Legion Projects

It is the final week of ‘Waking the Witch; Old Ways New Rites’ @boningtongallery which marks the end of the exhibition tour. We look forward to marking the occasion with a closing day of ritual held by Blue Firth @dohmshop @fourthland @kelitomlin @hawthonn ✨

Subscribe to our brand new podcast series about British Folk Cultures! We are proud to announce a new series of specially commissioned listening works. Inspired by how oral traditions have been instrumental in the upholding, retelling and sharing of folk tales, songs and customs, the commissioned artists were asked to interpret and respond to why the interest in ‘folk culture’ still stands strong in Britain today. The resulting responses will take the form of radio plays, guided journeys, experimental music scores, podcasts and film, all available online. Artists: Arianne Churchman @ariannechurchman Benedict Drew @benedictdrew Paul Kindersley @paulkindersley Ox Art @ox.artists @annabelpettigrew Verity Birt @v_e_z Una Hamilton Helle @uncashh Fourthland @fourthland Her Mother the Mountain @hermotherthemountain Matthew-Robert Hughes @matthewroberthughes The first episode will be up next week but for now you can listen to our introduction and subscribe to the series by following the link in our linktree 🌀 Music and animation by Stephen Crowe @sardinebutty Design by Blue Firth @dohmshop This project has been supported by @aceagrams #folklore #folkculture #folkmusic #britishfolklore #folkcostume #standingstones #ritual #oldways #landscapes #magick #queerfolk #albion

Thank you to everyone that came down to @house_of_goblin during @neoancients - we had such a lovely time speaking to visitors about Alan Garner, Blodeuwedd myths, deep time landscapes, art, children’s literature..and more! Thanks also to all the artists; Fern Thomas, Tom Sewell, Seán Vicary, The Broom Cupboard and House of Goblin, also for hosting us and making us feel so welcomed, both for the exhibition and The Broom Cupboard’s talk. Everyone’s enthusiasm for his writings has confirmed to us that we should continue our delvings into Garner and beyond The Owl Service, so watch this space!

Awakening Blodeuwedd opens today Thursday, 6-8pm, and is on throughout the weekend! Presenting the artists taking part in the exhibition: House of Goblin @house_of_goblin + Tom Sewell @tomsewell + Fern Thomas @_fernthomas + Seán Vicary @sean_vicary + The Broom Cupboard @dohmshop & @matthewroberthughes The exhibition is inspired by the landscapes, iconographies and mythscapes of cherished author Alan Garner, with a particular nod to The Owl Service (1967). House of Goblin will also be running ceramic and plate decorating workshops during the weekend- if you are in town for @neoancients come by and say hi! Curated by Úna Hamilton Helle & Matthew-Robert Hughes of @legionprojects

Legion Projects x House of Goblin present ‘Awakening Blodeuwedd’ - an exhibition, events and workshops inspired by Alan Garner. During @neoancients festival, @house_of_goblin will host an exhibition curated by @legionprojects with works by The Broom Cupboard, House of Goblin, Tom Sewell, Fern Thomas and Sean Vicary, inspired by Alan Garner’s work, with a particular nod to The Owl Service. In said story young protagonist Alison discovers a dinner service stored in the attic of an old Welsh Manor house. Through tracing and interpreting the patterns on the plates, she awakens a dormant, cyclical story rooted in the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd. Inspired by this moment, ceramics workshops by House of Goblin will invite participants to step into Alison’s role — using decoration, repetition and mark-making as a way of engaging with myth. Talks by House of Goblin and Alice Lowe + Matthew-Robert Hughes and Blue Firth will explore Garner’s wider influence. This will be the first step towards a more prolonged and deeper engagement with Garner’s work, landscapes and influence. More info to come!

To celebrate March 3rd’s WORM MOON & to mark almost a year of forging H.o.G’s physical space, we have constructed a ZINE / NEWSLETTER called ꪻꫝꫀ ᭙ꪮ᥅ꪑ & ꪻꫝꫀ ꫀꪖ᥅ꪻꫝ . It’s huge. You should subscribe by clicking on our weblink in bio. First issue comes out early March & will be a seasonal release (4-yearly). We have offerings from musicians, artists, writers, scientists etc contributing anything soil/earth/clay/sludge-centric: a broad topic. 🌳 To kick start this first issue we have beautiful literary alms from @the.stone.club on ambient soundscapes & @legionprojects on their upcoming exhibition at H.o.G about the low-fantasy writer Alan Garner which opens in May as part of @neoancients festival, Stroud. 🎠 #houseofgoblin #stoneclub #legionprojects #neoancients

The Forgotten Garden of Shadows by Emma Thistlethwaite & Matthew Robert Hughes Exhibition open today and tomorrow, 11am - 5pm Chapels of Rest, Stroud Cemetery, Bisley Road, GL5 1HJ 📸 @emlynbainbridge

The Forgotten Garden of Shadows A curatorial partnership with @sacredthing for @neoancients festival in Stroud A new exhibition by artist @matthewroberthughes and floral designer @thistlebynature Step into a magical, mysterious world of ghosts, gardens, and forgotten stories. Last night’s opening welcomed so many wonderful visitors and families who explored every playful detail—and there’s still time to discover it for yourself. Exhibition Dates: 2nd – 11th May 2025 Opening Hours: 2nd, 3rd, 4th May: 10:30am – 6pm 10th, 11th May: 11am – 5pm Open by appointment Location: Chapels of Rest, Stroud Cemetery Stroud, GL5 1HJ what3words: dots.incur.wizards

Sacred Thing and Legion Projects are pleased to co-present The Forgotten Garden of Shadows, a collaborative exhibition by artist Matthew Robert Hughes and floral designer Emma Thistlethwaite.  “No one speaks of what really happened. But the garden remembers.” The Forgotten Garden of Shadows is a collaborative installation by artist Matthew Robert Hughes and floral designer Emma Thistlethwaite. Together, they conjure a haunted garden filled with memory, myth, and mischief—where ceramic ghosts walk among living flowers, and time feels suspended. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a large-scale tabletop diorama: a handcrafted miniature garden built from clay, stone, wood, and found materials. Sculpted figures and architectural fragments—created by Matthew—whisper fragments of a hidden story, inviting visitors to look closely and piece together its mysteries. Scattered throughout the space, bespoke ceramic vessels hold wild and evocative floral displays by Emma, inspired by the real-life zones of a garden: from moonlit meadows and poison borders to walled plots, pergolas, and overgrown arches. Emma’s floral designs bring seasonal life into the space, evoking the textures, scents, and moods of a real garden—one that might once have thrived, or might still exist just out of reach. Each display is in conversation with Matthew’s sculptural language, combining living matter with the stillness of clay. This collaborative work blends folklore and queerness, Victorian gothic and camp, inviting audiences to slow down, notice details, and uncover the secrets of a garden that remembers what others have tried to forget. The exhibition is free to attend and its opening weekend is included within the @neoancients festival programme. The exhibition is kindly supported by @deyabrewery and @drinklivingthings Join us for the private view
Thursday 1st May, 6 - 9pm Opening hours: 2nd, 3rd, 4th May: 10.30am - 6pm 10th, 11th May: 11am - 5pm And by appointment Address: Chapels of Rest Stroud Cemetery Stroud GL5 1HJ what3words: dots.incur.wizards The exhibition is free to attend and no ticket is required.

@thistlebynature X @matthewroberthughes C O M I N G S O O N @legionprojects X @sacredthing @neoancients 👀

The Tides of Kilpeck is getting a few outings this week! Although it hasn’t had an official screening yet, I’m thrilled that people are already getting the chance to see it. It’s been a real labour of love and a testament to the power of collaboration. PSYCHOMANIA II organised by @francesca_way_lvx a showcase of experimental short films + soundtracks exploring folklore, ancient rites and spirit encounters, by filmmakers, musicians and magickal practitioners. 📍Tues 1st Oct, 7.30pm @spanners.club , SW9 7EX Potluck Cinema, a programme of artists films and artist chats and fun organised by @gwaith_cardiff and @g39warp 📍 Fri 4th Oct, 6pm @g39cardiff Cast: Isabel Jones @salamandatandem Blue Firth @dohmshop and @matthewroberthughes The Tides of Kilpeck Written and Directed by @matthewroberthughes Produced by @legionprojects Director of Photography: @rebekahlowri Costumes: @hermotherthemountain Music: Stephen Crowe, @sardinebutty Final Song: Isabel Jones Voices: Isabel Jones, Stephen Crowe and Blue Firth Supporting cast @marthahmoon and @rachaisounds Hair and Makeup: @ashleigh_fisk Editor: Rebekah Lowri Llewelyn Ceramics: Matthew-Robert Hughes Masks: Ashleigh Fisk & Her Mother the Mountain Flowers: @laylarobinsondesign ​ Adapted from an original poem by @hannahlouisesaunders Supported by @celfcymruarts #folklore #kilpeck #folkcostume #sheelanagig #greenman #paganground #oldreligion #chanting #mystical #journey #magick #folklore #folkculture #folkmusic #britishfolklore #ritual #oldways #landscapes #magick #albion

The Tides of Kilpeck by @matthewroberthughes is inspired by the ancient site of Kilpeck Church, located on the Hereford Wales border lands. Kilpeck Church stands as one of the UK’s most enigmatic and mystical sacred sites. Constructed in the late 9th century, like many religious sites, it is a speculative example of the age-old tradition of erecting churches upon sites where communities have convened for rituals and gatherings since ancient times. Today, pilgrims from around the globe embark on journeys to this hallowed ground, drawn to the intricately carved stonework of the Romanesque style by the Hereford School of Stone carvers. This Stonework adorns Kilpeck’s façade. The entrance, reminiscent of a doorway from Tolkien’s Rivendell, beckons with its ornate detailing, while the stone corbel table bears witness to a myriad of mythical creatures, earthly beasts, and performers who once graced local fairs. Its is also home to one of the most recognised surviving interpretations of the Sheela na gig in the UK. More on the Sheela in our next post 🌿🌀 To watch The Tides of Kilpeck Follow link in our bio 🪞🌿🌼 #kilpeck #kilpeckchurch #folklore #folkcostume #sheelanagig #greenman #paganground #oldreligion #journey #magick #witchcraft #scaredsites #wyrdfolk #folkculture #britishfolklore #ritual #oldways #landscapes #magick #albion #kilpeckchurch #oldways #oldgods #portal #ritual #pagan