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Somerset Art Weeks September/October 2011

BHaam members turned out their sheds and discovered what was inside.There was work in sheds, work outside sheds work from sheds and even working sheds. There was outdoor performance, potting and printing workshops and visual arts live dance performance too! Below are some images of the various sheds and activities and some quotes from our visitors.

"A magical space filled with wonderful and thought provoking things. A shed will never be the same again" Kerrie, Bridgwater.

"WOW! Fabulously inventive, creative and fun" Helen, Halford.

"Wonderful. What a lovely suprise every time we went through a door" Gill, Norwich.

"Very exciting exhibition, and the dance was very atmospheric. Best exhibition of 2011 Somerset Art Weeks" Karina.

"A great venue with some interesting, exciting and thought provoking work - I am really glad I made the effort to travel to see it" Charlie, Bridgwater Arts Centre.

Skills Unearthed

BHaam has been successful in its application to 'Making it Local' to deliver a large 2/3 year project focusing on the development of BHaam members and their relationship to the Blackdown Hills and its craft and industry. It is hoped that this project will start early in 2012 and will bring in national artists and curators as well as touring the work to other areas. More to follow shortly

Making Day in Andrew's Wood

On 15 May, 2011 members visited Andrew Bell's wood near Corfe. There was opportunities to create work such as sculpture, photography, painting, and film. Lunch was barbeque style.

Otterheads Making Day

On 27 March 2011 several BHaam members met at Otterhead Lakes to walk around the stunning woods and lakes followed by a making work session. Afterwards we used the Coach House for lunch with Gordon supplying some hot soup!

Artists Talks

During December 2010 a number of Bhaam members met at the Blackdowns Healthy Living Centre to talk about their practice over a glass of wine. This evening proved to be very successful. Artists attending talked about work ranging from documentary photography, large ceramics and painting to tree dowsing, contemporary dance and theatre design.

BHaam Annual General Meeting

BHaam's AGM was on Wednesday 14 July 2010, at the Blackdowns Healthy Living Centre, Hemyock, at 7.30 pm. For a lst of the new committee members see Who we are.

Christmas Decoration at Hemyock

In December 2009, BHaam members worked with all the children of Hemyock Primary School to create a Christmas Tree installation on the fencing of the old tennis courts in the centre of Hemyock. Four thousand paper cups, each one painted individually, were needed to create this stunning work.

Pumpkin Day On the 31st October 2009

BHaam held an all day pumpkin carving workshop at the old tennis courts in Hemyock. With the help of the artists, designs were drawn and carved, and as the sun set the lanterns were lit and displayed at the entrance to the courts, enabling everyone walking around the village for Halloween to enjoy them.

Border, Sept/Oct 2009

The Border Project, September 2009

The Border Project was an exciting and innovative series of art installations and exhibitions created for Somerset Art Weeks by the Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers (BHaam). The events took place between September 18 th and October 4 th 2009 and was a creative response to the Devon\Somerset border, running along a 12 mile stretch within the Blackdown Hills.

The various eventsl explored many aspects of what constitutes a ‘Border' and included border posts, contemporary dance, walks mapping the border, art installations and pinhole tent photography. There was exhibitions at The Merry Harriers inn and Wallace's Farm Shop. A BHaam ‘passport' was issued to all participants who attended the various events and obtained passport stamps.

Members’ Exhibition

BHaam members exhibited at the East Devon Business Centre, Honiton, from 17 July to 17 September 2009.

Simon Hitchens Talk

After the BHaam AGM in 2009, internationally-renowned sculptor, Simon Hitchens, a BHaam member, gave a talk on his work and artistic vision.

‘BELONGING' - Local School Children
exhibit alongside Local Artists.

Artwork created by 150 children from Hemyock Primary School is currently being exhibited alongside work by BHaam artists at the East Devon Business Centre, Heathpark, Honiton from 7 th July to 15 th September. 

The work entitled ‘Belonging' is part of the ‘Border' project being run by BHaam and has been created as a result of workshops run by two BHaam artists Fiona Hamilton and Jane Lawrence.   The intention - to identify borders both personal and collective, whilst connecting the children personally with their school community and their local area – to realise their place within it and to increase their sense of ‘belonging'.  The workshops have been made possible and funded by the Blackdown Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund. 

Following exhibition at the East Devon Business Centre, Honiton, ‘Belonging' will be exhibited in Somerset Arts Weeks 2009, alongside BHaam work for the ‘Border' project at a venue along the Devon/Somerset border. 

For more information of these events, how and where to view please visit  www.somersetartworks.org.uk or for regular updates revisit www.bhaam.org.uk

COMMUNITY BODY MAPPING
At the OLD TENNIS COURTS, HEMYOCK

For more info see – What's On

Community Body Mapping

BHaam/ SAW Border Project

Update – see ‘Whats On' for details

‘B e l o n g I n g'

Do you want your jumper to become a work of art???!!!

Belonging' is an artwork by Fiona Hamilton and Jane Lawrence. The work is part of the ‘Border' project being produced by the Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers (BHaam) for Somerset Art Works Sept 18 th – Oct 4 th 2009 (see ‘Whats On' for more details of the event and how to donate a jumper)

BHAAM EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITY
EAST DEVON BUSINESS CENTRE, HONITON

For details on this together with other exhibition opportunities go to the ‘Opportunities' section under ‘Whats On'

AGM
Date:    Weds June 17 th 7.30 pm
Venue:  Cornhill Room, Catherine Wheel Pub, Hemyock

OLD TENNIS COURTS SPACE, HEMYOCK – Update
BHaam's rental of the above space began 1.1.09. A few members couldn't resist working with the sub zero conditions – herewith a few initial experimentations with the space:

Brushed Frost

Brushed Frost & Ice

Ice from Recycled Containers

Frost covered sunburst

Ice & Vegetation

OPEN AIR FILM SCREENING !!!
An open air screening of locally made film will take place shortly – WATCH THIS SPACE for details.

BHaam/SAW BORDER PROJECT – Update

Interested parties met to walk, discuss and map a small portion of the Devon Somerset border with string, twine and wool. A few photographs recording the journey are below.

Work is in progress so once again WATCH THIS SPACE for further details.

BHaam painted fence as eye-catching as ever at the ‘Celebrating the Blackdowns' Event

Saturday 20th September  (For more details see ‘Whats on')

Mixed Hellebores - Jane Durston

Culm Valley- Sally Hebeler

Welcome to New Members –
Jane Durston and Sally Hebeler
see Artists & Makers page for more details

‘Face It Portrait' (Mixed Media)
By Lucy Miller (Age 14)

Free BHaam membership to under 21's –
see Whats on for details. 

Tale Valley Community Theatre performances –
for more details see ‘Whats on'

Bank Holiday Monday 5th May

BHaam Monument Arts Festival
… a great time was had by all …

Jeremy Brown MP opened the BHaam (Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers) held at the Wellington Monument site, Somerset on bank holiday Monday 5th May 2008. He began by unveiling the fence of many colours' the highly successful collaborative community arts project involving BHaam artists and members of the public. 300+ festival goers were entertained by live music and performances from local bands and performers.

The Blackdown Samba band got activities off to a bright, colourful and rhythmic start (they even dressed to match the fence!!?) …

This was followed by a programme of local bands and performances:

Local skiffle band … one of many

There were also arts & crafts stalls to peruse, delicious local produce to sample and fun activities and workshops to join in with including: natural sculpture, zob stick making, creative writing, den building and a wishing tree.

Den building with Richard Whiteside from ‘Wildside Education’ for further details contact www.wildsideeducation.co.uk 01404 892771

Many wishes were left on the wishing tree …

….. and some couldn’t resist the urge to add their own design to the fence

For more info check out the following video of the days events:

A short video of the festival highlights on the 5th May 2008

ITV Westcountry News report on the Wellington Monument Painting.
©ITV Westcountry News 2008

Monument Feast
Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 12 noon to 4pm
In celebration of completion of the Wellington Monument Community Arts Project a Spring Arts Festival will take place at the Monument Site on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May from 12 noon to 4pm and will be opened by Jeremy Brown, Lib/Dem MP is opening the Festival at 12.00 noon.

Come see the ‘Fence of many Colours’ Community Artwork and join in the fun, activities will include: sculpture making, artist’s stalls, musical performances, fire spinning, a tree wrapping installation, wishing tree and den building.

Take one plain fence …..

Add a little colour ….

See how members of BHaam together with 300+ members of the local community including pupils from 6 schools, art students and members of the general public achieved the make-over and why … go to ‘Whats on’ to find out more.