Gelede Masquerade

'Oju to ba fi ri Gelede ti de opin iron. The eyes that have seen Gelede have seen the ultimate spectacle'.

Gelede Encounter mixed media on board

The idea of Gelede Masquerade has fascinated me since I was at art school in Norwich when I made my first piece of work on the subject.  The costume made up of many fabrics especially blended together to obtain a special look pleasing to the eye the contrasting colours and patterns within the fabrics creating movement before the movement commences that is what I see in it.  I have worked with printed fabrics ever since.  Sometimes combining with painterly surfaces and more lately working towards an idea of assemblages for installation.   Gelede, the masquerade performances of ancestral spirits, provides an outlet in which men play a major role (Drewal 2). This celebration is associated with a deified founding foremother, either earth or water along with a forefather (Drewal 7). The Gelede honors and serves spiritually powerful women-elders, ancestors, and deities (Drewal 9). 

The Vortex of Trash

Open studio went well most popular was the experience of entering into The Vortex of Trash, the prototype being just right for children but a little too small for adults.  Once inside the suspended artwork is spun round enabling the trash materials to run past the eyes and around the body of the participant.  Plan to make a larger improved version.  Emilia, checks out the tops, while Esther and I peer on.

My studio space was entirely inter-active over the w/e with visitors delighted to read the note inviting them to touch.  Thanks to Isabel, Jacob,on left Ruben on right and Jachary above in the vortex above.

Open Studio

I have been preparing my space for Open Studios this coming May bank Holiday.  The installation on show will be of work in progress as I intend to continue with the project for a few months to complete a year with plastic waste as a medium.  Thanks to all the eco conscious good people who have been collecting for me I still have a good supply of bottle tops and of course there will never be a shortage.  I will also show drawings and paintings and other ideas for future work its all experimental by also becoming quite obsessive.

You are invited to: 

Albatross and Yemaja in the Polluted Oceans  Open Studio 83, Spike Island, BS1 6UX 1^st– 4^th May. Artworks, cards and reproductions available 

Yemaya

mixed media on canvas with plastic debris hanging

Yemaya, could be getting a little distraught at the sight of all the pollution of her oceans.  This work is on the subject of her interventions as she serves in her role as the Orisha goddess of oceans and rivers.  Yemaya is the mother of all the little fishes and right now it seems that there is and invasion of debris floating around and its increasing by the day.  What is the world doing about it?  She is getting vexed and attempting to protect the wildlife for future generations.

Pity the Poor Albatross

The Albatross project continues.  Many thanks to all those who eagerly collected bottle tops, and would still be if I didn't put a holt to it.  I have several bucket loads now, preserved and saved from pollution the environment, ready to evolve into artworks with a message.