INCREDIBLE ART UNVEILED by SCULPTURE ARTISTS | Virtual Chelsea 2020

Introducing my friends and talented leading British sculpture artists and an incredible sundial maker! Their work, their passion and their thoughts on Chelsea Flower Show 2020 as we get together for our own 'Virtual Chelsea', bringing you a small flavour of this world renowned gardening event.

Get up close and personal as 3 artistic sculptures chat about their work and Capel Tenison, sundial maker extraordinaire, explains the principal behind an armillary sphere and how to use it to tell the time!

James Parker - Stacked Sculpture in Slate, Bronze and Glass

Rupert Till - Wire Sculpture

Brian Alabaster - Bronze Figurative Sculpture

Capel Tenison - Border Sundials

More from me (James Parker)
I began working with stone at an early age when at four years old I helped my father repair gaps in the drystone walls surrounding our family farm in Galloway, South West Scotland. This, I believe, sparked an interest in stone work which would eventually become my passion.
In 2007 I created my first slate sculpture and by June 2008 had held my first exhibition. Since then I have exhibited many times, including several award winning years at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
I believe slate offers texture that many materials do not; the layers create depth, the construction is a source of intrigue to many and the sculptures I create, rather than dominate, tend to be dignified within and communicate with their surroundings.
I have also ventured into working with other materials including glass, and more recently bronze, which is cast from stacked slate and takes on a remarkably similar appearance.
I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in some beautiful places and love that my work evokes feeling and emotion.

More from Rupert Till...
I create life size wire sculptures for the garden market. I can remember visiting the Chelsea Flower Show when I was at college and finding the only sculpture there was in bronze resin. I took my experiences from making wire armatures one step further when I returned to Yorkshire and created my pieces from recycled wire pheasant pens. My method of scrunching the wire enabled me to draw out my life-size sculptures for less than the process of bronze resin.
The sculpture is about lines and the wire echoes this perfectly. I produced drawings from pulling out a bull or a horse and tying them up in the studio. Drawing from life or sculpting next to the animal gave me the anatomical knowledge needed to recreate the character and proportion of my subject. As a child growing up with our family pack of hounds, I had the unique opportunity to observe the animal carcasses hanging in the kennels. Often dissected, these large abstract shapes of muscle and tissue resembled sculptures themselves. I have memories of seeing how a horse’s leg flexes and how the weight and pressure of the tendon works. I am sure these little insights at an early age laid foundation blocks in my mind.
Today I am working mainly in bronze wire and still riding out most days. The relationship between my horse and I is very special. It not only gives you the unique experience to view roe deer close up from the saddle but also gives you the insight to expressing its movement and spirit.

More from Brian Alabaster...
Brian Alabaster is a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors and an established artist with an international reputation. His talent is capturing the relaxed natural poses of his models in his work. These sit perfectly in any garden or public situation. All work is cast in signed editions. Commissions can be undertaken for clients.
Some figures incorporate running water, which adds life and vitality to the sculptures. Recent work includes dynamic moving images of children at play. These are expressed appropriately by casting into the enduring traditional material, bronze.

More from Capel Tenison (Border Sundials)...
For centuries, sundials have connected the heavens with earth. As they silently mark the earth’s rotations around the sun and the passing of time, a dial brings ageless beauty to any garden. Their gentle sculptural forms can transform the most ordinary garden into something spectacular. Reflecting light and colour, they create enticing vistas and magical secret arbours. They bring memories to life, with loving inscriptions or thoughtful words of inspiration. A garden with a sundial is a garden where every moment is treasured, forever.

#sculpture #artist #jamesparkersculpture

[richternes]

James, thanks so much for sharing these brilliant sculptors' work with us.

[annebell]

WoW. Mind blowing. 4 gentlemen, Master of their own Creations. Absolutely Genial, all 4. Very much High Class Sculpting. Congrats Gentlemen. 🌿🌹🌹🌹🌹🌿

[douglasbell]

Always great to see the work of talented people who's end product most of us would normally never see. Thanks again James.

[jjcactusandsucculents-open]

That was great! Thank you for sharing! Stay safe and healthy :-)

[indie]

Thank you James for the virtual Chelsea tour. Very up close and personable with all of the artists. Love all the sculpture, especially the rabbit and horse in the circle. Please thank everyone for me for participating in your video.

[johnlong]

Some lovely work there and I never knew a sundial could be so complicated, very interesting.👍 . . . . I'm off to research sundials, I want to know this stuff.

[pattiesidlick]

Thank you James, that was fabulous to see other artists work.

[lizl]

Great to see all this talent. Love you bronze apple💕

[SuperZytoon]

I had felt so bad for you when COVID forced the cancellation of the Chelsea Flower Show. You had mentioned how much you were looking forward to exhibiting there. This is such a wonderful way to share the talents of you and your friends. Thank you so much. The art pieces you shared are beyond descriptions. I am in awe of each artist. I will download this episode to keep and enjoy. These artists, including you, have been given a gift from God.

[hazelhelena]

Such beautiful pieces! Thank you James for giving us a COVID19 Chelsea Flower Show Sneak Peak!

[daveycortez]

I found Mr. Capel Tenison's very interesting. I loved his explanation of how sundials work. This is functional art, exquisitely made.

[sandiblohm]

This was very interesting. You all have amazing talents. It would be fun for you to feature more of all your works of art in the future!!

[cruzdirector]

Thank you so much for sharing these amazing artists and the creative pieces! I thought I was going to have a clear favorite but by the time it was over I absolutely loved each piece. The wire horses I think would be a huge hit in my hometown of Lexington Kentucky. Large amazing horse farms - horses and basketball is what that city is about. And sundials - I had no idea how they worked and how specifically set they are! And the bronze sculptures - almost eerie, completely captivating the way they project real live beings. Of course I’ve already said how stunning the bronze Apple is. People really missed out not having Chelsea this year! Thank you James, for your kindness of sharing all this with us.

[susansollee]

James
Thank you for enlightening me with all this talent!
The sun dial was amazing! So intricate.
I’m really looking forward to next years Chelsea Garden Show. It will be here before we know it.
🤗👍🏻💕🌻🙏🏻🙏🏻🌷
All this being said, you remain my favorite !
BE WELL 🌻

[jansteingold]

As a horse lover, the wire horses 🐴 are my favourites, but there are all stunning in there own right 💕

[veronicatrudel]

Thank you so much for sharing such incredible artists and their beautiful work. Living in Canada, I never would have had a chance to see any of these, including yours. You provided such an amazing experience. Thank you.

[AfterTheRains]

Some beautiful and clever art we had the privilege to see. Sorry you didn’t get the opportunity to exhibit them this year but hopefully you do next year.

[kenmoum]

Nothing...NOTHING...is as fascinating as watching and listening to people who make things. They all have passion and creativity. Among my YT subscriptions I count a traditional coachmaker from Montana who wears jeans and western shirts, an Aussie craftsman who will take on projects in wood, metal, or whatever, a man with a lovely west Scotland accent who somehow takes dry stone wall building and make fine art, several folks who do everything you can imagine with and on bicycles, and one Hoof GP who uses a grinder and a strange knife to make cow's hooves straight and healthy.

In times like these, they sooth my soul.

[bmmrlm]

The talent of each artist is awe inspiring! My talent is admiring and appreciating such talented people!

[DonnaMSchmid]

OMG, what gorgeous sculptures! **sigh** If only I had more $$...