August 1st 2019 was Herman Melville’s 200th birthday. I celebrated it at Burton Constable Hall, near Hull which was probably one of the most ‘Moby-Dick’ places in the UK at that time. Not only is there a sperm whale skeleton mentioned in Moby-Dick there, but there was also my exhibition of British influences in Moby-Dick. It was great …
In Chapter 102 of Moby-Dick Ishmael discusses the size of sperm whales and he uses one fictional and one real example (the sperm whale skeleton at Burton Constable) for his measurements. He also explains that ‘there are skeleton authorities you can refer to’ in order to test his accuracy. There is a Leviathanic Museum, they tell me, in Hull, England, …
Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682) was a Norfolk-based doctor, polymath and author. Herman Melville owned several of Browne’s books and admired his work and his whimsical writing style, which influenced Melville’s own style. Browne wrote about sperm whales in his myth busting book Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Book of Vulgar Errors, (1646) having seen a sperm whale stranded on the coast of Norfolk. …
Prints, artists books and textile work inspired by the British sources Melville used in Moby-Dick When the curator at Burton Constable suggested I return to the Carriage House Gallery with an exhibition to celebrate Herman Melville’s 200th Birthday I knew I had to do something that would appeal to non-readers of Moby-Dick, but would be for me an interesting and …
Scale Lane Bridge is a pedestrian bridge across the river Hull on the east side of the city. It can rotate on a single pivot a bit like a pinball flipper to enable boats to navigate up and down the river. It is unique because pedestrians can remain on it when it moves. It is a striking curved shape with …
Last year, when I was just starting my artist in residency at Burton Constable, I was “in residence” for the weekend of the Cornucopia Festival. For three days whilst the sun shone and music played I sat in the barn with the sperm whale skeleton and talked to festival goers about my work. I had a fantastic time. In the …
Wondrous Whale. Sewn whale skeleton, screen printed map, quilted textile. Inspired by the Burton Constable Sperm whale skeleton mentioned in Moby Dick and door panels in the Chinese Room in the Hall. Made as part of my Residency at Burton Constable in 2015/16.
Bower. Screen print. Inspired by the Burton Constable Sperm whale skeleton mentioned in Moby Dick, Moby Dick Chapter 102 Bower in the Arsacides, the Red Frieze in the Gallery in the Hall and a pub sign. Made as part of my Residency at Burton Constable in 2015/16.
Gigantic Fan. Layered screen printed fabric. Inspired by the Burton Constable Sperm whale skeleton mention in Moby Dick, and the journey the whale skeleton took from Tunstall on the coast to Burton Constable Hall. The close up detail shows the map in white that shows both these places. Made as part of my Residency at Burton Constable in 2015/16. …
Sir Clifford’s Whale. Screen Print. Inspired by the Burton Constable Sperm whale skeleton mentioned in Moby Dick and door decoration in the Chinese Room in the Hall. Made as part of my Residency at Burton Constable in 2015/16.