‘Art Market’ with Jersey Arts Trust, May 2015

By David Pearl
09.05.15

SW_Jersey_Gallery

Jersey’s first Street Wisdom was also the first one we know of anywhere in the world where all the participants were artists thanks to the Jersey Arts Trust who hosted the event as part of the Skipton Arts Series

Most people associate Jersey with bankers and potatoes. But the arts are increasingly prominent. And the artists are clearly plucky, turning up to Street Wisdom despite threats of torrential rain. There were painters, ceramicists, designers, musicians – even a fire artist. The hub of the event was the beautiful, bustling and – thankfully covered – market. We did out tune-ups under the eyes of the increasingly curious stall holders. And the quests ended at the very welcoming CCA Galleries International surrounded by diamond-dusted prints by Damian Hurst. It was a great place to reflect on the day’s experiences and hear extraordinary stories like Susan’s here –

Susan

New Taste for Life

Susan is an artist who has just completed a bout of chemo therapy which has been medically successful but affected her taste an interest in food. So the impact of Street Wisdom took her by surprise.

I wandered into an Italian deli I used to love. Nothing particularly grabbed me until I looked up and saw all these parma hams hanging there. I was fascinated by these and I was thinking about some drawings I made of parma hams a few years back when suddenly the smell from the spice shop hits me. It was a smell like ayurvedic tea. Soothing. It made me feel ‘mmmm’. It drew me to the shop and I went in. I inhaled the coriander and cumin. Sprayed myself with some lavender. Then the owner and I started swapping favourite smells. She told me about Les Landes (on the North West Coast on the island) where she lived as a child and how much she loved Gorse. I said yellow is such a wonderful cheerful colour. She wasn’t trying to sell me anything, just enjoying the dialogue. At the end she said ‘please come back any time’. And I will. This experience has reawakened my taste buds and interest in cooking and food again.