Posted on August 31st, 2014 by Jane Fairhurst

I’ve two pieces of work in this exhibition, ‘Universal Magic Tree’ and ‘Five Wands for Freyr’.

‘Universal Magic Tree’

Here I have used an upturned tree root and hung from it a collection of items of importance to humans from ancient to contemporary times.

My interest in amulets, charms and religious iconography and the importance they have in many peoples minds was first aroused by reading Sheila Paine’s book ‘Amulets’, AWorld of Secret Powers, Charms and Magic. On travelling in Eastern Turkey I discovered amulets and charms for sale and started to make a collection of them. This led me to extend my collection to include religious iconography and other items I thought to be of significance to people globally. Friends have also contributed items and to them I am very grateful.

‘Universal Magic Tree’ is by no means complete but it shows a representative number of items and I am still adding to it.

‘Five wands for Freyr’ in my studio at Cross Street Arts, Standish, Wigan.

‘Five wands for Freyr’ are my interpretation of the wands of the Volur, the wise women of Norse mythology, who carried their wands into battle to weave the fates of their warriors.

I imagine hundreds of women standing on a hillside above the battle ululating and calling out the names of their gods whilst waving their wands whose mirrors and  beads flashed in the light creating a fearsome image to frighten the enemy.

I have used fallen branches from ash trees and decorated them with fabrics, braids and plastic reptiles and hung with mirrors, beads and animal bones.( Ygrassil, the mighty ash is the world tree of Norse mythology.)