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Peterborough Artists Open Studios 2008
Normally, you have to visit a gallery to look at first-class art. But this weekend you have got the rare chance to check out some great art where it was made – in the artist's home (or garden).
Normally, you have to visit a gallery to look at first-class art. But this weekend you have got the rare chance to check out some great art where it was made – in the artist's home (or garden).Jemma Walton reports on the Peterborough Open Studios event.
NOT a day goes by when we aren't told that we need to be greener, to pay Mother Nature more respect.
But it's easy to get bored, tune out and forget about that as we settle down in front of the telly and concentrate on what's going on in Albert Square instead.
After all, what can we do about global warming and making sure we eat "sustainable" food – whatever that is?
It's easy to be bored unless you have a Rennie Antonelli and a Gerry Warren on your doorstep. Because these two are dedicated to highlighting the importance of living green, and have the quirky, unique artworks to prove it.
Gerry and his business partner Renny are presenting their eco-sculpture as part of the Open Studios event.
"It includes everything," said Gerry. "Bacteria, funghi, butterflies, bats, plants, foxes, the occasional kestrel, and humans.
"As well as looking interesting, it's an allotment that produces a large amount of food for a lot of people, it's the backdrop for the social lives of the people who work on it, it's also a gym for the people who work on it – and it shows people that work is part of the system of life.
"It's an interesting place: a place that makes people think."
Former environmental scientist Gerry met woodworker Rennie in 1995 while working on two separate allotments, and soon realised they were trying to do the same thing. They put their heads together and created their very own eco-system.
"I don't distinguish art – people put labels on things, like conceptual art, performance art, primitive art, but I don't," said Gerry. "To me, art is just art, and this is art.
"The best art makes people think, makes them question what they believe and the way things are, and I believe that what we do does that."
The two are passionate believers in people peeling themselves away from computer games, telly and DVDs and getting back in touch with nature.
"We have been surprised by how deeply what we do here seems to speak to people," said Gerry.
"Everyone that comes here is touched by it in some way – and I think that's because 10,000 years ago we were living in open land rather then closed-in cities, and there is still something in us that responds to that, even if we don't realise that.
"And the people that get the most out of it, who really love it the most, are children. They are always fascinated.
"We're not meant to be stuck behind computers all day and eat food that has been flown half way across the world. It can only do us good to go back to producing our own food and as the world's population grows and grows and wants feeding, we will find that we have no choice but to do that."
Where once Gerry's views might have been thought extremist, today they are increasingly mainstream.
"In the '70s when I started talking about global warming, people said I was mad," he said. "When we started this project people said the same.But they're not saying that now, because the attitude towards green issues has changed.
"And they have seen what we have done, and seen that it works."
The eco-art system can be seen at Dogsthorpe Allotments on Saturday, 19 and Sunday 20 July between 11am and 4pm. Access is adjacent to 287A Dogsthorpe Road.Chance to explore Kathryn's garden
Kathryn Moore set up the Open Studios scheme with a friend eight years ago, and has seen it go from strength to strength.
"We started off with one house, and so to have 19 now, and 35 artists is great," she said.
"I open my garden as well, and a lot of people just like to come and sit in the garden, have a chat and relax with a piece of cake! It's a nice way to spend an afternoon."
Kathryn is showing her work alongside a jeweller who makes things out of discarded bits and pieces, and an abstract artist who also makes puppets!
74 Monument Street, Peterborough is open between 11am and 4pm both days.
Everything from ethically traded baskets through to antique bronze sculpture will be on display – and for sale – at 1 All Saints Road, Peterborough, this weekend.
Active Antiques and Interiors is just one of the 19 places in the city in which visitors can chat with the people who made the artworks. For more information see www.paos.org.uk.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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