‘Highland Head’

£350.00

Describing the body of work she has made for this exhibition, Jayne says: ‘I have been fascinated by large horns on animals and often assisted in the removal of them as a child as it was illegal to leave horns on animals here years ago. It is such a joy to see the highland cattle in the fields now with their full set of horns. I am very interested Irish folktales and rituals that would have been performed to ensure a good harvest or protect the herd from being taken by the faerie folk.

 

This head piece is only to be worn to enter the Realm of the Magical Highland People on Mid Autumn Night. On entering the New World the countdown of the clock will commence and the spell will only last for exactly 49 hours. The wearer must be back at this exact spot at the correct time or be lost to their old life. During this time permission must be sought to graze the highlands and cross the lands on foot safely and not to be ‘taken’ and never seen again. Only the brave attempt this challenge but the rewards are great.’

 

Mediums and dimensions: glassine paper and brown paper, grosgrain ribbon, plastic buckle. 135cm x 37cms paper moulds made from large cow horn, aviator hat made from pattern stitched.

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Artist Bio

Jayne Cherry is an artist living and working in the countryside of Co.Down. Having been born into a large family on an organic farm in Northern Ireland, she has been brought up with a deep respect for the ground we walk on and all who breath upon it. Farming without chemicals, rearing animals without medicine and holistic practises were learnt from an early age. Close observation of nature, weather, skilled animal husbandry care and exposure to death and sadness lead her too wanting to have a deeper understanding of these subjects.

 

A career in nursing and progressing into making art work that stems from that was very natural; working closely with and acceptance of pain, degeneration and death explains her penchant for spiky, uncomfortable and difficult subjects which can confront us all at some stage. Automatic drawing and painting, textile investigation with natural elements and performance allow exchanges that result in touchable elements. These are then ‘stitched together’ too precipitate an outcome using skills which are old and new. Performance actions keep Jayne attached to the realness of her existence by helping her to open closed areas to expose raw, tender experiences that inform her sculptural and text work.