Bald Statements
“Moved to tears – my journey continues. Thank you for sharing your experience.”
Bald Statements is a sculptural study into grief and personal loss by the late Jean Parker.
The full exhibition comprises eight large alabaster sculptures, and eight small maquettes (hand sized sculptures) cast in bronze-resin.
Jean Parker formed the original maquettes in terracotta clay during a private retreat in which she was reflecting on her own experience of cancer. They were not, at this stage, intended for public exhibition.
The themes she explored during the retreat, however, had a wider reach than her cancer diagnosis. Jean refers to the sudden death of her close friend, the loss of her son and daughter-in-law in a climbing accident, and the loss of her marriage through divorce, as well as the loss of her health, and the loss of her hair through the cancer treatment she was undergoing. She created one maquette each day through the retreat.
The bronze-resin maquettes were cast from these original terracotta pieces, and later Jean created the large alabaster sculptures as a new response to the themes she had explored.
Through the sculptures Jean movingly and honestly takes each viewer through her journey of grief and healing, which she explains through the stages of denial, disbelief, questioning, anger, depression, acceptance, healing, and peace. You can hear in the film and the power-point presentation how the sculpture ‘peace’ was later replaced by ‘multi-facetted’ as Jean moved through her journey.
The alabaster sculptures are transported in flight cases and come with custom-made plinths. Due to the size and weight of the alabaster set, they need to be delivered and set up by professionals, which we at Westhill can arrange. Due to the cost of this there are some restrictions to their use which we can discuss with you.
Alongside this (or separately on their own), we can also provide the set of bronze-resin maquettes. These come in a small, wheeled flight-case and are ideal for small group work or short exhibitions. A wooden stand can also be provided for display.
Along with the sculptures we can provide a number of materials including films, a power-point presentation, ideas for activities and discussion, postcards, practical notes, an inventory, comments sheets, and a Conversation and Reflection booklet.
About Jean Parker
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 a Master of Arts degree. Her affinity for sculpture and gift as a modeller and carver soon became evident. She worked in stone, clay and bronze, and her themes were universal. Religion, psychology, and personal relationships provide an endless source of inspiration, expressed in both figurative and abstract form. Jean ‘retired’ to Bude and sadly passed away in 2017.
Coming Alive
Artist Jean Parker talks about her Exhibition of Sculpture, Bald Statements. Grief, Loss & Change.
