An exhibition Sarah Drew, Donna Burns and Katie Bunnell. Inspired by woodland, it celebrates the spectacular communication system created by trees above and below ground that nurtures, shelters, heals and creates an incredible diversity of life.
Sarah Drew’s statement jewellery is developed from observations, feelings and things found in dreamy Scandinavian forests: twigs, bark, moss and seeds. Necklaces, rings, bangles and brooches are physical souvenirs, tethering memories of place to something that can be worn. Some elements degrade over time, or are designed to hold some new found thing, inviting interaction with the wearer. Sculptural crochet with recycled textiles suggest soft forest floors, and patinated copper is used to emulate criss-crossing branches. Fused zero waste silver is enamelled with earthy hues to honour wonderful roots peeping out of the soil.
Katie Bunnell’s ceramics introduce animals to the canopy, some of them seem more certain of their identities and place in forest than others. A stag, a lion and a cat on horseback are accompanied by a few stray sheep, one with a woman’s head, and a band of three minky pussy cats. Katie’s prints depict a canopy disrupted, the branches of a magnolia tree, its leaves, flowers and blackbird scattered apart by some unseen force.
Donna Burns’s jewellery is inspired by the play of light through leaves and branches that creates glistening brightness against dark shadow. Semi-precious beads in hues of green are combined with copper and silver leaf shaped forms to create wearable objects that move to capture and emanate light. In the spirit of the woodland network, Sarah, Katie and Donna have supported each other in creating this exhibition, drawing inspiration from each other to create new elements for the pieces on show.