Derby Evening Telegraph's review of I Thought I Saw Something 2013

This was written by Martin Naylor of the Derby Evening Telegraph and posted on 27 August 2013  and was headlined as: Secret woodland exhibition threatens blood-curdling mix of horror and terror

 

The original article is on www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Secret-woodland-exhibition-threatens-blood/story-19711864-detail/story.html

 

 



 

Clare Brooksbank and Ian Wadsworth, Artists

 

 

A BUS with blacked-out windows will be used to take lovers of macabre art to a mystery exhibition set deep in a secret woodland.

Artists from across the county are producing horror-themed pieces which will be placed among the trees.

Those who want – or dare – to visit the installation will be collected from a Derby pub by a minibus with blacked-out windows.

They will then be driven to the secret location and handed torches to find their way, using a rope as a guide, to the artwork.

The project, called I Thought I Saw Something, will take place on eight nights throughout October.

Clare Brooksbank, 45, is one of the artists who has been commissioned by the mystery curator to produce a piece.

She said: "We cannot divulge any information about the whereabouts of the woods or the exact nature of the pieces we will be producing, but it certainly promises to be a spooky night out with a difference.

"There will be a mystical link to all of the artwork and some of the materials verge on the horror.

"Those who dare to come will have to make their way from a hut inside the woodlands and set off in pairs with only a torch and find their way using a rope to where the pieces are installed.

"Film-makers, short-story writers, sculptors and artists have all been asked to contribute."

Last October the group put on a similar event at St Helens House, in Derby.

They transformed the King Street property into a haunted house of horrors, putting together a series of grotesque exhibits which explored the darker side of creativity.

This year's event will see visitors meet at the Seven Stars pub, opposite St Helen's House, before being driven out to the mystery location.

Clare said: "It will be strictly for over-18s because of the nature of some of the pieces and those wanting to come will also have to bear in mind they will be taken to a woodland in October so they need to dress appropriately.

"No high heels!"

Short-story writer Tom Dale, from Derby, is one of the artists who has been asked to provide pieces for this year's work.

He said: "I was asked to get involved through this mystery curator who contacted us all via e-mail and told us what the theme of the exhibition would be and what style of work he wanted us all to produce.

"It is all very exciting, very secretive and we think people will love it."

Almost 1,000 people are already following Derby Haunted House Project's Facebook page.

The exhibition will run each Friday and Saturday night throughout October, starting on October 4.