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My Josephine was Delicate - 2008
I actually made this box before the funeral card one but have only just got round to posting it. It’s a lovely little wooden box, painted black with I think a decoupage design on the lid, and purple velvet on the base. I found it in an antique shop in Arundel (very cheap because of how worn it is) but have no idea of how old it is. The joints are lovely inside the box which I’m guessing suggests some age (things used to be made so beautifully) but if any one has any knowledge on these things and could tell me anything about it by looking at the picture I would be delighted!
My Josephine was Delicate - 2008
The main focus for the piece is a Victorian photograph (carte-de-visite) which the design on the back suggests probably dated from the early 1880’s (although these cards were produced between 1859-1908). It is a portrait of an attractive and I think intriguing looking young woman. I have spent a long time looking at this picture wondering about the woman and what the story of her life has been. I like the fact that this will always remain a mystery to me. I wonder was this photograph done for her family? For a man? Was the photo treasured by its owner afterwards. She undoubtedly wore her best clothes and prepared herself to be all that she could be for this moment to be captured. I love picturing her at her dressing table fixing her hair, examining her face, possibly feeling a little nervous.
My Josephine was Delicate - 2008
I decided to hinge the lid of the box as I felt it gave a better sensation of “entering in” and inviting proximity. There are multiple layers of glass within the box with suggestions of fragility. The fragility can be seen to be regarding the woman, memories, time, or life itself.
My Josephine was Delicate - 2008
This is the latest box I have done and it’s a bit of an emotional one because it is based around a funeral card of a child who died in 1882 when just two years old. Having a three year old boy of my own it is certainly a piece that looks at my greatest fear rather than the previous boxes which have been more based on my romantic sensibilities.
The box itself is quite a large Georgian mahogany jewellery box C1820. The child’s funeral card is so emotive that I wanted to keep the rest of the box relatively simple. However the dried orchid flowers inside have a personal related meaning for me as they are from a plant that was given to me when I was pregnant with my little boy. The orchid was given to me when I had just come out of hospital having been told that I had miscarried my baby. The next day it was discovered to be a mistake and my son was very much alive. The orchid plant flowers profusely ever year and I see it as symbolic of his life. This year I collected the flowers and kept them for this John William box. There are also pink rose petals pressed with the photo (between a clear layer of glass and the bottom mirrored layer) which are from a rose tree given to us when my daughter, Isabelle Rose, was born.
I used mirrored glass within the box to create light and to suggest endlessness, whether that be the endlessness of eternity beyond this life or the endlessness of a mother’s sorrow.
(click picture to enlarge)
Maybe I’m in the minority of people to not know about this project but I only came across it today. People are invited to anonymously send in their secrets on a postcard with some sort of picture or artwork that is linked with it. Such a fantastic idea! Love the idea of something like this giving people the freedom to disclose something intimate about themselves and for the rest of us to have glimpses of what lies hidden beneath the displayed surface of others’ lives.
And hey if anyone would like to post a secret here as a comment I would absolutely love that! Go on a little daring disclosure feels fantastic - I want to know something secret about you!
the venue
What a totally fab day!
It felt, without wanting to sound like I’m giving an Oscar Speech, such a privilege to be part of the group exhibiting there. Lovely, lovely people – I had only met a couple of them before – with some fantastic work!
I loved the old house that the exhibition was shown in - such an atmospheric venue to use. The house was the epitome of decaying grandeur! Beautiful stained glass windows – some intact some broken and taped up, light struggling to break through their jewelled panels from behind the ivy that is creeping over the outside. Each of the artists showing were allocated a room or space like the entrance hall or landing to display their work and for two days the house was filled with art and life as people came to look, talk, eat, laugh, and dance! Wonderful!
Dean & Beccie in Deans room
My favourite room was the one used by my friend Dean. It had an old fireplace, tattered curtains framing the big old window, and great dated floral wallpaper that was peeling away from the walls. It was a brilliant backdrop to his work which looked stunning! Having been following his journey recently it was wonderful to see the reception his art got, hear his room buzzing with people talking about his work and see him coming away having sold four pieces! Go Dean!
I didn’t sell any of my pictures but was delighted to trade one of them for a gorgeous picture I had fallen in love with done by the very lovely artist Beccie Mayers!
I have come away with so many good feelings and memories from a great experience with some great people. Here’s hoping there’s more to come!
The Something Foundation is a new and exciting artist collective based in the West Midlands. They have their first exhibition/event happening very soon over the weekend of the 20th – 21st September.
The exhibition is being held in a wonderfully atmospheric old house, an awsome setting for viewing some fantastic art! Saturday 20th, 10-4pm, and Sunday, 10-1pm, is free to the public and between 2-9pm on the Sunday 21st there is a great evening’s entertainment planned with music from King Pleasure and the Boogie Boys in the garden and a hog roast. For tickets to the evening (£10) email thesomethingfoundation@hotmail.co.uk. The address is The Churchill Citizens Club, 1073 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, B27 6QT
Check out the link to the foundation’s blog for upcoming details of the event – http://thesomethingfoundation.wordpress.com/
I am especially excited about this event because I have been given the opportunity to show a set of eight photographs there. A first for me!
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