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Ritual: The Still Point and the Dance - Sandy Brown
By 
1stAngel | March 24, 2008
Art Gallery & Museum, Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JT UK
Ritual: The Still Point and the Dance - Sandy Brown
The Adam Brothers: contractors to the metropolis in the reign of George III
19 APR – 31 May 08
“Ceramics in the UK means pots, and almost only pots. There is nothing wrong with pots. I make them and I love making them. But contemporary ceramic installation is a genre of its own, quite unlike any other form of sculpture, distinct, intuitive, organic.” Sandy Brown, 2006
Vivid, vivacious ceramics, teeming with energy and originality and are on show at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum in the exhibition Ritual: The Still Point and the Dance by the acclaimed ceramicist Sandy Brown.
The exhibition is a major two-part ceramic installation, combining the art of the Japanese tea ceremony with the exuberance of dance. These two inspirations have been fused to present a metaphor for the artistic process: the contemplative stage of creation and the spontaneity of making. The tea ceremony element includes a ceremony ‘room’ and appropriate utensils, together with stunning pots in Sandy’s unique style.
Sandy’s take on the ancient art of tea ceremony is a deliberate hybrid of east and west traditions, an alternative and contemporary approach. Sandy’s interest in tea ceremony has been shaped by her experience in Japan, where she trained as a potter in the 1970s. Rituals, like the tea ceremony are held in high importance in Japan, and quality ceramics underpin such rites.
Contrasting with the poised elegance of the tea ceremony are the tall and bulbous forms of the ‘Dance.’ Curling stacks of round ceramic shapes, loom, large-scale, their individual structures suggestive of beads, seeds and fantastical confectionery.
Colour is an integral part of Sandy Brown’s work. Buttery yellow, pale salmon pink, tangerine, sage green and ultramarine are joyfully spotted and streaked on a white ground. Shape and colour are always in harmony.
Ritual: The Still Point and The Dance is a landmark exhibition, establishing new boundaries for the ceramic artist. Innovative both in style and concept, the exhibition offers visitors a totally new experience in ceramic art.
For further information and images, please contact Sophia Wilson, Exhibitions & Education Manager, or Anna Stanway, Marketing & Information Officer, Tel: 01242-237431
Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10.00-5.20 • Closed Bank Holidays • Admission free, donations welcome (First Thursday of each month open from 11.00am)
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Topics: Exhibitions |