26 Egg Timer
SOLD : £ 586
DESCRIPTION :The commission came after Haslemere Rotary President, Paul Mills, was invited to attend the ‘Our Time’ 2021 exhibition at HMP Send. The event is planned and curated by the artist themselves and, as such, is a ‘first’ in any UK prison. He recognised the extraordinary talent of the artists and knew that there would be a ‘fit’ with the Haslemere Hen project.

Week on week within the prison, these artists volunteered as a team to create this work of art, supported by their tutor, Sophie. From planning the design, to selecting the colours, taking turns to paint the white fibre glass hen and finally applying the Rotary International badge and base lettering, this was a total team effort with each woman playing her part.

The name that they brainstormed for their hen – ‘Egg Timer’ – recognises that they are ‘serving time’ and connects the cog on the Rotary International brand logo with the cogs of a timepiece and an actual watch. They are constantly ‘watching time’! The tail feathers interpretation reflects the arts and crafts influence of Watts Gallery, while the arrow heads on the hen’s legs – that transform into free-flying birds – represent the artists’ own escape into freedom through their art.

Alongside preparing original artworks for their 2022 ‘Our Time’ exhibition within HMP Send on 28 and 29 June this year – which they plan and curate themselves for invited guests – these artists have found time to generously volunteer their creative talents on the Haslemere Hen project.

Now they can’t wait to hear what others think of their art – and to know who, ultimately, will give their ‘Egg Timer’ a good home!

SPONSORED by :
Haslemere Rotary Club

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ARTIST DETAILS :
HMP Send
The six ‘Our Time’ women artists who accepted the commission from the Rotary Club of Haslemere to paint the fibre glass hen all take part in the weekly art workshops within HMP Send. These are delivered by a freelance tutor from Watts Gallery Trust at Compton, and facilitated by the Michael Varah Memorial Fund, a Surrey-based charity.