Scammonden.

This time last year I met Ryoko Akama a Japanese artist working with sound, we met for coffee in Oxford and discussed the potential of collaborating.
Then one year later Ryoko invited me to work alongside herself and good friend Mariko Satomi who specialises in dance and movement.
So, early morning at the start of august we met at Scammonden Reservoir,  a stunning spot just north of Huddersfield.

Ryoko had brought with her the digital equipment, wires, cables, booms and all manner of sound recording stuff!
Mariko travelled light.
And I had a vehicle full of sticks of varying sizes.

The rain held back for the two days, hoods were only needed for midge protection! and several community groups and local faces appeared out of the woods to participate.
We set about with some simple taster sessions, leading in to the creation of some woven forms that suggested the manipulation and amplification of sound.
These were used and combined with Ryoko's captured sounds from the reservoir and together with Mariko's enchanting energy, an intuitive and somewhat timeless performance unfolded...

The project was supported by Kirklees and Yorkshire Water,  a big thank you to both.
Also thanks to John Polley for the video capturing the event and the photographs taken by Yumiko.

Poppy seed heads.

These 'Poppy Seed Heads' were designed as a Public Art Feature for a site near to Livingston to marry in with the construction of a new garden center, they are sitting beside the Old Road (A89) to and from Edinburgh.
The seed heads incorporate a steel armature and are woven tightly with a basketry willow. They stand a whopping 5 meters tall and there are 11 in total, some of which lean around and communicate whilst others are a little aloof! They're set against the landscape of the Pentland Hills, which is a stunning site and helps to frame the work.

Incidentally on the drive up North the co-pilot and Sat-Nav system failed me and we were heading as the crow flys directly over the snow laden hills in our 7.5 tonne truck, an executive decision took us around them, safety first!
Standing or driving beneath the poppies is quite a childlike experience and ethereal, which reminds me of being under water looking up at plant life trailing under the surface... hmm, that gives me an idea...

2011 willow weaving course dates.

Please find Tom Hare (that's me!) willow weaving courses running this year at Harcourt Arboretum on these dates:

Living Willow Course - Saturday 19th February 2011 - Tel: = 01865 343501

Plant Support course - Thursday 24th or Friday 25th March 2011 - Tel: = 01865 343501

These Study Days take place from 10.00am to 4.00pm at the Arboretum.
Tickets cost £60.00 (includes a sandwich lunch).

I'll also be enjoying the summer sun (hopefully) and getting my weave on, at the courses listed below:

Sweet Pea Climber Course - 16th April at Spring Wood, South Derbyshire - contact Peter Wood at www.greenwood-days.co.uk - Tel : 01332 864529

Willow Sculpture Course - 23rd/24th June at MusgrovesWillows, Somerset - Contact Mandy at www.musgrovewillows.co.uk - Tel : 01278 691105

Beginners Basket making - 25th/26th June at Spring Wood, South Derbyshire - Contact Peter Wood at www.greenwood-days.co.uk - Tel : 01332 864529

Willow Sculpture Course - 14th/15th July at Spring Wood, South Derbyshire - Contact Peter Wood at www.greenwood-days.co.uk - Tel : 01332 864529

All prices and Information are on the relevant websites, I hope to see you there!

Westonbirt's 'Festival of the tree'

The 'Festival of the Tree' 2009 took place last week at Westonbirt Arboretum.
In 2007 I had created a huge willow maze based on the growth rings of the tree it was so loved by the little people that this year I returned and built them a new one.

This years festival was based on climate change and I chose to celebrate the humble bumble bee and made a honeycomb maze from a sweet chestnut framework and visitors were then encouraged to pitch in and help with the willow weaving.

Over the bank holiday weekend I ran workshops helping visitors create woven 'bits n bats' for them to take home. There was never a dull moment, at one point I was even asked for my autograph by a lady who explained she'd visited Kew Gardens (blog to come soon!) the previous day, seen my work and was very pleased to then see me at the festival, the day after that I was bitten by a small dog keeping my ego in check!

It's a great event made better by the volume of live making and doings of 12 chainsaw artists, sundry turners, axemen, furniture makers and story tellers. All very inspiring.