LEISURE: Yeovil Country Park art work to go on display

ART work from an artist in residency at Yeovil Country Park will go on show at the Octagon Theatre next month.

Children and families have been working with artist Deborah Westmancoat during the summer break to explore the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the Ninesprings area, through making art amidst the trees and watery places of the park.

This work – on the theme of water, meadow and wood - will now go on display at the Octagon’s Café Bar in Yeovil from Monday, September 7, 2015.

One aim of the project is to introduce and encourage new groups to the park. Many of the children and their families had known only Goldenstones and the children’s playground, so discovering the Valley Garden and the springs and lakes of the country park has given them a new world to explore.

PHOTOS - TOP AND RIGHT: Courtesy of the Yeovil Country Park's Facebook page.

Partners in the project with South Somerset District Council’s countryside team and arts development officer are Fairmead School, the Racial Awareness, Inclusion and Support in Education group, Short Breaks, and Somerset Art Works. Funding has been provided by the Arts Council.

Deborah is known for her site responsive work, using ink and found or collected materials, especially water and making art to come to know our local surroundings more intimately and form a deeper connection to the natural world. She will be doing two more residencies at the country park during the next couple of years, on the themes of meadow and wood.

Deborah said: “Being selected as resident artist for this project has been such a fantastic opportunity.

“I have been able to work with some truly inspiring groups of people, FairmeadSchool, RAISE, and Short Breaks - all of whom do amazing things within their local communities. Alongside this I have had the pleasure of making art in one of the most beautiful country parks in the South West.”

The exhibition at the Octagon runs from September 7 until the end of the Somerset Art Weeks project on October 17, 2015. People can visit from Monday to Saturday between 12noon and 5pm, plus theatre shows in the evening.

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Leisure.