Press Release - The Devon Guild of Craftsmen

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Press release. Large scale ... and charity in the South West (100,000+ visitors annually) and is the hub of local and cr
Press release Large scale collaborative woodcuts exhibited alongside individual works by five UK woodblock printmakers Exhibition runs Saturday 21 May - Sunday 3 July Private View 6 - 8pm Friday 20 May Venue: Devon Guild of Craftsmen Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF

Large woodcut prints celebrate beauty of South West Pine Feroda was formed two and a half years ago, when North Devon artist Merlyn Chesterman brought a group of printmakers together for an experimental workshop. Despite initial questions about how they might work as a group, they found that in just five days they had made a ‘relief’ print (cutting into a printing block i.e. lino or wood) which was unlike any of their individual work. By combining their unique strengths, a new collective identity was created: ‘Pine Feroda’ (Merlyn Chesterman, Julia Manning, Rod Nelson, Ian Phillips and Judith Westcot). The group has continued meeting and working together for short, intense periods of time, resulting in a distinctive body of work which uses the biggest press in the South West (requiring 2 people to operate it). The group admit that sometimes collaborative making ‘can be difficult - but seems to work’. They find solutions through taking the time to talk together, to trust in eachothers’ perceptions, keep things simple and develop a ‘communal overview’. Pine Feroda decided to work only in a very large scale in order to capture fully the inspirational subject matter that is the glorious North Devon coast. The individual smaller prints have been made especially for this exhibition with each artist agreeing to follow loose guidelines for each print. For one, all five artists visited the same beach and reacted to what they experienced there. It was decided that the second print should be monochrome and the third based around the common theme of rocks and water. It’s true the unusual name provokes intrigue, and the artists have chosen prefer to preserve the mystery – to encourage discussion about the source, which may or may not involve a real person, clever wordplay, ideas about fiction, trees or a song! Devon Guild of Craftsmen is delighted to be showing this lovely work made in a spirit of exploration, cooperation and skill sharing. Exhibition is free entry, open daily 10am-5.30pm.

Events: There is an opportunity to Meet the Makers and see their short film on Friday 20 May 5pm before the formal Launch event (at 6pm), when the exhibitors will be on hand to talk and answer questions about their work. (Free, no booking needed). Notes: Each woodcut is an original. It is printed by the artists in limited editions and by hand. The prints do not exist in any other form and are not reproductions. View a film about the printmakers’ collaborative techniques by Artisan Media HERE… View the Pine Feroda website HERE… Find out more about Devon Guild on www.crafts.org.uk About Devon Guild of Craftsmen: Based in Bovey Tracey the Devon Guild is the most popular contemporary crafts venue and charity in the South West (100,000+ visitors annually) and is the hub of local and creative communities. With a reputation and influence that extends nationally, the exhibitions and events are fun, free, open to all, inclusive and inspiring. They run an acclaimed educational outreach programme to schools and communities. At Riverside Mill there are two galleries with an exciting annual programme, constantly changing displays and showcases in our shop and a lively, friendly café with a rooftop terrace, alongside the River Bovey. The Devon Guild is involved in two popular annual festivals that have helped put Bovey Tracey on the map... The Contemporary Craft Festival in June and the Nourish Festival in September combining food, music and craft. Press: For more information contact Merlyn Chesterman (featured printmaker) on [email protected] or 01237 441670 or Devon Guild Marketing for high resolution images and further support information: Simon Williams [email protected] or Anna Trussler [email protected] 01626 832223 Keep up to date, follow us on: Images: (page 1 from top): Pine Feroda print; the Press at the Old Chapel, Hartland studio; Julia Manning at work finishing woodblock print.

Images (above): coastal sketches in the studio at Hartland; printmaking tools and piece of wood cut for printmaking; section of large wood cut print work: January Storm by Pine Feroda