As part of the Precious Collective ‘The Space Between’ tour, selected works have been shown in Munich Jewellery Week 28th of Feb to the 3rd of March, and at ‘Ferrous’ 15th to 25th of March, Hereford town centre. The work is now scheduled in Cagnes-Sur-Mer Jewellery Week. more info coming soon.
About the work
The Fair Woman – from conversation to object, an artistic response to the life of a female showman
Interpreting under represented heritage in a new way.
This body of work reflects a journey undertaken with female ‘Showman’ Louise Jennings, an octogenarian who has lived and worked on Fairgrounds all her life.
Lou’s generous invitation enabled me to record her biography, and research the social and historical context of her life over a two-year period. These conversations give an insight into a community living in plain sight of us all, but one we know little about.
The narrative has informed the development of a palette of materials and symbols which enabled the evolution of the work you see here. My work is an artistic response, an assemblage of symbols and signs not a commentary. You will find the essence of a story represented through objects, aimed to stimulate discourse, reflection, and interaction. My outcomes are wearable pieces inspired by the more personal aspects of Lou’s story, along with their mixed media display which further expands the narrative that represents the wider notion of the fairground.
If you want to know more you can download a low resolution proof of my final report below, which I produced as a hard back book, or you can buy a hard back copy of this book here
Porcelain hands representing the three women who helped bring Lou up as a child
Close up of turning handle that animates the galloping horse. Early cinema was popularised in the Fairgrounds
Dobby
The silhouette of the white horse is the Devizes chalk horse on Roundway Hill. Dobby – Formica, vintage sequins, silver, copper, brass, resin
Dobby
Dobbie Pendent worn by Sophie Ferrier Chadwick
Dobby back
Dobby Pendent reverse, etched with Lou Jennings hand writing.
Icon reliquary
Icon Reliquary, paper porcelain, oak, pine ply, leather, vinyl, brass, steel Lou didn’t like goldfish, her husband worked on the shooting range when she met him. The wooden living trailers turned black from the lamps and stoves and their were often fires.
Icon – fish
Automaton Goldfish, paper porcelain, acrylic. Fish were a popular prize until the 1980’s when many council’s outlawed them.
Icon – handle detail
Automaton turning handle – this makes the fish rise and fall
Icon pendent
Icon pendent, brass, reclaimed silver, copper, porcelain, synthetic hair, worn by Sophie Ferrier Chadwick. The hand represents Lou’s mothers ‘piano hands’, and the porcelain figurines given as prizes.
Icon hand close up
Icon pendent porcelain hand, hair tassel – Lou’s long hair has been her pride all her life.
Icon pendant
Icon pendent with reclaimed silver chain, synthetic hair brass, copper, porcelain,
icon pendent back
The copper is treated with a patina to blacken it representing the war time mood. The pierced copper reveals a brass crucifix and horseshoe. The symbol of the horse representing luck and a nod to Lou’s grandfather who owned ‘gallopers’ and the crucifix acknowledging the Church of England faith many Showmen follow.
Arrow Pins
Arrow pins front, tarpaulin, cotton velvet, kapok, copper, baculite and pine ply. Pleasure Machine – the rides are called machines, and they are in the business of pleasure. It’s playful double meaning reflects the culture of mischief associated with the fair.
Pleasure Machine Pin
Pleasure Machine worn by Sophie Ferrier Chadwick, brass, copper, coal dust, glitter, resin
Pioneer pin
Pioneer Pin worn by Sophie Ferrier Chadwick, Brass, copper, vintage map, rhinestone and resin. The map show’s the Jennings family patch with rhinestones highlighting significant locations.
visionary pin
Visionary pin, brass, copper, vinyl record, anthracite (coal) fragments, glitter and resin. Lou’s first job was to change the records on the fair. Coal fuelled her early life, powering machines and heating the home.
Arrow pins reverse
Pleasure Machine (top) and Visionary (middle) are etched with the Showman’s Guild logo and Pioneer is etched with Louise Jennings hand writing
If you would like to hear Lou Jennings talk about the relevant materials and symbols that are incorporated in my work, click the link below.
You might want to know what Lou looks like, below is an image from her wedding day, when she married Billy Whitelegg. They have now been married for over 60 years. I am indebted to Louise for letting me into her life and sharing her inspirational story.
To give you an insight into the processes behind this work I have kept an online scrapbook journey of my process testing and the project evolution on an Instagram feed which you can find here.