Benchart...Public Art in Rural Spaces

Benchart is the collaborative public art work of two Shropshire artists, Huw Powell Roberts and Ruth Gibson. It was formed initially in 2004 to manage a public and community arts project in Cross Houses, near Shrewsbury. Since then Huw and Ruth have gone on to complete several public art commissions and are currently progressing with another collaborative project involving art, sculpture, and ecological architecture.

See www.cloudgallery.org 

Overview

We have established a strong working relationship with the brick industry, including Ibstock Bricks and Blockleys, who have sponsored various projects, providing materials, technical support and firing of the finished pieces. The brick carving  process involves setting out large blocks of soft brick clay into the approximate shape and size of the sculpture. These are then carved using small hand-held tools. As the piece dries out the clay shrinks and the joints of the brick reappear it can then be dismantled piece by piece labelling carefully at the time. They are hollowed out and fired as separate bricks in the factory, and then reassembled on site following accurate plans and using brick laying techniques and mortar. The sculptures are hard wearing and durable. Brick clay can be combined with other materials such as wood, steel, glass and other clays to create contemporary durable sculptures. Our work is predominantly site-specific and inspired by the local environment and history.

We are experienced in facilitating workshops and engaging with the community, exploring and sharing ideas to create artworks. Clay is an expressive material for encouraging all ages and mixed abilities to explore their environment. Using it as a way of looking closely at what is around you, has been a particularly successful approach and people of all ages have responded with enthusiasm. We have also found that creating sculptures on site over a period of time is a valuable way of engaging with the public. The more the public can be involved in this process the more accepting they will be of new sculptures.

Through our experience in managing and delivering a complex long-term art project involving community participation, the design, creation and installing of public sculpture, we believe confidently that we can create new and exciting commissions.

We are constantly questioning and studying our work in relationship to its environment, and through regularly attending seminars and conferences, continue to develop and expand our professional practice, ideas and knowledge to improve our delivery of sculpture in the landscape.