09/07/2025
Oxford City Farm is delighted to invite the public to The Weave of the Commons – a special pop-up photo exhibition by artist and veg grower Fred Branson, taking place onsite on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th July. The exhibition is free and open to all.
This powerful and reflective exhibition brings together portraits and quotes from volunteers, staff, and visitors who help nurture and care for the farm. Each photograph was created using a handmade camera obscura – the forerunner to the modern camera – constructed using materials from the farm itself, including willow, clay subsoil from flood mitigation works, and repurposed aluminium.
Fred, who volunteered at the farm during the winter of 2021–22, returned this year through a project funded by Arts Council England to explore the everyday stories of the people who make the farm what it is. Over the course of several months, he captured the spirit of this shared space through a unique photographic process rooted in land and craft.
The exhibition comes as Oxford City Farm nears the end of its National Lottery Reaching Communities funding – a period that has enabled a wide range of inclusive and impactful activities, from life-skill cooking classes to weekly volunteering sessions for people of all ages and backgrounds. This moment of change is also a moment for reflection – and this exhibition honours the stories, relationships, and shared care that lie at the heart of the farm’s work.
“Rather than take photos of the landscape, this woven camera allows us to take photos with it – reclaiming the land as an active part of community life. The resulting images re-situate the viewer, inviting them to view the world from within it, not above it.”
– Fred Branson
Event details:
🗓️ Dates: Friday 11th and Saturday 12th July
🕙 Time: 10am – 1pm
📍 Location: Oxford City Farm, Cornwallis Road, OX4 3NH
💬 Meet the artist: Fred will be available both days to talk with visitors.
For more about the artist, visit: fredbranson.squarespace.com
