‘Unearthing Chase and Chalke’
Sara Dudman’s artwork explores our shifting relationships with the environment.
The ‘Unearthing Chase and Chalke’ project, from January to June 2022, aimed to explore Cranborne Chase through its geology and earth colours. As well as making her own new body of work, Sara worked with communities to create collaborative paintings and drawings that used carefully selected natural earth pigments foraged from the landscape. The rocks, soil and chalk were collected and transformed into earth-pigment paint. The artworks were compiled together to create ‘tapestry-style’ visual stories of Cranborne Chase’s natural environment, geology and history.
During this project, Sara embarked on her own walking journey which she describes as a ‘Sporadic Nomadic Residency’ – she followed historic routes and pathways that criss-cross the landscape, collecting carefully chosen pigment samples to produce artworks that re-interpret her experience of the landscape; referencing trees, geology, nature, history, pathways, ancient settlements and land erosion.
Sara invited members of the community to join her on the ‘Sporadic Nomadic’ walking journey. People participated in the mapping of Cranborne Chase through its geology and made locally produced earth-pigment paints. They reflected their experiences of the landscape through their own artworks and writing, as well as collaborated with each other to make artworks that tell the stories of Cranborne Chase. People were invited to participate both in on-site workshops led by Sara, and also at home via digital participation on social media.
This video was kindly made by film maker Hannah Earl.
Click the link below to view Sara’s final outcomes for the Unearthing Chase and Chalke Artist Residency project.
Sara Dudman RWA has extensive experience of leading participatory projects and events across the southwest of England. For more information about her work and previous projects, visit www.saradudman.com.
To follow Sara’s journey you can connect with her via social media:
Instagram: @SaraDudman1
Facebook: @SaraDudman1