It could be described as a dying art – and Pauline Gill’s latest creation is long since extinct.
Pauline, 62, of Lepton, is the current artist in residence at the Create Space gallery at the Packhorse Centre in Huddersfield.
Pauline is a sculptor with a difference. All the materials she uses are natural or organic, mainly sourced by foraging in woodlands and the countryside.
Out on walks she collects twigs, bark, leaves, seeds, roots or anything else from the natural world she can find to turn into pieces of art.
Her latest creation, on show at the Packhorse gallery, is a dodo, the now extinct flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
“I love birds, foraging and trees and decided to combine all three together to make twig birds,” said Pauline. “It’s all about seeing art in nature.
“There is even beauty in a shrivelled root. It’s a form of art that draws attention to nature.”
Pauline’s bird sculptures are based on a wire frame and formed with the various materials she has collected. She has created birds of all shapes and sizes from a swan to a parrot, a chicken to an egret.
Pauline has been artist in residence at Create Space for January and February and on Saturday (Feb 20) she will host an Art in Nature workshop which is open to the public.
The session, which runs from 1pm to 3pm, costs £6 per person and includes all materials.
Create Space is run by Huddersfield-based Support to Recovery, a charity which promotes positive mental health and well-being in the local community.
For more details ring Support to Recovery on 01484 539531 or see www.s2r.org.uk
