THERE is still a chance to see the shared exhibition, ceramic sculptures, stories and poems by Diana Dixon and paintings by the late John B Anderson, in Penzance Arts Club.
Renowned, in particular, for her studies of birds, Diana sees them as embodiments of the elements – air, earth, fire and water. The Newlyn-based sculptor says: "I feel an affinity with them and their unique elemental qualities are inherent in my work. Every time I strive to create a new form, I seek to experience their essence. Although I haven't an educated knowledge of their anatomy, when making a bird form I know where muscles are located, where to strengthen and when to apply strips of clay as tendons and ligaments. Birds are constantly in motion and, although they acquire a certain symmetry when in repose, it's but fleeting, no more than a transitory expression of their ability to levitate in moments."
In talking of the 10 pieces that make up her exhibition, aptly entitled, Plight, Flight and Passion, she points out that just as in real life the wings and feet of birds are easily damaged, so they can also be easily broken when modelled in clay.
"I've made The Sentinel, seen flying on a clear night over Newlyn harbour, silent and serene, from clay and plaster reinforced with wire rods. Its construction has parallels with a real bird in terms of skeletal reinforcement. This was fascinating, I deliberately strove to find a vertical expression of these big birds, by experiment, not by design.
True stories
"While the bird in Cave Bird and Bowl many be tiny, because of its many small bones, it took just as many hours to complete."
Several of her sculptures have their origins in the seven true stories and poems that accompany them. Stricken Gull, for example, came about as a result of a huge gull falling out of the sky. "It died in front of me, a sad experience, and both my poem and the sculpture are my responses to the event."
Hanging Collared Dove relates to the Halkidiki, where Greek children set snares in olive trees for the birds. As she says: "It's such a cruel practice. Some are left hanging all day. The paradox between hanging doves and olive branches is also odd."
In summing up her work, she modestly expresses the hope that her poetry and prose and, of course, her sculptures, might affect and help her viewers in some way.
Evocative and emotive, from Sparrowhawk to Sea Swan, Oiled Bird to Old Ned, not forgetting the stories behind them, it will be a hard-hearted viewer indeed who will not be affected by them.
Something of the same could well be said for the dozen paintings, from Woman in Black to Woman at Theatre, by the late John B Anderson, that accompany them in the club's Foyer Gallery.
Development
Presented by his widow, Heather Keir Cross, who lives in Newlyn, they allow one the opportunity to trace the development of his work – sadly, he died when in his early 50s – and where it may have been leading him. While the influences of such as Van Gogh, Modigliani and Picasso, all of whom he admired, are apparent, so too is what has been called "his own style – the symbolic representation of his own desires, desolate sadness and great joy".
Well worth seeing, this shared show ends today. It is open from 10am to 6pm in the Foyer Gallery of Penzance Arts Club, Chapel Street.
Admission is free to the general public and club members alike.
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