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The Border Project

The Border Project is an exciting and innovative series of art installations and exhibitions created for Somerset Art Weeks by the Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers (BHaam). The events will take place between September 18 th and October 4 th 2009 and is a creative response to the Devon\Somerset border, running along a 12 mile stretch within the Blackdown Hills.

The various events will explore many aspects of what constitutes a ‘Border' and will include border posts, contemporary dance, walks mapping the border, art installations and pinhole tent photography. There will also be exhibitions at The Merry Harriers inn and Wallace's Farm Shop. A BHaam ‘passport' will be issued to all participants who will then attend the various events and obtain passport stamps. These will be available from local information points.

During September ‘08 almost 9000 people attended art events in the Blackdown Hills which were run as part of Somerset Art Weeks. BHaam sees this as an opportunity to connect with the local community and those further afield through art and appreciation of the beauty of the Blackdown Hills.

For more details please contact: Sarah George – 01823 681303, sarah@timjulierdesign.co.uk.

‘BELONGING' - Local School Children
exhibit alongside Local Artists.

Artwork created by 150 children from Hemyock Primary School is currently being exhibited alongside work by BHaam artists at the East Devon Business Centre, Heathpark, Honiton from 7 th July to 15 th September. 

The work entitled ‘Belonging' is part of the ‘Border' project being run by BHaam and has been created as a result of workshops run by two BHaam artists Fiona Hamilton and Jane Lawrence.   The intention - to identify borders both personal and collective, whilst connecting the children personally with their school community and their local area – to realise their place within it and to increase their sense of ‘belonging'.  The workshops have been made possible and funded by the Blackdown Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund. 

Following exhibition at the East Devon Business Centre, Honiton, ‘Belonging' will be exhibited in Somerset Arts Weeks 2009, alongside BHaam work for the ‘Border' project at a venue along the Devon/Somerset border. 

For more information of these events, how and where to view please visit  www.somersetartworks.org.uk or for regular updates revisit www.bhaam.org.uk

COMMUNITY BODY MAPPING
At the OLD TENNIS COURTS, HEMYOCK

For more info see – What's On

Community Body Mapping

BHaam/ SAW Border Project

Update – see ‘Whats On' for details

‘B e l o n g I n g'

Do you want your jumper to become a work of art???!!!

Belonging' is an artwork by Fiona Hamilton and Jane Lawrence. The work is part of the ‘Border' project being produced by the Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers (BHaam) for Somerset Art Works Sept 18 th – Oct 4 th 2009 (see ‘Whats On' for more details of the event and how to donate a jumper)

BHAAM EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITY
EAST DEVON BUSINESS CENTRE, HONITON

For details on this together with other exhibition opportunities go to the ‘Opportunities' section under ‘Whats On'

AGM
Date:    Weds June 17 th 7.30 pm
Venue:  Cornhill Room, Catherine Wheel Pub, Hemyock

OLD TENNIS COURTS SPACE, HEMYOCK – Update
BHaam's rental of the above space began 1.1.09. A few members couldn't resist working with the sub zero conditions – herewith a few initial experimentations with the space:

Brushed Frost

Brushed Frost & Ice

Ice from Recycled Containers

Frost covered sunburst

Ice & Vegetation

OPEN AIR FILM SCREENING !!!
An open air screening of locally made film will take place shortly – WATCH THIS SPACE for details.

If you wish to use the old tennis court space in Hemyock, have any ideas for projects/ workshops/ art installation please contact a Committee member or e-mail Fiona Hamilton on fionahamilton@tiscali.co.uk .

BHaam/SAW BORDER PROJECT – Update

Interested parties met to walk, discuss and map a small portion of the Devon Somerset border with string, twine and wool. A few photographs recording the journey are below.

Work is in progress so once again WATCH THIS SPACE for further details.

TWO FANTASTIC NEW OPPORTUNITIES –
READ ON:

1. Exciting ‘space' in Hemyock –
do you have any ideas?
BHaam has been offered the opportunity to utilise the ‘old' tennis courts site in Hemyock. Starting in January and initially for a year the site has great potential both for individual members of BHaam and also collaborative work with members of the community. This space is a fabulous opportunity and BHaam will be working closely with the Parish Hall Committee to ensure intentions are suitable. Nothing is set in stone regarding use of the space and initial ideas range from film showings, performances and art interventions to community workshops and a space for exhibition of artworks. It is also hoped to utilise the space for Professional Development, inviting professional artists from outside the area to work with local arts practitioners and the community.

Film Night Saturday 28th February
In the long-term, funding will be sought to develop a series of events, however in the short-term and as use commences from the beginning of January 2009 it has been decided to set the ball rolling with a film night on Saturday 28 th February. A working party comprising Tim Martin, Liz Gregory, Sally Clark and Sarah George will be putting together material for the showing and if anyone has any archive footage of the area, arts project film or indeed anything they feel relevant please contact one of the above (e-mail contact is listed under Artists & Makers).

Ideas?
To utilise this ‘space' fully and successfully we need YOUR input and welcome all ideas and offers of participation – is there something you would like to use the space for – would you like to create work within the space, develop workshops and/or a community project or stage a performance? Let us know your thoughts and aspirations – this is a unique opportunity – we look forward to hearing from you.

Fiona Hamilton
fionahamilton@tiscali.co.uk

2. Calling all creative thinkers,
artists, makers & performers

Do you want to be involved in a BHaam SAW event?

Intention: To create work for a series of events/ workshops/ interventions along the Somerset/Devon border during Somerset Arts Week 2009.

Theme/Title: Borders/ Borderline

Criteria: The work has to be in and/ or seen from Somerset

Interested/ got some good ideas? Initial meeting to be held on Tuesday 16 th 8.00 pm at The Catherine Wheel Pub, Hemyock - please come, all welcome you do not have to be a BHaam member to become involved. If you are interested but cannot make the meeting please contact myself Fiona Hamilton on fionahamilton@tiscali.co.uk or 01823 680942

BHaam painted fence as eye-catching as ever at the ‘Celebrating the Blackdowns' Event

Saturday 20th September  (For more details see ‘Whats on')

Mixed Hellebores - Jane Durston

Culm Valley- Sally Hebeler

Welcome to New Members –
Jane Durston and Sally Hebeler
see Artists & Makers page for more details

‘Face It Portrait' (Mixed Media)
By Lucy Miller (Age 14)

Free BHaam membership to under 21's –
see Whats on for details. 

Tale Valley Community Theatre performances –
for more details see ‘Whats on'

Bank Holiday Monday 5th May

BHaam Monument Arts Festival
… a great time was had by all …

Jeremy Brown MP opened the BHaam (Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers) held at the Wellington Monument site, Somerset on bank holiday Monday 5th May 2008. He began by unveiling the fence of many colours' the highly successful collaborative community arts project involving BHaam artists and members of the public. 300+ festival goers were entertained by live music and performances from local bands and performers.

The Blackdown Samba band got activities off to a bright, colourful and rhythmic start (they even dressed to match the fence!!?) …

This was followed by a programme of local bands and performances:

Local skiffle band … one of many

There were also arts & crafts stalls to peruse, delicious local produce to sample and fun activities and workshops to join in with including: natural sculpture, zob stick making, creative writing, den building and a wishing tree.

Den building with Richard Whiteside from ‘Wildside Education’ for further details contact www.wildsideeducation.co.uk 01404 892771

Many wishes were left on the wishing tree …

….. and some couldn’t resist the urge to add their own design to the fence

For more info check out the following video of the days events:

A short video of the festival highlights on the 5th May 2008

ITV Westcountry News report on the Wellington Monument Painting.
©ITV Westcountry News 2008

Monument Feast
Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 12 noon to 4pm
In celebration of completion of the Wellington Monument Community Arts Project a Spring Arts Festival will take place at the Monument Site on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May from 12 noon to 4pm and will be opened by Jeremy Brown, Lib/Dem MP is opening the Festival at 12.00 noon.

Come see the ‘Fence of many Colours’ Community Artwork and join in the fun, activities will include: sculpture making, artist’s stalls, musical performances, fire spinning, a tree wrapping installation, wishing tree and den building.

Take one plain fence …..

Add a little colour ….

See how members of BHaam together with 300+ members of the local community including pupils from 6 schools, art students and members of the general public achieved the make-over and why … go to ‘Whats on’ to find out more.