Sacred Waters Series – Chalice Well
Chalice Well is a natural spring that emerges in Glastonbury, at the foot of the Tor, and has distinctive bright orange iron mineral deposits which mark the surrounding rock. It is known as the Red Spring and is known to have been in use for at least 2000 years. Water is life and sources of fresh water have shaped our society.
The Sacred Waters Series are wall panels created in response to sites visited by countless individuals, often as a stopping place on pilgrimage, so represent a place where people have paused.
A painting is created in glass enamel and fired in a kiln in successive layers in response to an experience of a visit to a specific place, in this case, Chalice Well. The history of the site is considered and an expressive painting results. The glass is then cut into tiles. The triangle is a symbol of water and also fire. Tiles are collaged and applied to a form, which is a curve made from timber and cork. Cork is more sustainable than timber as the oak bark is harvested without cutting down the tree. In between the glass tiles, sand sourced locally to the spring is incorporated. I often use water collected from the sources to paint with.
The frames are then painted with a natural paint, to compliment the glass.
500 x 500 x 60 mm
Glass, glass enamel, cork, timber.
2023
