Good Grief
The ‘Grant in Kind’ centres on eight sculptures by Jean Parker which deal with the personal loss and the grief process. They are generally loaned free of charge to religious and suitable educational community organisations such as cathedrals, churches, hospices, medical schools, hospitals and public art galleries.
Experience shows that an exhibition should sensibly last between one and four weeks and Westhill organises and pays for the safe transit of the sculptures from the Westhill Chapel to the site of the exhibition venue and back and also usually provides a free workshop with the sculptor, Jean Parker. A DVD is also provided.
It all sounds a
little mechanical but generally we find
ourselves in
discussion with exhibition organisers from a very early stage and
giving broad advice on layout and how to get the best from the resource
in helping
various specialist audiences or the public through an exploration of
the grief/loss process.
Sculptures are life-size, the original models hand sized.
The Story Behind Good Grief
A Study in the Grief and Personal Loss
Good Grief/Bald Statements was born as a reflection of Jean
Parker’s own experience of cancer. The eight terracotta heads
emerged during the course of a seven day silent retreat, and present a
powerful and unique visual exploration of the grief process. The
alabaster heads on their plinths are often supported by poster sized
photographs of terra cotta and bronze heads. These relate not
only to loss of health, but also to
significant loss of any kind.
The hope is that the exhibition will help stimulate discussion
and
the understanding of powerful emotions, which can feel overwhelming. To
see these images as transitional stages and part of a natural process
experienced by many may prove helpful and reassuring, offering glimpses
of hope when all seems lost.
Each sculpture deals with an aspect of the grief process which is explained through the following stages:
- DENIAL
I'm all right...
Shocked, Stunned Protective mask? - DISBELIEF
NO! Pain, protest, indignation - QUESTIONING
Why? Search for meaning...Need to make sense of … Search for meaning - ANGER
Rage, anguish...Realisation of grim reality - DEPRESSION
Deep sadness...Despair, desolation - ACCEPTANCE
Awareness...Facing the reality of loss - HEALING
Moving on to a peaceful place - PEACE
Life no longer defined by the loss
To complement the exhibition, packs of photographs, a DVD and background material are available as a valuable resource for use by individuals or by groups and their leaders.
About the Sculptor, Jean Parker M.A.
Sculptor of Perception
With a background of teaching and a family of four children, it was not until mid-life that the opportunity arose for Jean Parker’s artistic energies to be given full expression. She studied art as a mature student for four years in Coventry and later completed at Master of Arts degree. Her affinity for sculpture and gift as a modeller and carver soon became evident.
She works in stone, clay and bronze, and her themes are universal. Religion, psychology, and personal relationships provide an endless source of inspiration, expressed in both figurative and abstract form.
She exhibits widely, lectures, teaches, conducts workshops, and works largely to commission.
Smaller Exhibitions and Workshops
An Exploration on a Smaller Scale
Sometimes a full exhibition is not appropriate and people who wish to explore the grief/loss process in smaller groups can have access to a small set of bronzes or terracotta heads based on the marquettes which Jean Parker modelled when she was in retreat, together with a set of large poster sized prints of the bronze heads
Running an Exhibition or Workshop
Timing and Support
To check the availability of the sculptures and to have an initial discussion on receiving a Grant in Kind to run your own exhibition or workshop, please email us here. or contact us here.
As there have been over 25 exhibitions in the last three years it is most likely that we could put you in touch with a past exhibitor who has experience of running an exhibition that is relevant to you. Whenever possible Jean Parker likes to join with our team in giving you help and advice.
Experience shows that an exhibition should sensibly last between one and four weeks and Westhill organises and pays for the safe transit of the sculptures from the Westhill Chapel to the site of the exhibition venue and back and also usually provides a free workshop with the sculptor, Jean Parker. A DVD is also provided.
It all sounds a little mechanical but generally we find ourselves in discussion with exhibition organisers from a very early stage and giving broad advice on layout and how to get the best from the resource in helping various specialist audiences or the public through an exploration of the grief process.
Recently exhibitions have taken place in Derby and Coventry Cathedrals, Wimborne Minster, Heartlands Hospital (Birmingham), University of Birmingham Medical School and Chapliancy, Emanual Church Cambridge St. Martins (Bull Ring, Birmingham), Hollywood Arc and Bradford Multi-faith Centres, Manchester Cathedral, and Church Stretton Arts Festival.
Exhibitions are planned for Bath Abbey, Christchurch Erith, St. Andrews Roundhay, St. Martin's Exeter, and URC Assembly Edinburgh.
Plinth Information
If you need information about the plinths on which the sculptures are displayed, please click here. (This will open a document in a new window.)