O Barc Odes From The Edgerhow at Scrap, Sunny Bank Mills

Poems as visual art? Why not, says Briony Spandler, Leeds-based poet, artist and activist, whose work O Barc Odes From The Edgerhow is on display at Sunny Bank Mills this October.

Spandler takes inspiration from her observations of a single hedgerow and focuses on the ways it becomes entangled with litter left behind by careless passers-by. She records it with deep affection and sorrow for the state of natural environments that the hedgerow symbolises.

The ecopoetry is presented as an innovative visual poem, exhibited as a series of giclée prints, featuring visually manipulated barcodes to illustrate the impact of single-use packaging and the resulting pollution. It’s a journey through the seasons, inviting viewers to pay attention and engage in more sustainable practices on a daily basis. O Barc Odes From The Edgerhow was created in collaboration with ecologists, scientists and activists, including Trash Free Trails and Right To Roam.

The exhibition is part of the first edition of the Wild Service Festival, which features free and paid events: from poetry and spoken work to music, visual art, talks and workshops. The festival aims to shine a light on the ways in which we can better protect the natural environment and improve our wellbeing by reconnecting with nature and becoming its guardians. ‘Wild Service’ is a concept coined by the Right to Roam campaign, focusing on the concept that humanity’s loss and nature’s need are two sides of the same story, calling for dedicated efforts for its protection and restoration.

Wild Service Festival and Briony Spandler’s exhibition are taking place at SCRAP, the Centre of Creative, Reuse Play and Learning located in Leeds’ Sunny Bank Mills. SCRAP is a non-profit organisation that diverts waste from landfill in a variety of creative ways.