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Norwich-based artist Mary Mellor and curator Caroline Hoskin had always loved trees. Concerned about the environment and fascinated by the many permutations of how trees appear in art, an idea gradually evolved for an exhibition around the theme of trees. It would look at our relationship with trees and their vital importance to our very existence.
Now, after more than two years of planning and a reschedule due to lockdown, the Celebrating Trees event is finally taking place in Norwich. The acclaimed nature writer Richard Mabey will launch the exhibition which explores our relationship with trees.
The subject was set from the beginning. ‘We didn’t seek out an arbitrary subject as a reason for an exhibition, but always intended to focus on the theme of trees,’ says Mary.
‘This was firstly to observe their beauty. But it was also to help raise awareness of their value and importance to the health of the planet. We wanted to focus on all trees whether they were there already, aged and venerable - or still small and recently planted in suitable locations or in the process of being encouraged to regenerate naturally.’
Celebrating Trees will feature work from around 40 artists, many East Anglian-based. It will show paintings, illustrations, sculpture, and photography that commemorate the aesthetic presence and deeper meaning of trees in our lives.
Artists taking part include nationally-known painter Derrick Greaves, and Ivy Smith, winner of several awards including the John Player Portrait award but who has produced much beautiful landscape work as well; also Tor Falcon, who recently had a much admired solo show about Norfolk countryside at the Norwich Castle Museum.
There are also four members of the nationally-known Arborealist Group, who exhibit widely here and in Europe, plus established painters, illustrators, sculptors and photographers from East Anglia and beyond.
Organisers Mary and Caroline directly contacted artists whose high-quality work they already knew was relevant to the exhibition theme of trees.
‘Celebrating Trees definitely isn’t an “open exhibition’” where artists are invited to produce work outside their usual practice. Many artists, myself included, do not enjoy that at all - though it has to be said that many like the challenge,’ says Mary.
‘When the exhibition is a themed open one, unless it’s on a theme that tallies with what you normally do, there’s a temptation to enter something in your usual style and change the title to make it appear relevant, which I find rather unsatisfactory,’ she adds.
‘For Celebrating Trees we didn’t want to distract artists from the topics they normally work on, and with which they are genuinely preoccupied. With this in mind, we made contact with artists whose work is habitually about nature or whose style is naturalistic.’
Artists were asked to send three pieces of work for consideration. They were guaranteed that at least one piece would be shown – more if space was available. ‘How much space will only become apparent when the work arrives. Some of it will be large, so there is no guarantee that there will be room to hang everything. This is understood by the artists participating,' says Mary.
Writers were also invited to participate. The exhibition private view will be opened by acclaimed nature writer Richard Mabey. There will be poems to accompany the show, one written especially for the event by well-known poet George Szirtes, and two by Anthony Thwaite, who last year gave permission to present some of his work, and who has since sadly died.
‘We also have a splendid poem from Rosie, my 10-year-old Welsh 2nd cousin once removed or some such,’ says Mary. ‘This will be shown together with a photograph of her by the marvellous old Story Tree in Cline Park, Swansea.’
A tree trail has been devised by Liz Hollis to accompany the exhibition which will guide anyone who would like to explore it around 10 of the lovely old trees that have added character to the city for so long and shaded us on hot days. Leaflets will be available at the exhibition venue St Margaret’s Church, St Benedict’s Street, Norwich.
‘It would be wonderful if this exhibition encourages us all to appreciate the trees around us that we may have taken for granted previously as we went about our busy lives,’ says Caroline, who is in charge of hanging the exhibition.
Celebrating Trees, St Margaret’s Church of Art, St Benedict’s Street, Norwich NR2 4AQ.
1 to 13 November 2021. Free entry. Open daily 10am – 4pm. Except Monday 1 Nov and Sunday 7 Nov when exhibition will be open 12-noon to 4pm.
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