Frome music makers involved in ‘Fifty Bees III’ exhibition

TWO FromeFM presenters are taking part in an art exhibition helping to raise awareness about the plight of the British bee.

Helen Ottaway, founder member of FromeFM, presenter of ‘Take me to the River’ and composer; and Jenna Myles, who presents a radio version of her blog, ‘Somerset Cool’, have composed music for the ‘Fifty Bees III’ exhibition.

The ‘Fifty Bees’ project was started by Somerset artist Lydia Needle in 2017. For the exhibition Lydia sculpts fifty British bees in wool and stitch, while fifty other artists create responses to the ecology and hidden worlds of each individual bee.

‘The Bee That Loves Blackberries’ is the title of the piece by Helen, who worked with field recordings and singer Caroline Radcliffe to create a four and a half minute composition during which the buzzing of bees is transformed into song. Helen says, “The exhibition is full of beautiful and moving art works.  I’m thrilled to have been invited to add an aural element to the mix.”

Jenna written ‘Coming Home’, an acoustic folk song, for the exhibition. She has pressed it to vinyl and it can be heard on an old wooden record player. Jenna says,  “The song I’ve written is about people that have been through so much and about nature slowly returning ‘home’ to bring beauty, new life and contrast to a once blackened landscape. It’s brilliant to be part of such a fantastic Somerset exhibition.”

Helen’s sound piece, ‘The Bee That Loves Blackberries’ is available to download from helenottaway.bandcamp.com (minimum £2) and  Jenna’s song, ‘Coming Home’, is released on iTunes on April 7th.  

‘Fifty Bees III’ is at the Brewhouse Taunton until Monday 6th May.  See www.thebrewhouse.net for details of the exhibition and accompanying events and workshops.