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The beauty and magic of the female body and themes of sisterhood are being celebrated in two new exhibitions.
Every Friday, Express presents a selection of online and offline exhibitions, performances, workshops, events and other historic and creative content to help islanders get their weekly dose of culture.
Here is this week's offering...
Pictured: Melissa Rodrigues photographed women to celebrate the female form.
‘The Feminine Divine’ is Melissa Rodrigues’s first exhibition and she wanted it to be “a visual celebration of female energy, form and sisterhood”
The photographs, she says, aim to showcase female connection with spirituality and the ancient ways of old.
“The concept of exploring the female journey has always been fascinating and important to me,” Melissa explained. “Not only because I am a woman, but because I feel a sense of power and strength behind this type of imagery.
Pictured: "When women join together, there is wholeness, comfort and a support network," Melissa said.
"When women join together, there is wholeness, comfort and a support network. Those are the types of emotions I wanted to evoke when people come to see this exhibition.”
Each image, whose names were drawn from a tarot deck, feature women in the nude – “I’m so lucky to photograph such bold and brave women,” Melissa said – but the photographer assured the exhibition is not a body positivity campaign.
“It’s just stripped down the beauty of the form and what comes with it, in mind as well as in heart.”
Pictured: Melissa teamed up with Anna Renouf to give the gallery a mystical feeling.
Melissa said the exhibition was made “even more special” by her collaboration with Anna Renouf from Wonderland Events.
“She is amazing at creating texture and using props and florals to bring a space together,” Melissa said.
Installed at the Link Gallery until the end of December, the exhibition incorporates natural elements with wooden frames, lanterns and lots of candles.
Pictured: “It’s supposed to be quite mystical and I want it to feel magical," Melissa said.
“I want it to be a sensory experience, a real hit to the senses,” Melissa explained. “It’s not just about the images but how you feel when you are in that space.
“It’s supposed to be quite mystical and I want it to feel magical. Females are quite magic when you think about our intuition, our ability to nurture... We are all like little gypsies, we follow our hearts!
“That’s the kind of vibe I am going for.”
Pictured: Jessica Perfect's work will be on display at the Yard.
A stone's throw from the Link Gallery, The Yard will be hosting fine art line drawings also focusing on the female form.
They are the work of local artist Jessica Perfect, who uses ink etched onto mirror, combined with a corrosive element which creates an aged affect.
“I’m so excited to introduce this talented new artist to Jersey clients. Jessica Perfect’s painted over vintage mirrors are provocative," Jasmine Rose Noel of JARO Art Agency, who curated the exhibition, said.
"The surface texture mottles the light and reflection, transforming them into art canvases. The images on these mirrors are of nude women in feminine and empowering poses, encouraging viewers to see the beauty in imperfection.”
The second issue in a series of new photo-zines produced by Éditions Emile – a new publishing imprint celebrating the unique collections held in the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive – focuses on photographs taken by German officers during the Occupation, showing them at leisure, horse-riding, site-seeing or during dinner.
The selection of images, which are being presented for the first time, was drawn from the Pelz Collection and the majority are attributed to Major Hans Egon Pelz, who described Jersey as a “fairy-tale” in a letter to a friend.
Alan Allix, one of the founding members of the Channel Island Occupation Society and Andrew Gilson, a local historian currently working on a new book on agriculture during the occupation, have both contributed to this new issue.
Pictured: "Occupation at leisure "is the second issue of the photo-zine produced by Éditions Emile.
“In this issue, we examine the lives of German administrative officers during the Occupation of Jersey,” Editors, Patrick Cahill and Martin Toft, said.
“The familiarity and at times banality of the two collections we are looking at is rarely referenced in this historical context.
“There are military references and personnel, even glimpses of forced labourers, they pass by as backdrops, alongside tourist attractions, and private parties.
“We are looking at the German officer’s own record of the island, of their lives here, their friendships, work, but mostly leisure in 1940-44.”
While Elizabeth Castle may be closed down for the winter, Jersey Heritage is inviting islanders to learn more about the landmark's rich history.
Throughout this month, they will be sharing some of the iconic fortress' stories.
The first video is the series features Canon Louis and focuses on the Priory of St. Helier.
This wonderful example of English Paper Piecing has been recently donated to our collections. Stitched around 60 years ago, it is a work of art made from recycled fabric.#quilt #EPP #recycle #handmade #patchwork #collections pic.twitter.com/CyQbtfvWMj
— Jersey Heritage (@loveheritage) November 5, 2020
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