Windows Of Wonder is a community project that brings together 24 artists across 17 sites in Lewes transforming empty shop windows into art installations, followed by a joint exhibition by the participating artists at Fitzroy House. Although sadly I was unable to create my own window due to family circumstances this year, I will be exhibiting in the Fitzroy House collection entitled "Wonder".
Fitzroy House is open from 12pm-4pm on Saturday and Sunday for four consecutive weekends - 30th Sept-1st Oct, 7th Oct-8th Oct, 14th Oct-15th Oct, 21st Oct-22nd Oct - and a final Saturday 28th Oct.
As part of the project, organising artist Marco Crivello has made each of us an identical box of exact dimensions. My box contains my version of Red Riding Hood, using old dolls and a created story. She has given birth to the Wolf's baby in a glade of apple blossom. Her eyes have changed to a lupine yellow, whilst the Wolf nurses their child with tenderness. It’s an awakening from child to youth; a nod to Angela Carter in theme. Blossom is symbolic of fertility, the Wolf is wild desire, and the child is human, whilst her parents are not fully human. The simplistic, almost cartoon look is based on old illustrations in books and has a hint of the iron village signs in our area such as Mayfield, which feature pictures in bold colour and form.
The overall theme of the Wonder project is "collections". My collection is my art made from natural and found objects, some bottled, some boxed; also on display by request will be The Cabinet Of Charms, my dress that was made for the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch trials. It is a powerful object and museum collection in its own right.
