Full Circle VARC Artist’s Residency with Marc Rigelsford, August 2025.
On Saturday 6th September I am delighted to invite you to Full Circle, a celebration of the conclusion of VARC's Full Circle artist's residency programme and their 25th anniversary.
Over two weeks in August, sound artist Marc Rigelsford and I worked towards the creation of a seasonal sound composition and site-responsive moorland installation for the VARC Full Circle celebration on September 6th, at 3pm.
Our collaborative piece takes the form of a ceremonial sound walk. People are invited to select a small stone wrapped in indigo dyed felt, to take with them on the walk, where we will gather together within a stone circular sheep stell on the moors of Highgreen. This is the site to listen collectively to a seasonal sound composition, experienced intimately through wireless headphones. Indigo dyed felted wool from fleece provided by Fransje Samson. Sound composition by Marc Rigelsofrd, featuring haiku written and read by Patrick Gabler.
On these endless days
A sky draped in pure pigment
Of infinite blue
- Patrick Gabler
‘In 2025, VARC will be celebrating an incredible achievement – 25 years of supporting artists and providing creative activity in rural Northumberland.
It will also be the conclusion of VARC as we know it, as the funding that founder Leo Amery so generously put into the charity will have been spent. There could well be another part of the VARC story, but to mark the end of this chapter, former artists-in-residence will shape the final year programme, Full Circle.
Saturday 6th September
10.30am - 5.00pm: Full Circle artworks on display and also featuring Mike Collier and William Morrison-Bell. Drop in open to the public, refreshments available.
11am - 1pm: Delineation: walk and talk with Karen Rann and Susan Grant. Meet 11am in project space followed by walk 11.30am - 12.30pm.
1pm - 3pm: Lunch and speeches in the barn. 3pm - 5pm: Full Circle ceremonial sound walk by Lucy May Schofield and Marc Rigelsford. Meet 3pm in barn.
6pm - 7.30pm: Tarset Ceilidh Band and ceilidh.