The Company of Cranes

Illuminated Crane - Melanie Tomlinson

Somerset Art Works (SAW) has appointed acclaimed illustrator and metal-worker Melanie Tomlinson as lead artist for our 2013 arts programme, working in partnership with The Great Crane Project, Ash Primary School and partner European schools.

Melanie will develop her own artistic response to her involvement with the The Great Crane Project, run workshops with local and European Schools and, with the support of Somerset Film, widen the project's reach by developing interactive online resources for schools.

The Company of the Cranes has its own blog where you can follow Melanie's progress as she travels to Germany collecting Crane eggs with the Great Crane Project team, delivers workshops at schools in Somerset and in Europe, observes crane hatching and rearing at Slimbridge, exhibits art work at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre 16 June – 05 August and in Langport Somerset during Somerset Art Weeks, September 21 to 6 October 2013.

thecompanyofcranes.blogspot.co.uk.

Zoetrope workshops at Ash Primary School May 2013

Flying Through Europe – Great Crane Art Project Artist Appointment

We are delighted to announce that after an overwhelming 80+ artist applications and a rigorous selection process, Somerset Art Works has appointed artist Melanie Tomlinson to work on our European project ‘Flying Through Europe’ in partnership with The Great Crane Project and Ash Primary School, funded by SAW’s successful Arts Council application.

Melanie Tomlinson - Rodrigues Starling with Cafe MarronExtinct since 1740. Part of the Ghosts of Gone Birds exhibition

Melanie Tomlinson works with illustration and metal to create vibrant and intensely detailed sculptures and three dimensional dioramas that reflect her deep love and passion for nature. She is particularly interested in the role of traditional folk narrative to explore the complex relationships between communities and the natural world.

She will be travelling to Germany to join the Crane team collecting and bringing back eggs in the Spring, and will be working closely with the project teams at SAW, The Great Crane Project, Ash School and their twinned European partner schools. As well as developing her own creative response to the project, her commission also involves running workshops with local and European Schools in both Somerset and abroad.

Melanie Tomlinson - Autumn Fieldfares

A few words from Melanie:
I am very excited to be appointed as lead artist working with Somerset Art Works and the Great Crane Project. I have a huge passion for nature and this opportunity will enable me to work closely with the project team and the wonderful Cranes themselves. Using illustration and metal to create a series of pre-cinema objects - such as zoetropes, I will be exploring the Cranes’ journey from Germany to Somerset through the moving image. The objects in motion will be filmed for online viewing. In addition to my own artistic response I am looking forward to working with pupils at schools in Somerset and Europe, exploring the beautiful Cranes through art workshops.


The finished work will be displayed at WWT Slimbridge in the Summer and during Somerset Art Weeks 2013.



With the support from Somerset Film, Melanie will be developing online elements to widen the reach of the project and increase schools' engagement both in the UK and Europe.

You can see more examples of Melanie's work at www.melanietomlinson.co.uk

Working with Wire - Birds at Ash Primary School

Crane sculpture made by a group of 4 pupils

Wire sculptures created by pupils age 9 and 10 from Ash Primary School in South Somerset are displayed at The Ginger Fig Gallery, Taunton until 09 February 2013  

Inspired by birds and local habitat, artist Fiona Campbell was commissioned by Somerset Art Works (SAW) as part of an ongoing project with the school.  
Working in small groups the young artists researched and planned their sculptures, manipulating tools, wire and recycled materials with incredibly imaginative results.

For 2013 SAW is engaging a lead artist to explore the European links of The Great Crane Project with Ash Primary School and partner European schools. 

January 2013 Great Crane Art Project Update

A New Year and an exciting rush of over 80 artist applications for the 2013 Lead Artist role with SAW, The Great Crane Project and Ash Primary School.  Many hours spent reading and re-reading the applications, a wealth of experience and ideas to sift through, interviews will be held at the end of the month.  Thank you to all those who spent time applying, this project has captured the imagination of so many.  

The paper cranes continue their journey around Somerset, at Kings College Taunton in January (see right) and in February they are off to Bruton School for Girls - our sponsor for the emerging artist Paper Crane role.

The Great Crane Art Project - Artist Commission

‘Flying through Europe’ 

Thanks to a successful Arts Council application, SAW’s creative partnership with The Great Crane Project moves forward to an ambitious commission for 2013 with local, national and European project partners.  Shadowing the reintroduction of the Common Crane to the Somerset Levels, from egg collection in Germany, hatching at Slimbridge and release on the Levels, the artist will create work inspired by the project which will connect communities with this unique bird and its place in the Somerset Wetlands.

Proposals are welcome from visual artists and makers working in any medium, including digital, multi media, sound, moving image, photography and live art.

Residency fee:  £4,000

Download the brief http://www.somersetartworks.org.uk/news/great-crane-art-project-artist-commission
Closing date 13 January 2013

Somerset Art Works, The Town Hall, Langport, Somerset TA10 9PR
            01458 253800        info@somersetartworks.org.uk

Ash School - Somerset Art Weeks Visit

17 pupils from Ash School came to visit the Flight of the Cranes exhibition at Somerset Crafts, several students spotted their own paper cranes in the installation.  

An update on the 'Class of 2012' newly released cranes and a crane collage workshop with Hilda Vaughan followed, then a walk on Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve with Natural England.

Somerset Art Weeks 2012

Come along to Venue 27 and see the Flight of the Cranes Exhibition at the Somerset Crafts Centre near Shapwick, 15 -30 September 2012.

To celebrate the reintroduction of cranes to the Somerset Levels and Moors, Somerset Art Works collaborates with the Somerset Crafts artists' co-operative to present an exhibition of artworks inspired by the life and beauty of cranes and their habitat.

Special Celebration Weekend 29 and 30 September:

Saturday 29th September - All day craft workshops and demonstrations, Great Crane Project display.  2 - 4pm free paper crane drop-in workshop for all ages, with Lucy Lean.

Sunday 30th September - All day craft workshops,demonstrations, Great Crane Project display featuring the film 'Return of the Cranes'. Live jazz from the Roger Bond Quartet.  Natural England 'Wild Day'.

This exhibition features works by artists from the Somerset Crafts group: Mithra Richardson (Silk Painting), Billy Rhodes (Metalwork), Erica Sharpe (Jewellery), John Candler (Stonecarving), Viv White (Textiles), Kate Rattray (Mosaic), Leigh Combes (Pottery), Sue Heys (Stained Glass), Susanne Branham (Jewellery) and Marie Burke (Watercolour)

Also a beautiful origami paper crane installation 'Skinny Legs, Hats and Rupert Bear',  a collaborative work created by artist Lucy Lean with communities and schools as part of an ongoing partnership project between Somerset Art Works and The Great Crane Project. Recycled paper is used for the installation, including maps donated by The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in Taunton, Somerset.

Outside, colourful crane decoys have been painted by Othery communities and young people with disabilities on a Short Breaks Workshop, led by artists Kitty Hillier and Hilda Vaughan.


Somerset Crafts, Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay BA6 9TT www.somersetcrafts.com
Open everyday 10am - 5pm,  Refreshments Somerset Art Weeks Venue 27