GO! ART: VESSELS OFFER SOME MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL.
Byline: Lucy BellSacred vessels, contemporary visual art by Sally Sheinman, Rugby Art Gallery, alongside objects from the archaeological and historical collections of Rugby and Northampton, until March 23.
THE death of Sally Sheinman's mother and the awful events of September 11 were the seeds for this exhibition. With firm ground taken away from beneath her feet, Sally Sheinman felt the need for something sacred in her life.
Here she has created 49 sacred vessels, a kind of spiritual medicine chest - each one designed to have a separate, and magical property such as easing pain or bringing wonderful dreams. The common theme, though, is hope.
"Hope is woven into every brush stroke, paper tear and sliver of gold leaf - here is an exhbition that is heavily influenced by the past while offering a little magic," said a spokesman for Rugby Art Gallery.
"Forty-nine sacred vessels, from Arcus (an imaginary land of the rainbow) fill the gallery, accompanied by Roman ceremonial pots, Bronze Age beakers and oriental porcelain. Sally Sheinman has spent 18 months creating the sacred vessels, layering paint, textures and gold and silver leaf to produce flatworks that have depth."
Sally said: "When my mother died I felt a strong need for religion and then again after September 11 (I lived in New York and worked in the World Trade Centre).
"I adore reading the 1001 Arabian Nights and perhaps they played a part in influencing Sacred Vessels. I also have travelled extensively in Morocco, plus, I am very interested in the history of the Middle East.
"All these various thoughts played a part in Sacred Vessels and I feel we need to have something to nurture and care for us when we are constantly bombarded with bad news."
Sally also explains why she wants historical objects next to her work: "It's a link with the past, we're moving into instant information and we sometimes don't stop and look at older things. I think there's a huge interest in ancient objects - they are very powerful both in concept and visually."
When you visit the exhibition you will have to look at the text with the pictures carefully - the "titles" are crucial to the work. For example, 'this vessel is believed to have contained a translucent honey so wonderful and lasting in its taste that it alleviated the impatience of waiting'.
On in Rugby until March 23, then at Northampton from August 9.
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ARTIST: Sally Sheinman
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| Title Annotation: | Features |
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| Publication: | Coventry Evening Telegraph (England) |
| Date: | Mar 7, 2003 |
| Words: | 408 |
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