Tales of History and Heroines
20th November - 31st December 2015
An exhibition inspired by women from our history. Showcasing work from Sarah Morpeth, Victoria Brookland and Josie Beszant.
An exhibition inspired by women from our history. Showcasing work from Sarah Morpeth, Victoria Brookland and Josie Beszant.
Sarah Morpeth
Sarah's work for this exhibition has been inspired by the reading of Virginia Woolf's "The Waves". There is a line in it about butterflies brushing the surface of the world that Sarah found particularly inspiring. Looking into Virginia Woolf's house (Monk's House) she also found cases of butterflies on the walls. The house had a Victorian feel, like Woolf's background. So Sarah's work shows a darkness, beauty and fragility, the fleeting nature of existence we can see in butterflies and moths, it is a delicate and moving collection.
Sarah's work for this exhibition has been inspired by the reading of Virginia Woolf's "The Waves". There is a line in it about butterflies brushing the surface of the world that Sarah found particularly inspiring. Looking into Virginia Woolf's house (Monk's House) she also found cases of butterflies on the walls. The house had a Victorian feel, like Woolf's background. So Sarah's work shows a darkness, beauty and fragility, the fleeting nature of existence we can see in butterflies and moths, it is a delicate and moving collection.
Victoria Brookland
'In my paintings and drawings I am working within a Romantic and Gothic tradition that celebrates nature and our affinity with it.
The dress is a recurring symbol for me because it represents female identity: the female shape is a 'house for the spirit' - the inner life - a place of refuge, exploration and creativity.
I have a particular interest in Women's History and writing, and through my reading of women writers such as Emily Dickinson, the Brontes, Sylvia Plath, Jean Rhys (and many others) I have come to view the regenerative power of female creativity as a potent expression of independence, liberty, love and survival. Nature has a language and a voice of it's own and I am attempting to explore what that language tells us about who we are. It is our affinity with nature, our engagement with nature, and the expression of our own natures that I investigate in my work.'
'In my paintings and drawings I am working within a Romantic and Gothic tradition that celebrates nature and our affinity with it.
The dress is a recurring symbol for me because it represents female identity: the female shape is a 'house for the spirit' - the inner life - a place of refuge, exploration and creativity.
I have a particular interest in Women's History and writing, and through my reading of women writers such as Emily Dickinson, the Brontes, Sylvia Plath, Jean Rhys (and many others) I have come to view the regenerative power of female creativity as a potent expression of independence, liberty, love and survival. Nature has a language and a voice of it's own and I am attempting to explore what that language tells us about who we are. It is our affinity with nature, our engagement with nature, and the expression of our own natures that I investigate in my work.'
Josie Beszant
Josie's work for this exhibition has centred around women from history who have perhaps not received the recognition for their amazing achievements against all odds or have been largely forgotten by history. These are women who paved the way for others. A common thread throughout this exploration has been finding strength through brokenness, damage and seeming fragility.
Josie's work for this exhibition has centred around women from history who have perhaps not received the recognition for their amazing achievements against all odds or have been largely forgotten by history. These are women who paved the way for others. A common thread throughout this exploration has been finding strength through brokenness, damage and seeming fragility.