An exhibition of work created during the time period beginning 1st December 2019, the first day of winter according to the meteorological calendar, and ending on 1st March 2020, the first day of spring.
During this time period I have been working on a piece of action research for my MA in Artist Teacher Practice investigating how a practice as an artist can be managed alongside caring for a small child. The work displayed in the exhibition has been created as a result of this investigation exploring both the nature of my practice and the time of year during which it was created. Work to be featured in the exhibition will include ecoprints, rust prints, cyanotypes, lumen prints and solar dyeing documenting the weather conditions and plants growing at this time.
The exhibition will run from 24th February – 1st March with new work being displayed daily on my website and Instagram. This project is also exploring platforms to exhibit that are more accessible than a traditional gallery space and online communities, for example those of artist mothers and artist teachers.
Sycamore book
A series of ecoprints of sycamore leaves collected from the ground in my garden, created in the first week of winter and then buried in the ground until the last week of winter when it will be dug up and unbundled.
Documenting the both plant matter available at the beginning of the season and the conditions present during the season as the bundle develops under the ground.
Winter solar dyes
Geranium solar dye (2019-2020)
This is the first solar dye that I have created during the winter. I have always made solar dyes during the summer as the heat from the sun is needed to release the dye from the plants. This dye was made using dried flowers and leaves from one of the geranium plants in my kitchen and left to develop outside from December – February.
Hyacinth solar dye (2019-2020)
Solar dye created using flowers from a hyacinth bulb forced inside during the winter to cause it to flower early under managed conditions. This is something I do every year, having done this with my mum as a child, and then plant the spent bulbs in the garden to hope that they flower again outside next year.This solar dye was created over a short period of time with the dye being released from the flowers during the first 48 hours.
Winter Solstice 2019
A series of cyanotypes made to record the length of the winter solstice last year, documenting the nasturtium leaves that were still growing due to the mild weather conditions experienced during the season.
I’ve started to make long exposure cyanotypes during the winter months and for the last couple of years have made prints on the winter solstice recording both the length of the day and the plants growing at that time.
Hoops book (2017-2020)
A series of rust prints in a hand-bound book of metal hoops collected whilst walking with my son when he was a baby so that he would nap during the daytime.
Winter-Spring (2020)
A series of lumen prints created this week, the last week of winter to record the transition in to spring. Exposed outside for four days during rain, sun and snow, documenting the cow parsley that has begun to appear at the bottom of the garden.
Leap Day 2020
A series of lumen prints recording the length of the extra day we receive every four years.
Skeletal remains of sycamore seeds collected from my garden recently as a symbol of the hundreds of sycamore seedlings that will appear here over the next couple of months. My garden is dominated by two very large sycamore trees in neighbouring gardens which I assume have grown accidently and are now thriving ecosystems. During the summer the leaf canopy that they create is so dense that you can be at the bottom of the garden while it is raining and not get wet. The area is so shaded that only spring flowering bulbs (which are out before the canopy forms), nettles and ivy will grow there.
Sally Gunnett 