Surrey Unearthed was an Arts Council funded project developed with artists who have a strong connection and curiosity for the Surrey landscape. The innovative programme of ten projects ran throughout 2018-19. Each project focused on the natural materials of the Surrey Hills landscape, their history and uses over time. The installations, art walks and community celebrations coincided with the Surrey Hills 60th year AONB designation.

In Surrey Unearthed, Jane collected, and catalogued found materials, using making as a method for investigation, creating from traces of the landscape. Her walks and talks with individuals and groups were reciprocal allowing an exchange of ideas, stories and anecdotes, including the history of landscape in terms of geology, human history, industrial archaeology, local folk law, journeys and the idea of tourism.

Exhibitions as part of the project
Group exhibition at Leith Hill Place in July 2018, an installation of artefacts and objects and a programme of public and schools workshops at each of the four locations across the Surrey Hills. The installations incorporated her collections and the pieces she made both independently and with participants in the four locations – Box Hill during August-September, Newlands Corner and Witley Common during September-October 2018 and Reigate Hill during February – April 2019.

Final solo exhibition and events at Reigate Hill Fort
6 – 21 April 2019 Terrain, viewable through the windows of the Casemates building at Reigate Fort. Reigate Hill, RH2 9RN.

Open days
Terrain opening day 6 April 2019 11am – 3pm
In Conversation event, A fascination with what lies beneath our feet and guided tour of the exhibition 13 April 2019 1.30pm – 3pm.
Conversation with invited guest, artist and curator Kim Norton, founder member of Haptic | Tacit and guided tour of the exhibition plus refreshments and artist networking.
Open to visitors from 11am – 3pm
Meet the artist on the closing day 21 April 2019 11am – 1pm.

Workshops
During the course of the project there were workshops with groups and schools and with the public.

 

With thanks for additional help from:

Surrey Hills Arts is a partnership between Surrey Arts, Surrey County Council and the Surrey Hills AONB. It aims to engage and inspire people in the outstanding natural landscape through an imaginative programme across the arts, promoting heritage, health and tourism. Over the past twelve years, we have delivered innovative landscape projects engaging local communities and developing emerging artists.

Surrey Hills Arts works closely with an advisory group made up of the Watts Gallery, The National Trust, the University for the Creative Arts, Gatton Park Trust, Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden and the Arts Society. Working together we develop the programme for this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
http://www.surreyhillsarts.org

Other artists working with Surrey Unearthed:

Ackroyd & Harvey, Jonathan Parsons, Amanda Loomes, Mary Branson, Alison Carlier, Bryn Hallett and Amie Rai