“In This Together” exhibition at The Crypt, St.Ives, 5-11th November 2022
The title of this show seems to satirise a slogan used by the UK Tory government as well as referring to climate change, ecological matters and community spirit.
Ten artists present work that ranges from Bill Gordon’s variety of handmade wooden spoons which he sees as connected to the spiritual power of the universe to Charlie Lewin’s Gratitude blanket with its small colourful appliquéd embroidered spots which recall her network of helpful people in a very beautiful way on a relative’s dark woollen blanket.
Her ‘Exhausted” is a vibrant fabric image referring to harmful particles that pollute and relates to the printed information given.
However her ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ despite its inspiring title doesn’t speak to me of more than a love of pattern.
There is a difference between work with a message on the one hand and decorative enjoyment linked to a worthy cause but not embodying it.
Camilla Dixon makes a tribute to environmental activists via two large wall hangings made from recycled materials referencing the efforts of artists Barbara Hepworth and Patrick Heron to be socially concerned and using images of their abstract art without detailing what both did or believed politically.
Alex Smirnoff acknowledges the dilemma of his ‘pretty pictures’ claiming that respecting nature will give hope. His two paintings combine remarkable observed detail of plants with fabulous faces reminding me of the fairy kingdom in a Midsummer Night’s dream.
Josie Purcell presents us with a lovely experience of seeing her images via a kaleidesope as well as her wall pieces using photographic digital patterns from geology.
George Dow, Ilya Fisher, Jane Gray, Josh Rogers and Neil Scott also have lively contributions here.
I hope the group continues to make exhibitions which are as unusual and thought provoking.
I think that impulses to link art with climate concerns and social concerns will emerge widely as these topics come to the fore.
They show a new zeitgeist emerging.
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ReplyDeleteCharlie Lewin replied re fb,' Mary Fletcher it's very simple. We are all unique and yet we are all similar.... Each circle of fabric - which is only slightly varied in size and shape but completely individual in design relates to the same fabric on my Gratitude Blanket. Which lists individual people I am personally grateful for being in my life. But more importantly.. Most visitors to the gallery wouldn't even know that the first declaration of Human Rights states that: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. So consequently each piece is unattached to the others that surround it unlike the piece I hung beside that work which was about Reciprocity and how we are all dependent upon those around us.... Making it attractive means people may be drawn to it. Your interpretation of its only being decorative I'm afraid missed its point. Usually if you delve deeper into art work that doesn't immediately speak you may well find meaning. My aim was to bring to the conscious
ReplyDeletean important document. I hope this helps.
The removed comment was the same one but with a typo I corrected the second time.
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