Vessel and Seed

April 25th - June 7th 2009

Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne presents a solo exhibition of recent work by Dorset based willow artist Caroline Sharp



‘Vessel and Seed’ will feature Caroline’s work made over the last 2 years. Caroline uses natural materials including stems of willow, dogwood, poplar; leaves, wool, chalk and anything that moves and inspires her. Her unusual approach to her craft results in unique creations that are woven, printed, assembled, or constructed.



Caroline has an established career as both a landscape architect and artist and has shown her work throughout the UK including the recent exhibition Urban Field at Contemporary Applied Arts in London. She has completed many commissions for public spaces in both rural and urban settings using a variety of media. Recent commissions have included installations along the Wessex Ridgeway and another for the North Hykeham Theatre in Lincoln.





The work within the exhibition ‘Vessel and Seed’ reflects Caroline’s continuing need to connect to the earth and the natural world. Issues of sustainability; the fragility of permanence to impermanence and our own mortality are increasingly important influences in her work.

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Among the work featured will be a giant Floating Seed constructed from wild mustard stems; some new work using chalk and clay block prints; wall based work with bent and stitched willow; and a range of twiggy vessels using colourful stems and leaves that explore concepts around containment and movement.



Caroline’s work is strongly influenced by nature and the concepts of fertility, birth, death and rebirth. The pieces are aesthetic in form; some are functional but that is not their prime purpose. They are comprised by chalk, clay, woven willow, mustard stems, dogwood, poplar, and constructed of leaves and stems of various species.

‘Vessel and Seed’ will be on show at Walford Mill Crafts from 25th April until 7th June.

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