July-August – making votive figures

I started making objects based on ethnographic artifacts in 2010 although, thinking back, I have been doing so on and off since my interest was aroused after my first visit to Liverpool Museum as a young child. Whilst I enjoy art galleries, museums have always held more of a fascination for me.

Initially my interest was sparked by Sheila Paine’s book ‘Amulets-A World of Secret Powers, Charms and Magic’ which I bought at Manchester Museum in 2008. A world expert on tribal societies and  their textiles I found the objects in her book visually exciting and the discovery of contemporary amuletic objects for sale in bazaars in Turkey set me thinking about the role of such objects in contemporary society. This in turn has led me to begin researching the origins of amuletic and votive objects from pre-history through paganism to current religious belief systems.

Here are some images of what I have been making and my latest book purchase ‘The Language of the Goddess’, a fascinating read by the archaeologist Marija Gimbutas.

 

 

Felt figures inspired by Ancient Egyptian Paddle Dolls

‘Sprite’ 1 – height 22.5 cm (9.5 ins)

‘Paddle Doll Amulet’ height 22.5 cm (9.5 ins)

‘Paddle Doll’ 1 height 28 cm

Just put some work on www.surrealism.co.uk website

I’ve been making new work combining felt with bones, skulls and bird’s feet, a contemporary take on taxidermy.

‘Tweet of the day’ 2014

‘Dressed to kill’ 2014

‘Amulet 2014

Exhibiting at Bridewell Studios and Gallery, Liverpool 16th May – 1st June 2014

‘Shed’ 2014 acrylic on canvas