Internationally renowned glass artist, Maria McClafferty, is showing her latest works in a new Caribbean flavoured show taking place at the Hastings Arts Forum. Hot reporter Joe Fearn went along to view the stunning glass sculptures, and to sample Grenadian rum punch!
The exhibition, entitled Grenadian Dreams: Artistic Responses to the Windward Isle, features one-off, original artglass and sculptures that have been directly inspired by the colours, shapes and textures of the tropical island of Grenada in the West Indies.
Acclaimed for her pioneering techniques in painting and glass fusion, which can be seen in commissioned work in Harrods’ Egyptian Hall and Escalator and the Rose Window in the Alexandra Palace, McClafferty’s one-woman show is a new departure for the artist:
“I usually create large scale, commissioned art-glass paintings and sculptures for clients worldwide, or, on a smaller scale, jewellery.” says McClafferty, “But this exhibition is an exciting challenge for me, and particularly personal.”
“My latest work is infused with Grenada, its coastline and seas – it’s such a magical island,” adds McClafferty, who, since 2000, has divided her time between the island, where she has based her glass studio, and Hastings back in England.
“I have used shapes drawn from the leatherback turtles that visit the island and even incorporated sand from my local beach in my work. My two plinth sculptures suggest turtles laying eggs. I have spent many nights watching this extraordinary event back in Grenada.”
McClafferty’s tryptich hanging paintings with squares have all been inspired by the turtles, and there are also two evocative seascapes, entitled Morning and Sunset.
Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Old Man is a further influence for the artist:
“My piece, The Great Dimaggio, a large hanging fish with the light build, is a symbolic illustration of the Hemingway classic. I used similar colours to those described in the book and the fish is fleshy on one side and skeletal on the other to represent the struggle for life over death that permeates the story.”
McClafferty is keen to give something back to the island and its marine wildlife, “I want to help preserve the beauty of Grenada, so part of the profits from the works sold at the exhibition will be going to the turtle conservation charity, Ocean Spirits, a registered, non-profit conservation organisation based in Grenada to protect marine turtles found throughout the island’s coastal waters and beaches.
Exhibition: Maria McClafferty –Grenadian Dreams: Artistic Responses to the Windward Isle, Hastings Arts Forum, September 27 until October 92012
Artist’s Talk Wednesday October 10 2012, 7:30pm
For all media enquiries, please contact Rachel Hayward on 07711 617 487 or email rachelhayward28@gmail.com
About the Artist
Maria McClafferty is a Master Glass Artist. An internationally recognised for her pioneering techniques in painting and glass fusion, her commissioned work includes: The Rose Window at Alexandra Palace, panels in the Great Hall, Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, bronze and glass in the Egyptian Hall in Harrods (which has now been granted an English Heritage Preservation Order), and sand-blasted panels for Princes Square Shopping Centre, Glasgow.
In 2000, Maria McClafferty moved to Grenada, West Indies, where she established a glass studio. She has since completed many public and private commissions, including a large stained glass window for the island’s Catholic Cathedral, St George’s.
In 2006, Maria McClafferty was selected to participate in the 8th Changchun China International Sculpture Symposium representing Grenada. Her bronze sculpture, The Spirit of the Island, is permanently displayed in the Changchun World Sculpture Park.
From 2007-2012, Maria McClafferty has worked on major private and public glass commissions, including a series of fused glass panels for one of Grenada’s foremost hotels, La Source.
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