Fabric of the Land returns to Aberdeen this weekend to explore once again links between art and science.
Launched initially in 2009, the annual open-submission exhibition invites local and international artists to create works which derive from, or are inspired by, the link between geology and the landscape of the Earth.
Now in its sixth year, Fabric of the Land has moved from its birthplace in the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology to an exciting new Aberdeen city-centre venue. It is now based at Union Square shopping centre and this new location will allow even more people to engage with geology and its interpretation through contemporary art – a partnership which proves these two worlds are not as separate as many would believe.
The response to the call for entries this year has been considerable, with 220 artists from throughout the UK and Europe submitting original work for selection, making for an extremely high quality of finalists whose pieces will be showcased over the exhibition’s three-week run. Among the 56 selected artists whose work is presented this year will be one or two familiar faces, including the winner of last year’s main award, Gemma Balfour, who this year has successfully submitted two pieces.
International artists have also made stunning contributions this year, including Elvira Wersche, who will travel from the Netherlands for the VIP opening event today, September 12, to unveil her floor piece of art, and Katarzyna Adamek-Chase, who will fly from her native Poland to attend the opening, and take attendees through the processes behind her sgraffito drawing with oil pastel on paper.
The activities surrounding Fabric of the Land aren’t confined only to the main event itself. Now a well-established focal point for the convergence of art and science, the annual programme also includes an arts education project, which is now in its second year. Earlier this year, students at Aberdeen’s St Machar Academy collaborated with north-east ceramicist Morag McGee and professional geologists from Dana Petroleum to work in 3D and learn about clay, as well as discovering how ceramics and the different processes they go through fit in with geology and the world around them. The ceramic works created by the pupils will be on display as part of this year’s exhibition.
Run by Aberdeen’s SMART Consultants art agency, the Fabric of the Land exhibition is supported this year by key stakeholders in the city – Dana Petroleum, Aberdeen University, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Inspired. Such has been the strength of the collaboration between these organisations that Dana Petroleum and SMART Consultants are up for an award for Fabric of the Land 2013 at the Arts and Business Awards in Glasgow on October 24.
The Fabric of the Land art and science exhibition runs at 9 East Terrace, Union Square, Aberdeen AB11 5RG, from this Saturday, September 13, until Sunday, October 5. The free-to-attend exhibition is open to the public from 11am-5pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays, and noon-4pm on Sundays.
The venue is accessible via Union Square’s outdoor car park on Market Street. All pieces selected for the exhibition are available for purchase. For further information visit www.fabricoftheland.com
