New exhibitions shed light on traditional craft techniques and West Country witches

Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) announces two solo exhibitions by Philippa Lawrence and Anne Jackson.

This September, THG will be completely transformed by new exhibitions: A Space Between and The Witchcraft Series.

A Space Between is a solo exhibition of the work of artist Philippa Lawrence. The exhibition draws together threads that run throughout Philippa's practice, showcasing early, new and developing works.

Philippa works with a variety of different materials and practices— gold-leaf, glass blowing, industrial artefacts, cloth, ink, photography, raw wood, French polishing, enamelling, sheepskin parchment, yarn, neon, insects and plants. Works often take a great deal of time to make, using processes such as sanding, polishing, cutting and stitching.

She considers human engagement with the earth and its resources, the shifting value, production and status of materials, art and artefacts. She is involved with on-going research into our cultural heritage and engagement with the last practitioners of traditional craft skills.

The context of where a work is made or shown has always been important for Philippa. For this exhibition, she researched the life and work of Thelma Hulbert, resulting in 'Honesty – a companion piece', a new work which picks out
words from writings held at the gallery about Hulbert’s life.

Philippa Lawrence commented,

Working site-specifically and considering both being off-site and on-site informs my practice, as do opportunities to engage with and connect to others.  I facilitate ways of seeing and being, involving people in their experience of and relationship to site.

Anne Jackson: The Witchcraft Series in the upstairs gallery explores the history of witch trials and the power of ‘the witch’ in our culture, both as metaphor for our fears, and as representation of social injustice towards women.

The tapestries often depict the trials of specific historic “witches” from the West Country, especially Somerset and Devon, illustrating their tales with images of spells, witches’ familiars and magic symbols.

Anne Jackson uses historical texts and original illustrations, along with contemporary scientific and cultural references, to memorialise individual women, and comment on ways we try to exert control over our world and our own lives. Her medium, a textile art form called knotted tapestry, uses cotton, linen and synthetic yarns to create vivid, intensely-coloured imagery.

There will be a unique opportunity to meet Anne in the gallery from 17 – 20 September to discover more about her work in the exhibition and the techniques involved.

Anne Jackson commented,

My work is concerned with breaking out of the convention which associates textiles and woven tapestry with a sense of cosiness and comfort, using elements of irony, and even humour. My intention is to present an object which is visually arresting, and hopefully, thought-provoking.

Councillor Nick Hookway, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Sport, Leisure and Tourism, said,

These new exhibitions are yet another example of THG’s commitment to traditional crafts and skills. Both exhibitions examine the changes in our cultural heritage in ways that are engaging, perceptive and even challenging. 

Of special interest will be a new reflection on the life and work of Thelma Hulbert, who lived at the gallery in her later life.

I do hope that you can find time to visit THG. I’m sure that you will find it a worthwhile experience.