By far
the most popular post I have ever written was that of
Kate MccGwire's work, and it's no wonder. Her feather sculptures are so unbelievably labor intensive and gorgeous, they seem almost unreal. Frighteningly unreal. I was delighted when I opened my inbox this morning to preliminary photos of Kate's most recent site specific installation,
EVACUATE, at the
Tatton Park Biennial. Made from the feathers of all the birds that would have been cooked in
the oven over the 300 year history of the house, EVACUATE is made up of feathers from pheasants, chickens, turkeys, mallard, goose, peacock, woodcock etc. Wow.
"Horrifyingly beautiful, the installation suggests a new (or perhaps ancient) and menacing presence eminating from the cast iron oven. Coiling, pluming and creeping through the kitchen, the work feels weighty, meaty. The visitor at once is taken by the gorgeousness of the piece itself - the assemblage of 'common' feathers presented as something completely exotic - and the shame involved in discarding objects of beauty for a perfunctory dinner." ~ an excerpt from the Tatton Park catalog.
above photos courtesy of Kate MccGwire. Below photos credit to Barney Lidster.
