Midnight in the Nursery

There are six more days to catch the current show at Port Moody Arts Centre’s 3D Gallery. Debra Sloan and Marcia Pitch are presenting a show called ‘Midnight in the Nursery’. Marcia’s work uses stuffed toys, some of them turned inside out, and other childhood paraphernalia in considered, surprising assemblages. Debra’s work is what drew me to my local gallery. I am used to seeing her dog sculptures but this show features babies, some of them with adult faces. Debra really captures the vulnerability of babies but gives these ones oddly mature emotions. Much of the work I imagine was made during her recent 13-week residency in Hungary. I particularly enjoyed two large pieces which have been fired in a wood and salt kiln. The third image shows a very distressed baby with a lovingly crafted dog at its side. The surface of this piece is delicious!

This theme, bedtime stories bringing nightmares to the nursery, is a fitting show for Halloween.

Gillian McMillan

Gillian writes blogs about ceramics in and around Vancouver and sometimes talks about other Art, her garden, travels and family.

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