Fancy Assortment by Christine Turner
Opening Event Thursday 13th February 6-8pm
Gallery open (7 - 8th and 13-15th March)
As a child I had little exposure to fine art. The only still lifes I encountered were the ones on the lids of biscuit tins.
One could admire the beautiful tins whilst enjoying their contents!
In our house, the biscuit tin was only bought out on the weekends for afternoon tea. A humble suburban ‘high tea’. One that I relished.
The table was set with a crisp, clean cloth. Grandma’s old floral patterned Royal Doulton teapot brewed the finest tea. Mother knew the correct number of teaspoons of tea leaves to add …and always added ‘one for the pot!’
Delicate porcelain cups sat daintily on their perfect saucers. They were filled with the fragrant brew, delivered to the cup with the aid of a small silver tea leaf strainer. Sugar and milk were added according to taste and stirred with an old silver spoon.
Central to this ritual was the large 3lb (pound) Arnott’s biscuit tin. It came with a fancy assortment of our favourite biscuits, from the delicate Shortbread Cream, to the decadent Monte Carlo. We always ate the Monte Carlos first.
Once the biscuit tins were empty they became ‘reliquaries’ for all manner of things. Needlework, gloves, letters, keepsakes of every kind.
All sorts of treasures can be found in old biscuit tins. In my studio as I work with the tins, it is these memories that come back to me.
Biscuit tins are reliquaries for memories.
I have found that biscuit tins require a simple configuration when presented in artworks. Each tin provides a great deal of information of its own. Information about societal customs, the economy, consumerism and much more.
When I bring the tins together in these large simple shapes, they open up a dialogue that we can share….perhaps over a cup of tea!
Exhibition Open Hours:
Friday 6th March 6-8pm (Opening Event)
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th - 10-2pm
Monday 9th - Wednesday 11th - CLOSED
Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th - 10-2pm