ALL PATHS LEAD TO THE RIVER
May 2024-September 2024
Birkenhead Priory
Part of “The Town Is The Gallery” Festival curated by Convenience Gallery
The unseen becomes seen as a mystical procession of River Sprites reveal themselves at the ancient Priory. A series of new sculptures exploring the significance of the River Mersey in the founding of Birkenhead. Taking inspiration from folklore the characters emerge from the watery landscape, personifying the eternal flow and energy of the river that has shaped our landscape, people and culture. The unerring force of the river pulls us like a magnet towards it; it is welcoming and bountiful yet also severe and formidable; a creator and a destroyer that reflects the duality and cyclical nature of life. The Priory has been chosen as the setting for the exhibition due to it being the site of one of the earliest crossings across the Mersey, the monks being early challengers of the currents and tides; whilst the adjacent Camell Laird shipyard offers a striking juxtaposition that demonstrates our continuing desire to harness the power of the river.
'ALMS WINDOW' Two large plant pots are situated in front of the ‘Alms Window’ as a welcome to the visitors. The pots depict a procession of animals and people inspired by medieval iconography. A parallel is drawn between the pilgrimage to the Priory that people in need would have taken and the procession to the river that draws the spirits near. On procession are St Benedict, a wild boar and a black chicken with a censer, a humanoid fish, Reynard the fox, a sheep playing bells, a greyhound, a scared cat, a falcon, a hare playing the harp, a lady at arms and the white hart.
'BLADDERWRACK'S FEAST' represents the gift of food that the Mersey offers; the river drawing people closer as a place of sustenance before major industrial pollution. ‘Bladderwrack’ sits at a table abundant with brown crab, oysters, cockles, mussels, cod, eel and plaice.
'BOUNDARY & HIS CURRENTS' The name ‘Mersey’ derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it has formed part of the boundary between the historic counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. Here Boundary is depicted as ‘the old man of the river’ surrounded by his currents who make the crossing between Wirral and Liverpool challenging. Boundary decides whether or not you will be able to cross the river.
'SANDSTONE WALKS WITH ANCIENT FRIENDS' Sandstone is perched upon the back of a Chrirotherium as they walk among the ruins. Fossilised footprints on display in the undercroft museum suggest the slow passage of time. Stories of all who have gone before us and those who will continue after us are suggested by Sandstone's geographical layers.
'EBB & FLOW' are the personification of the tidal range and the significance of the moon. Flow takes the form of a ladder as if climbing towards the moon whilst Ebb is a squat version of the horizontal ladder demonstrating the force of gravity as it pulls the water back to earth.
'ELECTROMAGNETISM' mid stride with a double face. A physical representation of the unseen forces which influence us and move us forward. Red and blue suggest the duality of the opposing magnetic charges and his painted collar depicts a diagram of radiating energy waves.
'FOAM, RIPPLE & WAVE PLAY THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES' Three elements of the river ‘Foam, Ripple and Wave’ are joined together under a bandstand to play homage to the stars. Considering how the flowing river and celestial realm work together in harmony. ‘The Music of the Spheres’ is an ancient Greek concept that regards proportions in the movements of the Sun, Moon, and planets as a form of music. Pythagoras proposed that the Sun, Moon and planets all emit their own unique hum based on their orbital revolution, and that the quality of life on Earth reflects the tenor of celestial sounds which are physically imperceptible to the human ear.
'MERMAID OF BLACK ROCK' In 1848 Richard Mattigan, a Liverpool sailor, was shipwrecked in North Wales and claimed to have been carried safely to Hoylake beach by a mermaid. The only person who believed Mattaign was an old sailor named O'Connell, who had seen what he called 'the people of the sea' when he lived near Black Rock, off the coast of Leasowe. Mattaign said the mermaid was guarded by a seal and a long swordfish which had attacked him until the mermaid had called it off. This swordfish had a blue diamond shape between its eyes; a month after Mattaign died, a huge swordfish was caught near Perch Rock. It had a distinctive blue diamond-shaped blaze pattern between its eyes.
'A COUPLE OF NIXIES' The Nixie have no true shape and may be hard to spot, nevertheless they often choose to appear as horses, gifted musicians who make trees dance and waterfalls stop, alluring treasure or as various floating objects.
These NIxies are shown in their true form before invoking the dark forces of the river
'THE SALTED LADY' Found in the herb garden The Salted Lady suggests the power of salt water as a great ‘cure all’ . Salt is a powerful disinfectant and purifier. It is essential for life
MAP
Exhibition interpretation. A3 Folded Paper.
Design inspired by the theory of ‘Psycho-geography’ and how our surroundings affect our emotions and behaviour. Allow yourself to drift and let the environment guide you.
CLOSING PARTY
To celebrate the River Spirit’s return to the other world, a closing party was held in the Priory Refectory. I curated and cooked a selection of food and drink inspired by traditional English Medieval foods. The menu included Pigeon Pies, Wild Boar, Queen Mab Puddings, Laver Butter, Porridge Rye bread, Apple Pies, Old English Green Cheesecake, Cockles, Clams, Damson Chutney and fresh fruits. Washed down with fruit wines, mead and Squawk ales and stouts. The table was dressed with a hand-painted runner depicting the hand gestures of the Benedictine monks, which are used when communicating around the dinner table in silence.
