Insect Art Fete

Friends of the Towans Art Club are proud to invite you to our annual Vintage Art Fete.

Community‑Made Insect Sculptures Unveiled at Gwithian Ahead of Insect‑Inspired Art Fête on 22 August

A new pair of community‑made insect sculptures has been unveiled at Gwithian, celebrating the remarkable sensory ecology of one of Cornwall’s most biodiverse dune systems. Families from across the area have taken part in every stage of the process — field observation, drawing, clay work, metal elements and final assembly — creating artworks that explore how insects see, taste and navigate the Towans landscape.

The sculptures, now installed and available to view throughout August, mark the culmination of a participatory arts‑and‑ecology project rooted in Gwithian’s dune habitats. The Towans are recognised as one of Cornwall’s richest coastal systems, with their mosaic of dunes, slacks and grasslands supporting an exceptional diversity of insect life.

The sculptures

One sculpture invites visitors to imagine how a dragonfly might view the landscape, echoing the form of traditional seaside viewers. Positioned on Gwithian Green, it allows people to look across both the older, tree‑lined dunes and the newer, shifting dune system, offering a playful way to consider how insects perceive movement, colour and space.

The second sculpture enlarges the forms of insect eyes and proboscises, allowing viewers to re‑imagine these structures at human scale before shrinking them back down in the mind’s eye — picturing them attached, airborne and moving through the dune habitats. Together, the sculptures encourage visitors to think about insects as active, sensing beings within this dynamic landscape.

Insect‑Inspired Art Fête — 22 August

The project’s next public moment will take place on 22 August, when families, guests and local supporters are invited to an insect‑inspired Art Fête. A short three‑to‑five‑minute film about the project will be screened, offering a first look at the collaborative making process and the sensory‑ecology ideas behind the sculptures. The fête will also include an insect‑themed workshop and a small selection of ecology and art books for visitors to explore.

Sensory‑ecology approach

The project is shaped by a sensory‑ecology method that invites families to explore the dunes through looking and making and looking again — a cycle of close observation, creative experimentation and returning to the landscape with fresh eyes. This approach blends creative practice and ecological science as one, encouraging imaginative, co‑creative learning in which participants build forms, test ideas and explore how insects sense and move through Gwithian’s habitats. It offers an active, curious way for families to connect with the Towans through shared making and attentive noticing.

Funders and partners

The project is delivered by Friends of the Towans Art Club, Jolly Goodh CIC, and Budding Nature CIC, with generous support from the Little Parc Owles Trust, FEAST, and the Gwinear‑Gwithian Sustainable Community Fund.

Where to see the sculptures / attend the fête

The sculptures can be viewed throughout August at Gwithian Green, and details of the 22 August Art Fête — including timings and venue — will be available via the Friends of the Towans website and local community listings.