The Abundance Garden Trail is part of a new curatorial programme for Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2013, featuring a programme of exhibitions, new commissions and events.
Artist Fiona Campbell is one of eight artists who have been commissioned to create a series of new, contemporary site-specific art works for the garden trail set in a wealth of cultivated garden landscapes in Somerset.
Fiona Campbell's large scale installations for her allocated garden Esotera, found near Babcary, are based upon the idea of Genesis' Garden of Eden - the most abundant garden where plants, creatures and humans grow and roam freely in complete harmony.
"In line with my current fascination with the microscopic world and the ethos, life and materials at Esotera, I am creating three related installations within the garden," Fiona Campbell said.
"These involve giant growths – ancient, universal forms inspired by lichen, nests, linked to the Eden concept and utilising found objects. Half hidden, the work will hopefully create quite an impact.
"It has involved months of collecting, weaving, wrapping, cutting, forming and welding, using soft and hard materials together, which is relatively new for me.
"It has been a lovely experience visiting Esotera, witnessing their garden change through the seasons, from a wintry first visit to a lush summer oasis. The owners have been so accommodating, helpful and generous with their time and donations of scrap for my project."
Originally a field, this two-acre established informal cottage style garden contains three ponds with moorhens and ducks.
Esotera includes a large prairie border, contemporary potting shed on oak straddle stones with a wide border of shrubs and herbaceous planting completely surrounding it - just one of many places to sit and relax.
There are mature trees and box topiary in different forms, a courtyard area with open fireplace and large sitting area.
The meadow walk, with wildlife in mind, leading to a shepherd’s hut and cluster of silver birch trees is the area for Fiona’s installation.
The Abundance Garden Trail runs from 21 September to 6 October, open daily 11am to 4pm, Thursday to Sunday at Esotera, Foddington, nr Babcary, Somerset.
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