format: 24 x30 cm Features: 208 pages, full colour, hardcover ISBN: 978-3-89955-235-5

28 January 2009
Inspiring Learning Education Evening.
Turner Contemporary Project Space, Margate.
Launch event for a new research pack for teachers, youth workers, community group leaders, lecturers, tutors and artists interested in education for use in the classroom and beyond. Exploring the use of maths and pattern in art, these resources relate to works commissioned by Stour Valley Arts, to the exhibition Superabundant: A Celebration of Pattern at Turner Contemporary and objects in the collection of Canterbury Royal Museum.
These packs can be downloaded at www.turnercontemporary.org/learn/?p=150

22 January 2009 Super Kingdom by London Fieldworks is shortlisted for Architects Journal (AJ) / Rambøll WhitbyBird Small Projects Award 2009. An exhibition of all 24 shortlisted works is currently on show at The Building Centre, Store Street, London. This exhibition will later tour nationally, details of which will be added here soon. For further information see www.buildingcentre.co.uk

 

ARCHIVE

21st September 2008
Super Kingdom launch event, King's Wood, Challock.
3 new buildings for native and migrant animal species by London Fieldworks (Bruce Gilchrist & Jo Joelson) can now be found nestled into a beech plantation deep in King's Wood. These structures will become the film set for a new digital animation work that the artists will produce over this winter's hibernation period.

11th September - 2nd November 2008
Tree Rings exhibition at Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, nr. Kettering.
Work made during Stephen Turner's 2001-2 residency in King's Wood alongside new works made in the grounds of Fermynwoods.    For further information see www.fermynwoods.co.uk

5th August - 26th October 2008
Butterflown of Love exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, Australia.
Work made during Fernando Palma Rodriguez's exchange residency at Heide MoMA.   For further information see www.heide.com.au

24th June 2008
Midsummer Picnic, King's Wood, Challock.
The annual Midsummer Picnic took place within Lucasz Skapski's 'Via Lucem  Continens' (Avenue Containing Light), a 140-metre avenue of 200 yew trees planted by local people. 50 folk brought picnics to enjoy the evening and despite cloud cover preventing a perfect sunset a good time was had on a beautiful evening in the forest.

22nd May 2008
Prince of the Petrified Forest at Cragg Lecture Theatre, UCCA, Canterbury.
Screening of London Fieldworks' video work 'Prince of the Petrified Forest' (2007) commissioned by Beaconsfield, London, followed by a Q&A.

28th Feb - 1st June 2008
Nature is a Workshop at Turner Contemporary Project Space & Droit House, Margate.
An exhibition of works selected from the Arts Council Collection, Nature is a Workshop featured a range of interpretive materials developed in response to the exhibition by the Inspiring Spaces young people's group. This group is working with Stour Valley Arts, Turner Contemporary and the Beaney Institute to explore contemporary art and visual venues.
For more information on the Inspiring Spaces project please see relevant section in Education: Projects

April - May 2008
Fernando Palma Rodriguez artist in residence at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, Australia.
This was the first stage of a newly established international exchange residency programme between SVA and Heide Museum of Modern Art.   In spring 2009 Australia-based German artist Vera Möller will travel to King's Wood to undertake her residency with us.

29th Feb - 29th March 2008
An exhibition of Rodney Glick and Lynette Voevodin's film Down on His Luck at Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery.
Documenting 24 hours in the forest and focusing on the work of the foresters as they sustainably harvest the timber of King's Wood. The film is made by sewing together 24 individual one hour long films into a 10 metre wide panoramic projection that engulfs the viewer in the sights and sounds of the forest.

11th April - 10th May 2008
Wide Eyed and Legless by Neville Gabie at Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery.
Neville Gabie's exhibition includes 2 multi-part installations that portray the people and landscape of Kellerberrin through the adoption of innovative strategies.   In the first, a letter of introduction requesting appropriate clothing for the terrain, and in the second, filming the landscape with kite-mounted video cameras.

17th October 2007
Susan Derges' Artist's Talk. The last of talks in the Exploring the Context series. The re-scheduled presentation concluding the spring's series of Artist's Talks.

16th September 2007
Composer Matthew King's re-scheduled King's Wood Symphony.

13th July 2007
Presentation of works produced during Salon's week-long residential workshops in King's Wood. www.salonart.org.uk

30th June 2007
Chamber concert at the Wigmore Hall featuring Matthew King's composition. Students' work showcased in foyer

19th May 2007
Notes from Underground public performance event at the forest.

9th May 2007
Architect Simon Barker presents the fith talk in the series Exploring the Context at the forest office.

28th April 2007
Forest Stars: A temporary installation by Christopher Jones. The floor of King’s Wood lit up by the forests own hidden natural energy resource.

25th April 2007
Emily Richardson gives the fourth in a series of 6 Artist's Talks: Exploring the Context at the forest office.

28th March 2007
Stephen Turner gives the third in a series of 6 Artist's Talks: Exploring the Context at the forest office.

24 September 2006
Launch of Jem Finer’s Score for a Hole in the Ground in King’s Wood.

15-17 September 2006
Ashford Visual Arts and Architecture Festival.
Student Bursaries launch in the Memorial Gardens, Ashford.

17 July 2006
Edwina fitzPatrick’s exhibition opens in Ashford Library, Church Lane, Ashford.

24 June 2006
Midsummer picnic at Lucasz Skapski’s Via Lucem  Continens

23 June 2006
Opening of Jacques Nimki’s show, Fabrica, Brighton

16-23 June 2006
Architecture Week
Student bursary exhibition, Ashford Library.
Kamilla Sztyben, Ashford School of Art and Design and Christine Lobb, University of the Creative Arts, were awarded Student Bursaries to realise their proposals.

6-9 June 2006
CEMEA workshops

22-26 May 2006
Salon workshops

April 2006
Australian artists, Rodney Glick and Lynnette Voevodin begin residency

24 February 2006
SVA conference ‘Lost in Space: Topographies, Geographies, Ecologies’
Hosted by the International Study Centre, Canterbury Cathedral.  150 delegates attended. The conference investigated the relationships between art, place and time and was followed by a meal in the evening and a walk round King’s Wood the next day.