Dartmoor Sensing (2002-3)

This project brought 10 young artists (aged between 17 and 29) from across the UK onto Dartmoor for an intensive 7-day workshop. The brief: simply to become immersed into the landscape and then to make, either alone or collaboratively, some work. We had also commissioned photographer John Curno to take photographs of the moor, using his unusual eye and experience of working with black and white imagery on Dartmoor. He produced an extraordinary series of images which were shown to the artists at the beginning of the residential week. They ranged from the picturesque to the industrial to the abstract.

The workshop leaders were Richard Povall and Clare Seal.

The artists were David Berridge, Alice Messham, Catherine Simmonds, Chris Gravellis, Kevin Jacques, Jocasta Lucas, Emma Bush, and Duncan Speakman.

The week-long workshop started at Bellever Youth Hostel, with no equipment, some rain, and the realisation that mobile phones just don't work on Dartmoor (in most places, they still don't!). Nancy Sinclair led a series of walks and outdoor activites, and each artist began to collect sound materials and do some background reading.

After the initial weekend, we transferred to Brimpts Farm -- on foot ("why don't they build more bridges on Dartmoor" said Chris, as Nancy forced everyone to wade through thigh-high water on their way to Brimpts.). Richard Povall, ably assisted by Joanna Mayes, was busy at Brimpts setting up studio spaces.

The rest of the week was spent in intensive work-time, with a number of fabulous projects emerging from the week. There was an informal showing at the end of the week, and Richard spent some time rebuilding many of the interactive exhibits so that there were more road-worthy and ready to exhibit.

Exhibitions were held at Exeter Phoenix and the Plymouth Arts Centre, and at numerous village hall locations across North Devon, thanks to Clare Fisher and Beaford Arts.

Funders for the project were: