THREADS of life through Covid times have been translated into unique pieces of art using recycled materials and unconventional equipment from her kitchen more associated with cooking.
And with life re-opening across all sectors, international bronze sculptor, Elizabeth Jorn, is now throwing open the doors of her Strangford gallery this Saturday to showcase a new style of work sparked by the restrictions of lockdown.
When the pandemic robbed her of her usual medium, bronze, and prevented her from following her traditional mode of working, Elizabeth was left behind doors, like the rest of the world, wondering how to continue her craft using what was available to her.
What emerged was an explosion of imaginative new artistic experimentation.
The 63-year-old artist started dabbling with recycled materials that were on hand in the house and turned to paper pulp, papier-maché, collage and even seaweed to create her new body of work.
“I usually do figurative sculptures and then the lockdown started and I couldn’t get to the foundry for bronze so I had to start utilising things at home.
“I started with papier-maché and paper pulp, in which I basically use paper or card and soak it in water and then I decided to use a hand blender to mix it all up and use glue.”
An allergy to the adhesive prompted her to source other natural medium found along the shore near her home.
“I wanted to see if I could use seaweed, to see if it was better than the glue and I would gather it along the shore and then sometimes I use an ordinary kitchen hand blender on it.
“I found that it if I added it to the papier maché it created an interesting darker colour and texture.”
Alongside new mediums, she also turned to new themes, creating art depicting the contrasting approach to life during the pandemic of men and women.
She shaped stylised figurines – male and female versions – highlighting the varying anxieties of the sexes toward the unprecedented times.
She said the figurines, which were like vessels, or pots, have removable heads carrying scenes within that mirrored Covid-related issues and how each gender coped with the difficulties of the strange times.
“I used words like ‘virus’, ‘lockdown’ and ‘fear’ within these to reflect the times of Covid,” she said.
Speaking of her open day, Elizabeth said: “It gives me an opportunity to share the work I have been doing, with the public and friends alike. It lets me showcase my work with nice people at my home where I have turned one of the rooms into a very small gallery.”
Elizabeth hopes art lovers will plan to come along to view her newest work, alongside a trip to the Strangford area, at her studio at 20 Kildare Street.
For more information visit her website www.elizabethjorn.com.