Slow The Flow Appoints ‘Artist In Residence’
Thursday, 15 October 2020
Calderdale environmental charity Slow The Flow have appointed acclaimed artist Anne Fox as ‘Artist In Residence’ as part of a project to promote and interpret the environmental benefits of Natural Flood Management.
Anne Fox is a Calderdale-based visual artist working across a range of media including video, installation, land art, painting, and drawing. Much of Anne’s work examines the structure and processes of the uplands that surround the Calder Valley.
Anne has an MA in Fine Art from Manchester Art School, and an international selling profile.
Anne’s previous projects have included collaborations with the Royal Northern College of Music at the Whitworth Art Gallery and Victoria Baths in Manchester, with Norwegian ice-music pioneer Terje Isungset, and with many local musicians and performers.
In February 2020 an exhibition of Anne’s paintings of local gritstone outcrop ‘The Bridestones’ was cut short after only two days when the host venue - Nelson’s Wine Bar, in Hebden Bridge - was sadly flooded to a depth of around five feet. Anne was extremely grateful to the staff of the wine bar who very kindly rescued her paintings from the rising water and took them to a neighbouring shop to be stored in safety.
In response to this act of kindness, and so many others across the valley at the time of this flood, Anne wanted to do something to show her gratitude and started to sell her paintings to raise money for the Calderdale Community Flood Relief Fund.
Having raised £500 by selling around forty small paintings and prints to people all over the valley and beyond, she became more interested in the work of local groups that are active in reducing the risk of flooding in the area and her collaboration with natural flood management group Slow The Flow began in March 2020.
Anne’s ongoing work ‘The Flow Project’ will follow and record the group’s flood prevention interventions and will lead to the production of a body of work that reflects, celebrates and raises awareness of the unique and fragile nature of our environment and helps promote the ways in which people can work together to make positive changes.
Bede Mullen, Chair of Slow The Flow, described this unique collaboration: ”Anne’s artwork provides a unique perspective on the incredible landscape in which we work. It will give our Trustees and volunteers a fresh artistic and imaginative perspective on our work to Slow The Flow and protect communities from the effects of flooding. We are delighted to welcome Anne and this incredible project and look forward to seeing how her imagination interprets our crucial work”.
Anne Fox said of this innovative partnership,“I am delighted to have this opportunity to collaborate with Slow the Flow as Artist in Residence. This committed group has achieved so much in developing natural flood management in the valley and I'm really looking forward to supporting them. "Hopefully my work will raise awareness of their efforts, promote a wider understanding of the great work that they do, and help deliver the message that everyone can contribute"You can follow Anne’s work with Slow The Flow on her blog ‘The Flow Project'.
See also
Slow The Flow - Harnessing the power of nature to reduce flood risk - July 2020
Update from Slow the Flow - March 2020
Slow the Flow - Keeping Natural Flood Management on the agenda - Jan 2020
Slow the Flow win Community Foundation Award - Dec 2019
Slow the Flow project maps local activity to reduce flooding risk - October 2019
Slow The Flow Film and AGM - Feb 2018
Slow the Flow shortlisted as 'Community Group Of The Year' - Oct 2017
Councillor among volunteers helping to Slow the Flow - July 2017
Slow The Flow - Hardcastle Crags - April 2017