Urban Biophilia ~ Your Sanctuary
Call-out to Artists:
We invite submissions for ‘Urban Biophilia ~ Your Sanctuary’ where the healing power of nature will be brought inside, just for a moment… Varied forms of art will be used to create an immersive experience for visitors to engage with, honour and pledge their commitment to help heal our planet. The curation will also offer visitors a sanctuary, where they can relax, regain balance and enhance their wellbeing.
Humans must be motivated in order to instil change, particularly when change requires effort. Our planet continues to be threatened by our negative actions and in order for it to heal, we need to take accountability. If we stop for a moment to experience how nature benefits our wellbeing, there is still a chance we can become catalysts for positive change in our world.
In particular, we’re excited to see how you respond to the term ‘Forest Bathing’ as this forges a relationship between the wisdom of tees and how humans respond. You may be a 2D artist capturing atmospheric photographs, or a painter translating your own experience of nature’s healing power; you may be a sculptor, ceramicist or textile artist, making evocative objects that entice and enthral the onlooker; you may be a musician who can offer ethereal resonant sounds from the spirit of the forest, or you may be a visual artist working with projection or video. If your work speaks to the healing power of nature, tree spirits, land art, or the unseen, then please do apply.
‘Haven’ By Sonya Wilkins (Photo Credit: Prachhi Patel)
‘Forest Aromas’ By Sonya Wilkins
‘Mystical Trees’ By Sonya Wilkins
Curated by Sonya Wilkins
Curator Sonya Wilkins, photo by Dianna Bonner Photography
Sonya discovered an authentic connection with clay from an early age at school. Then through her Ba (Hons) at Bristol Bower Ashton in 1995, to a recent MFA (Ceramics) at Bath Spa University in 2023, she came to answer the question ‘Can Ceramic Vessels Become Activators For Well-Being?’.
Sonya's ceramic collections have been aired on National TV, ‘The Great British Menu’ and ‘Love Your Weekend’ hosted by Alan Titchmarsh. She exhibits at national shows, select galleries across the UK and offers ‘Biophilia & Creativity' group workshops and 'Making and Mentoring in Nature’.
As both a Reiki Master Teacher and Master in Fine Art, Sonya infuses her ceramics with universal life force energy. This enables a harmonising effect, so her vessels can be used as conduits for well-being and mindful contemplation; as well as emotive pieces of functional ware for interior spaces. Her most recent installation 'Haven' invited people to enter a multi-sensory space to encounter the healing benefits of nature 'inside', just for a moment in time.
Her mission is to create a much larger 'sanctuary' in urban areas to remind people of their innate biophilic connection, increase wellbeing for those attending, and foster an increased sense of accountability for our planetary health by giving nature a 'voice'.
Instagram: @sonyawilkinsceramics
Facebook: SonyaWilkinsCeramics
Website: ceramicsinspiredbynature.com/sonya-wilkins-ceramics
To submit your work: please email the Curator urban@fringeartsbath.co.uk including:
NB: please include the exhibition / project name in the email title.
max 200 words about your work and how it fits the call-out (written, audio file, video or another way to suit you).
some images of the work, or links to video / performance work (or existing work if it hasn’t been made yet).
any relevant links, if you have them (though it’s not a requirement and Curators might not have the capacity to visit them all).
of course please include any questions you have.
you might not hear back from Curators until after the deadline, thank you for your patience.
Fringe Arts Bath Festival will take place 23 May to 7 June 2025
Submission deadline: Friday 11th April 2025 at 23h59 GMT
Media accepted: 2D, 3D, Sculpture, Ceramics, Textiles, Photography, Sound, Projection
Free submission. All are welcome to apply, of any age, status, and from anywhere in the world.
If selected, we ask Artists for a £22 contribution (like crowdfunding) and/or to give some of their time, as we are all volunteers. Please read our FAQs here to find out more.
See all 20 projects open to submissions on our home page: fringeartsbath.co.uk