An Art Archive of 3,400 acres of threatened Oxfordshire countryside

Exhibition held 24-26 November 2023 at Worton Hall

Begbroke, Bladon, Cassington, Cumnor, Eynsham, Farmoor, Freeland, Glympton, Hanborough, Tackley, Woodstock, Wootton, Yarnton

Did you know...

We could soon lose almost every field for miles around us…

If the ‘Botley West’ solar farm is constructed, up to 3,400 acres of our precious local countryside will be covered with 1.5 million solar panels for up to 40 years.

It is claimed that at the end of 40 years, this enormous solar farm will be removed.

Forever Fields 2023 is asking local people to record their experience of these beautiful fields now, because they may soon be lost for decades.

The experience can be paintings, drawings, photographs, sound recordings, video, written words/poetry and 3D sculpture or installations. Anything that captures the beauty of these fields from your perspective.

Together this will create a Digital Art Archive that will be used in the 2060s as a reminder to residents what may be lost and what should be reinstated.

OUR OBJECTIVES

To create a Forever Fields Art Exhibition later in 2023 where the paintings, drawings, photographs, sound recordings and video can be seen and heard by the general public.

To create a Digital Art Archive of our precious local landscape in case it is needed as an important reference point in returning the land to green space and countryside in the future.

Forever Fields Open Art Exhibition and Archive

‘Forever Fields’ Art Exhibition: 24 - 26 November 2023, at Worton Hall, Cassington OX29 4SU

One of the largest art exhibitions in the area for many years took place at the end of November 2023. It was a fantastic success, featuring more than 160 works of painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, installations, words and music.

It was the overwhelming response by local people who were invited to express their feelings about the prospect of losing 3,400 acres of our countryside to Botley West Solar Farm. Over 90 artists, both professional and amateur, made their contributions.

The event was attended by over 1100 people during the two days and one evening that it was open. An indication of the strength of feeling for the land and the threat that is currently hanging over it. Visitors were encouraged to add their thoughts and comments to a large board (the size of a solar panel) to form an ‘extra’ work of art.

These have been recorded and will be added to the Digital Archive that Forever Fields is creating from the artworks and the event, so that if this gigantic power station is built, when the developer has to restore the fields after 40 years, there is a unique and accurate record of what was here.

The Forever Fields team would like to thank all of the contributors, artists and others who helped to make this an extraordinary event.

We will keep you posted with any further plans.