Open-Up: Outdoor Exhibition

This outdoor gallery exhibition features eight artists with intimate knowledge of Hestercombe, many of whom have responded to the landscapes on the estate in the past.

The works, on display across all three of the period gardens at Hestercombe and beyond, range from subtle interventions involving copper plant tags, pigeon rings and galvanised nails, to bold stacked colours, giant bunting and orchard ladders.

Artists featured include Richard Long, Sarah Bennett, Megan Calver with Gabrielle Hoad, Jon England, Jo Lathwood, Philippa Lawrence and Lucy Soni.

About Open-Up

In July we launched Jackdaw Line in Hestercombe’s Georgian Landscape Garden, a new stone work by internationally renowned artist Richard Long. This work has become the flagship commission of a new outdoor series, entitled ‘Open-Up’.

Originally programmed for May 2020 as part of Hestercombe’s Bampfylde300 year of celebrations, Jackdaw Line was postponed due to Covid-19. The existing indoor exhibitions, Coplestone Warre Bampfylde: A Gentleman of Taste, and Most Admirably Improved by Art, were both closed when Hestercombe temporarily shut in late March 2020. This enforced closure created a reaction that reimagined the way that artworks are presented in a way that is made safe and accessible for visitors for the current social distancing environment at Hestercombe.

At a time when most UK galleries remained closed it seemed fitting to follow Jackdaw Line with further outdoor works that not only respond to the gardens, but reflect on the unprecedented times faced by a global society, with a virus at its root.

Times & Tickets

Richard Long’s Jackdaw Line along with other artworks in the Open-Up series can be seen at Hestercombe daily, from 10am – 6pm (last entry 4.30pm). At the time of publication, all visits must be pre-booked online before you travel.

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