Childhood memories inspired application to become New Forest artist in residence
MEMORIES of walks in the New Forest with her grandfather was one of the reasons why Beccy McCray applied to be one of the national park’s first official artists in residence.
She is now one of the series of creators who will take it in turns to work from the Spudworks base in Sway over three years to capture the spirit of the area in a wide range of art.
Beccy, who is from Hampshire but now lives in Hastings, told the A&T: “My grandad Jack would take me on long walks to find ‘fairy’ mushrooms, the red ones with white dots on.
“The Forest was a really magical, special place for me. Coming to the Forest today felt like coming home.”
Using what she calls “playful, interdisciplinary, socially-engaged” art and design, using different forms, Beccy said she will be working with local community groups, including the commoners, to create an art installation in the gallery in Station Road as well as in the Forest itself.
Beccy said: “I want to explore with the commoners how their stewardship of the land relates to the climate and ecology. I also hope to engage with other groups including the local Romany community.”
She is among the first to take part in the national park’s artist-in-residence programme, a partnership between the park authority and the gallery which will run for three years.
The key themes are nature recovery, net zero with nature, thriving Forest, an inclusive national park and “Team New Forest”.
Beccy will be undertaking her residency in October and delivering her artwork six months later.
The first artist will be Marie Smith whose time will begin in May.
A Londoner who works with text, digital and analogue photography, Marie had never been to the New Forest until she visited the gallery last week.
She said: “I am looking forward to getting to know the space. On the way here I was struck by how absolutely beautiful the Forest is.”
Marie is hoping to work with black and ethnic minorities, saying: “When I have gone walking in forests – say, in the north of England – before, we have often been the only people of colour there.
“I want people from black and ethnic minorities to be able to see their bodies in these places. I am also keen to learn about the ecology of the landscape.
“It was the idea of having that quietness, that stillness of the Forest, where you can literally hear yourself think, that really appealed to me.
“I just want to sprawl around for hours in it.”
Like Beccy she will be presenting her artwork six months after her residency. It will, she said, document what she has learnt through “oral history, video pieces, photographs and writing”.
NPA member Caroline Rackham said of the new initiative: “It is fantastic to have artists in residence looking at these kind of issues and bringing attention to them.”
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