A network of killers and eaters

Gabrielle Hoad & Megan Calver | Fatal exchanges (detail) |
Mixed-media, multi-site installation | 2017

The site-responsive work Fatal exchanges was made for 'Prospect', a group show on the Cotley Estate in Somerset.

In 1832 the hounds of the Cotley Hunt were struck by the rabies virus and the Master of the Hunt had to shoot all but one of them. Drawing on this history as well as a series of readings made to trees in Cotley Copse, Fatal exchanges examines a network of deaths resulting from instinct, accident, pleasure and necessity. A rotted beech branch falls on a human head, hunting hounds divert from the urine trail laid for them to chase a live fox, a hare slices off a growing shoot, a taxidermy specimen becomes infested with carpet beetles...

Installed primarily within two interconnecting stables, the piece included objects found on site such as a taxidermy fox, a magpie trap, a pheasant feeder, a rivet maker and wood shavings. An annotated piece of text entitled 'Murder in the Kitchen', drawn from 'The Alice B Toklas Cook Book', was enlarged and pierced with pins. Ambient sound recorded on the estate was slowed to reveal haunting noises within the everyday, and alternated with traditional hunt calls. A hidden fox, drawn in urine, was secreted in the farmyard toilet for discovery with a UV torch.

In a complementary work Read (to) the trees, visitors were invited to visit nearby Cotley Copse where the hounds are buried. There is also a 12-page publication to accompany the work.

'Prospect' Cotley Tithe Barn, Cotley, Somerset TA20 3EP  – 6-8 Oct 2017
New work by Megan Calver | Michael Calver |Alice Crane | Mich Downing | Simon Lee Dicker | Jon England | Gordon Field | Liz Gregory | Lucia Harley | Gabrielle Hoad | Nicola Kerslake | Tim Martin | Paul Newman | Andre Wallace

Reading to trees - Return by 24/09/17

Gabrielle Hoad | Return by 24/09/17 | 2017

For Return by 24/09/17 I have worked with unwanted books, stored for many years in a barn on West Town Farm.

Before the physical books are sent for pulping, exhibition visitors are invited to read their contents to trees in nearby Chillies Copse and create an alternative library. Texts, once held within the relative permanence of ink on paper, will translate to ephemeral utterances in the air.

The work is at two locations. A short video work, made alone this summer in Chillies Copse, is shown in the barn where the books are stored, along with simple instruction kits. In the nearby woodland, visitors will find evidence of previous readings, and can make their own.

4m 15s of digital video (looped) with sound, printed envelopes, labels and raffia ties.

This work in progress is shown as part of Devon Open Studios with Organic Arts.  Other artists at this venue include Felicity Shillingford, Stella Tripp, Daniel Cray and Stuart Crewes.

Saturday 16th September to Sunday 24th September 11am - 6pm

Venue 113, West Town Farm, Ide, Exeter EX2 9TG

Street Rockery featured on Axis

Gabrielle Hoad & Megan Calver with Freefall Youth Group  | Street Rockery | 2017

Street Rockery is featured in Axis Category of the Week - Education
https://www.axisweb.org/p/gabriellehoad/workset/230712-street-rockery/

More details about the work are here
https://gabriellehoad.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/street-rockery.html

Prospect, Cotley Tithe Barn

24-hour residency - Cotley

Gabrielle Hoad  | Cotley Copse | 2017

I'm working with a loose affiliation of diverse artists from Devon and Somerset to present new and experimental work on the Cotley Estate over three days as part of Somerset Art Works 2017.

Our 24-hour residency on the 25th and 26th of August was an opportunity to eat, drink, talk and make art together as well as carry out essential planning for the forthcoming three-day exhibition and after-dark event/opening party.

The exhibition will feature new work responding to the Cotley estate, its environment and history. Artists include Alice Crane | Andre Wallace | Gabrielle Hoad | Gordon Field | Jon England | Liz Gregory | Lucia Harley | Megan Calver | Mich Downing | Michael Calver | Nicola Kerslake | Paul Newman | Simon Lee Dicker | Tim Martin

Friday 6th to Sunday 8th October 2017
Venue 92, Cotley Farm, Wambrook, Chard, Somerset TA20 3EP
More details: http://somersetartworks.org.uk/what-we-do/art-weeks/ …

Axis art highlights

The inertia of the unknown | Preston Street Union Random Art Machine | 2017

I'm very pleased to be included in the Axis survey of new work for 7-13 August. They featured an action with Preston Street Union, made as part of the Random Art Machine.

More details at https://gabriellehoad.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/safety-in-numbers.html

Return by 24/09/17

Gabrielle Hoad | Nature Parade | 2017

I've been working outdoors with a collection of unwanted books stored in a barn at West Town Farm, near Exeter. Work in progress to be shared during Devon Open Studios Venue 113, 16 -24 September 2017.