Sylva Caledonia was an exhibition and seminar series held at Summerhall, Edinburgh, in Spring 2015. It was developed and funded by the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Our participation was initiated by James Howie of ascus. Holly Knox Yeoman curated the installation.
Participants included ourselves with studio associate Sara Ocklind, Gerry Loose and Morven Gregor and Chris Fremantle. We presented ‘living sculptures’, videos and the large map of Breadalbane; developed over a number of years working in the Black Wood of Rannoch. Gerry and Morven presented concrete poetry, photographs, sculptures and selection of small hazel trees developed over years working in the Sunart Oakwood on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Chris presented the current development of his extensive ecoart portable library in an adjoining study room.
Chris organized a great series of discussions for the exhibition.
- The first was a discussion between the artists and Paul Tabbush Chair of the Landscape Research Group.
- The next one included philosopher/artist Beth Carruthers, author and curator Amy Cutler and the noted historian of Scottish art Murdo Macdonald.
- The third talk included representatives from Forest Research David Edwards and Bianca Ambrose-Oji, Richard Thompson and ecologist from Forest Enterprise and Rick Worrell a consultant with a wealth of experience working in ancient semi-natural native forests.
