| Description | The main output of the Second Nature project was a book entitled 'Second Nature', comprising a collection of essays and artwork by 42 writers and artists who were invited by Common Ground to 'express their feelings about Britain's dwindling wild life and countryside' ('Second Nature', 1984). Richard Mabey commissioned the essays for the book, whilst Angela King and Sue Clifford commissioned the artwork. The book was edited by Richard Mabey with Susan (Sue) Clifford and Angela King, and published by Jonathan Cape in 1984. Three public seminars were held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in 1984 to discuss themes explored in 'Second Nature: 'Created Nature' (25 October); 'Who Owns Nature? Possession and Dispossession' (1 November); and 'Beyond the Golden Age' (8 November).
The artwork featured in the book was exhibited, with the help of the Arts Council, at the Newlyn Orion Gallery in Penzance between 27 October and 20 November 1984, and subsequently travelled to other venues. A second exhibition of the artwork for 'Second Nature' took place at the London Ecology Centre between 11 July and 22 August 1985. The 25 artists who contributed to the book and the exhibition were: Roger Ackling, Norman Ackroyd, Conrad Atkinson, John Blakemore, Stephen Dalton, Chris Drury, Elisabeth Frink, Hamish Fulton, Fay Godwin, Andy Goldsworthy, Paul Hempton, Paul Hill, John Hilliard, David Hockney (only in the book), John Hubbard, Sirkka Liisa Konttinen, Jorge Lewinski, Richard Long, David Measures, Henry Moore, Alexander Mackenzie, Jamie McCullough, David Nash, James Ravilious, and Robin Tanner.
The writers and poets who contributed to the book were: John Barrell, John Berger, Michael Berkley, Edward Blishen, Ronald Blythe, Leonie Caldecott, John Fowles, Fraser Harrison, Peter Levi, Richard Mabey, David Measures, Bel Mooney, David Pownall, Kim Taplin, Colin Ward, Fay Weldon, and Raymond Williams. Many of the artists and writers involved in this project spoke at the discussions held at the ICA, as did Chris Hall, Robert Hutchinson, Jonathan Porritt and Melvyn Bragg.
Material in this section of the archive includes: correspondence with artists and writers; papers relating to the production of the book, including agreements and drafts; papers relating to the seminars held at the ICA; papers relating to the exhibition of artists' work; and several files of papers relating to Common Ground's collaboration with artist Andy Goldsworthy, in particular: his residency on Hampstead Heath (1985-1986) and exhibitions of his work. |