My son and his family live near Bristol and I usually visit them several times a year when we often spend time amongst the glorious trees of Westonbirt Arboretum. In 2020 the Art Bridge Emergents Project received funding from Arts Council England for a project based at Westonbirt offering emerging artists facing disabling barriers the opportunities for professional development, mentoring, networking and exhibition experience. The project was aimed at deepening people’s connection to trees. Deb Hoy, an artist and experienced educator, was employed to facilitate workshops for the artists. She encouraged observing the trees through new perspectives and created an environment for learning new artistic techniques as a group.
The initial idea for the installation “Lungs of the Earth” was a timely one. With the climate change affecting trees globally and Westonbirt itself seeing changes due to Chalara Ash Dieback, it made the concept of highlighting humans’ critical connection to trees even more poignant.
Trees effectively clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen to help keep us alive. “Lungs of the Earth” was based on this exchange of air, mirroring the alveoli in our lungs where oxygen enters our body and carbon dioxide is expelled.
The construction was light and airy and could be seen billowing in the wind. Once inside – was it more like human lungs or more like the branches overlapping in the forest?
The installation was in place for six months but the exhibition of emergent artists’ work, which was due to be shown from April to December 2020, has been postponed. Many people, myself included, have missed visiting Wonderful Westonbirt this past year.
A selection of work by some of the participating emergent artists.
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