Date: Wed 22^nd February 6.15pm

Venue: Jarman Studio 1

The School of Arts is delighted that Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey will be delivering the an Artist Talk to launch their new commission on Wednesday 22 February in Jarman Studio 1 at 6.15pm. The talk is free to attend.

The artists will be talking specifically about their role in the development of the Ash Project, conceived by Kent Downs Area of Outstanding National Beauty, the Ash Project is an urgent cultural response to the devastating effects of Ash dieback, and combines a major new commission by Ackroyd and Harvey which continues their environmental investigations. Ackroyd and Harvey will speak about the development process for this work and explain more about how the outcomes will be realised across Kent.

For 25 years, Ackroyd & Harvey’s work has been exhibited in contemporary art galleries, museums and public spaces worldwide; sculpture, photography, architecture, ecology and biology are disciplines that intersect in their work, revealing an intrinsic bias towards process and event. Often reflecting environmental and scientific concerns, they are acclaimed for large-scale interventions in sites of architectural interest.

“Our research has revealed a hidden wealth of industries carved from the ash, a myriad of wooden objects and artefacts that occupy historical significance and domestic use. Mythologies address the Ash as the tree at the centre of the world, the ‘cosmic’ tree. Contemporary science is studying genetic traits to understand how to cultivate disease resistant Ash stock. David Nash’s “Ash Dome” is an internationally recognized artwork. The emotional, social and metaphorical relationship with this tree gives deep-rooted material for our artistic exploration.” Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey, November 2016

The commission is complimented by a two year programme of public engagement to include artists’ walks, green wood working, an evolving Ash Archive, public programmes at University of Kent and Folkestone Quarter house. These events will involve communities in actively documenting the contemporary and historic importance of the Ash in collaboration with the research and scientific community of the Kent Downs and artists and educators Outdoor Studios, who work with school students to create extraordinary experiences in the outdoors.

For more info go to http://www.ackroydandharvey.com/ and http://www.kentdowns.org.uk/getting-involved/the-ash-project. You can also find out more about the Ash project here: www.theashproject.org.uk

The project has been conceived and developed by the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit, the Ash Project is funded by the Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Kent County Council and will be a partnership supported by the Forestry Commission, the Woodland Trust Charter for Trees, University of Kent, Creative Foundation, Folkestone Triennial, Whitstable Biennale and the Turner Contemporary and many others.