Fragments, Memories and Journeys

Sharon Snaylam

Saturday 5th March to
Sunday 27th March 2005

Preview Friday 4th March

An afternoon with the artist

Sunday 13 March

1.30 Sharon will give a talk about her work
2.30 Tea break - a range of teas, coffees and home made cakes available from the cafe
3.00 until 5.00 Sharon will lead a workshop exploring the ideas of paths and journeys, using clay and plaster to experiment with textures and colours

Artist’s Statement

This work represents an exploration of walks along Yorkshire pathways.
I have walked in different landscapes for some years, often following paths and routes indicated on maps or they were known and were described to by friends. My work is an exploration and response to my walks.

The path remains a symbol for my life and represents my personal journey; it is therefore full of memories and experiences. The landscape at times can be inhospitable with changing weather conditions. I am respectful of the paths that offer direction and guidance they have been there for hundreds of years and have guided people on very different journeys. The pathway is also a stance from where I view the surrounding landscape, which varies from different perspectives, distances and standpoints. As in life, experiences and memories differ as time passes.

I have used images and a range of different materials to explore my ideas. All of the pieces include writings and notes from my diaries of the walks that I have undertaken. The text is sometimes buried beneath the surfaces, and the words are a descriptive record of the walk undertaken. It is not my intention that the viewer reads the words as a diary, but that they recognise some of the words or dates thus allowing them to fill in the gaps and engage in the response to the landscape.
It is my hope that this will make the work more accessible to the viewer.

Sharon Snaylam 2005