C-Art Cumbria, 2016. Sprint Mill

Sprint Mill was the last of our studio visit and was a studio hub, meaning that they had opened their door to several artists to display their work during C-Art, including painter Hamish MacLain and  ceramicist, What really fascinated me though was the mill itself and the work of owner/artist Edward Acland and his daughter Francis, a photographer.

Sprint Mill is one of the oldest mills in Cumbria.  Set in 15 acres on a bend of the River Sprint in Burneside, the mill is a place of inspiration and beauty.  It is owned and run by Edward and Ramola Acland.  The collections inside include a historic 1840 water mill and a wealth of old hand tools associated with rural crafts. It is a fascinating aladin's cave of collections; it makes our garden studio, which is full of our own eclectic collections, look very small scale.  In the grounds the Aclands manage wildflower meadows and hedgerows using traditional techniques, along with a burgeoning allotment.  As well as the work of invited guest artists Edward Acland displayed his own quirky pieces.

While I was there I bought a catalogue for one of his past exhibtions in the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal from 2006.  The catalogue included photographs of the works in the exhibition, several of which, or similar are on display in the mill.  He makes abstract art work from any manner of of unusual materials such as bale string, sea glass and broken ceramics, roast egg shell, dried couch grass, old used nails and many, many more.  One exhibit in the mill was a collection of jars full of odd materials in waiting.

In the catalogue Edward Acland writes an intoroduction to Another World?  I empathise with his thoughts and philosophy in this.  He says that a previous exhibition from 2004 Another Story attempted to display his own delight of what his family witnessed through 'living a life' at their home, Sprint Mill.  Another World? extended this theme.  He says that over the last few years a growing sense of unease has pervaded humankind in relation to the general well being of Planet Earth.  A familiar story from the photographers featured in William A. Ewing's Landmark.  Acland says that the integrity of the 'skin' or bioshpere of the world, on which we all depend for our survival, is under threat, couresy of the impact and conduct of our species, homo sapiens.  Another World?, he says stubbornly rejects a 'too-late-to-do-anything' scenario and invites us instead to connect to a real alternative.  The question mark indicates choice! One is the current 'business as usual' option.  The other calls on us to bring about a radical shift of attitude to speedily take us all towards an ecologically long term secure future, based on recognising the natural limits of the way we live and work.

 I feel that in my photographs depicting the darker side of woodland, I have touched on this ethos.  I think that, perhaps, those who indulge in the fly tipping of mattresses, settees and all manner of other things have adopted the 'business as usual' approach to life.  Presumably they think that someone else will clear up their mess.