Feather and Fin: Exhibition by Celia Smith

About

From Saturday 16 October – Sunday 31 October the gallery at No 19 Corsham High Street is hosting "Feather and Fin": An exhibition of sculptures and prints of birdlife by Celia Smith, wildlife artist and "end of day" glass fish mostly from Murano, Italy.

Celia's intricate sculptures of birds are full of life and energy. Celia uses wire as other artists use a pencil, collected and gathered wherever she finds it from the side of the road to scrapyards. Celia's work will be on display together with Willow's personal collection of nearly 100 "end of day" fish which he has collected during lockdown. Willow no longer has any room left on the shelves at home so it's time for them to find new admirers!

Celia's love of wire was inspired by a visit to Sophie Ryder's studio, and although she is a huge fan of the iconic mobile kinetic sculptures of Alexander Calder, she often cites her father's creative use of baler twine and mending gates and fences on the farm she grew up on as another subconscious influence.

Not unlike the glass blowers of Murano, using whatever pieces were left over at "the end of the day", Celia's careful choice of reclaimed wires and materials produce her intricate and ethereal pieces, animated, swooping and gliding, across sky and paper.

Celia's sculptures and prints will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition. The glass fish will be on sale with prices from £30 - £100. All art works will be available to purchase from the gallery ONLY for the first week of the exhibition to encourage people to visit the gallery and other businesses in town. They will then also be available online.