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Jerwood Open Forest - Amanda Loomes Profile

Date uploaded: November 11, 2013

Amanda Loomes is one of five artists shortlisted for the inaugural Jerwood Open Forest. Amanda's work examines forestry processes and the life cycle of timber, drawing attention to the contemporary working forest. Using the short experimental documentary form, her work explores how film and forestry can be used on site to reveal the labour and stories of foresters.

Jerwood Open Forest is a new initiative in the Jerwood Visual Arts programme supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation in partnership with Forestry Commission England.

During her wide-ranging research Amanda has recorded interviews with Forestry Commission staff and filmed the systems, techniques and labour associated with forestry. This research has taken her all over the country including a recent visit to the tree nursery at Delamere Forest, Cheshire, which grows and distributes over 8 million saplings each year for planting.

Amanda comments: "Much of the production in the forest goes unseen. I want to draw attention to the contemporary working forest and the people who dedicate their working lives to wood."

Jerwood Open Forest is a new initiative in the Jerwood Visual Arts programme supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation in partnership with Forestry Commission England. From an exceptional response of strong and diverse proposals five projects have been selected for a six-month research and development period. Juan delGado, Adam James, Amanda Loomes, Semiconductor (Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt) and collaborators Chris Watson with Iain Pate, have each received a £2,000 research and development fee to expand on the concept of their proposal and explore potential sites through this phase.

The research process will culminate in a curated exhibition at Jerwood Space, London in January 2014, where one project will be selected by the panel to receive a £30,000 commissioning budget to realise their proposal.

Click here for further information and updates of all five projects during the research and development period.

Exploration into the processes and products of the forest.

Exploration into the processes and products of the forest.