Source: The News-Enterprise
July 26, 2018
British artist’s Grass Men to visit Bernheim Forest
British artist Ashley Peevor is known for his living costume pieces, which are works of art he creates through natural materials. Specifically, Peevor is known for his Grass Men pieces. As the name suggests, Grass Men are large costumes made of grass and other vegetation designed to intersect art and nature.
Throughout this month, Peevor will be creating these pieces at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont and surrounding areas through an artist residency with the forest. The residency is made possible by an Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 grant from the Jennifer Lawrence Arts Fund at the Fund for the Arts in partnership with the Fund for the Arts.
Apart from Peevor’s residence, Bernheim hosts artist-in-residence participants every year to create works inspired by the forest’s landscape. Artists from 25 states, 31 countries and six continents applied to the program this year with three artists chosen. This year’s artists are Rachel Singel, Anthony Heinz May and Natalie Andrew.
Bernheim Visual Arts Coordinator Jenny Zeller said upon reviewing Peevor’s application for the residency, she felt his work would be ideal to include beyond the residency program.
“I just felt like it spoke to a larger experience,” Zeller said of Peevor’s work.
Peevor arrived at Bernheim July 19 and will stay until Aug. 25, according to Zeller.
Peevor will host workshops in which participants can create their own wearable nature art, including armbands and necklaces. Participants can also learn about Peevor’s work and see his progress in creating his costumes.
Workshops will take place at Bernheim’s Research Building on Sunday and on Aug. 5 from 1-3 p.m. There is a 25-person limit per workshop session and registration is required. To register, call 502-955-8512.
In addition to the Bernheim workshops, Peevor also will host workshops for youth in the Smoketown neighborhood of Louisville.
Zeller said Peevor’s way of engaging with the community through these workshops meets Bernheim’s mission of community engagement through art.
“His proposal for community engagement really spoke to Bernheim’s mission of connecting people with nature,” she said.
Peevor’s work will be featured at Bernheim’s annual Connect event, which will take place Aug. 18 from 6:31 – 10:31 p.m. at Bernheim’s Lake Nevin. Now in its 10th year, the event features spontaneous art, drum circles, musical performances, a mud play area, hands-on art and science activities, food and alcohol vendors and more.
Zeller said Peevor’s involvement in the Connect event is a great way to celebrate its decade of celebrating art, nature and science.
“Having this work elevates a world-class event into a world-class experience,” she said.
Those who take part in Peevor’s workshop also will be encouraged to show off their creations at Connect. Zeller said Peevor’s workshops and involvement in the Connect event are great ways for participants to appreciate nature through art.
“This is a way for people to have a real connection with nature,” she said. “They have to be attentive to the piece that they are creating.”