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Jersey Icon Series collection on display at Harbour Gallery

Jersey Icon Series collection on display at Harbour Gallery

Saturday 26 May 2018

Jersey Icon Series collection on display at Harbour Gallery

Saturday 26 May 2018


All 60 images from the Jersey Icon Series have been brought together in one show for the first time in five years at the Harbour Gallery in St. Aubin.

Local artist Jools Holt started her Icon Series five years ago, marking a turn in her artistic practice.

Previously, Jools confessed, she had never settled on a style. She went from being a "very eclectic artist" who sculpted and engraved wood, to working only on the series which focuses on the sites, buildings and best-loved features of island life - elements which are treasured by islanders and visitors alike. 

‘Souaixante,' which is Jèrriais for sixty, presents the series in its entirety, for the first time at the Harbour Gallery, in St. Aubin. You’ll spot Corbière Lighthouse, Elizabeth Castle, Archirondel Tower and the White House among others. But the collection also celebrates more unconventional sites, such as LittleJoe’s Surf Shop, Le Braye Café. 

The iconic Jersey Cow, which was the first image in the series, also features. Jools explained: "The idea for the series came from one Jersey Cow down St. Peter's Valley. I played with the image and being a fan of pop art and Andy Warhol, I added a bit of that into it. The idea for the series was to go out and photograph traditional things, such as castles, that we pass everyday and bring them to life, make them more contemporary.

"I do a lot of work in schools and colour has a lot of impact on children. This is how colour got into the series mainly primary colours. It was a big change for me!"

Mont_Orgueil Jools Holt

Pictured: Jools Holt adds colour to photographs of Jersey Icons, here Mont Orgueil.

For each image, Jools starts from a photograph which she prints on canvas. She then adds paint in the background, before going through a process of printing and painting until she is happy with the result. It can sometime take her up to a year "out of frustration," she admits.

Over the years, Jools says she has been fascinated by how many potential new icons she can find. She says that while looking for one icon to photograph, she will sometimes come back with three ideas. Jools said: “The island is a constant source of inspiration for me. I can find new subjects for my art work any day of the week - I just need double the number of hands and more than 24 hours in a day! I really hope this new exhibition inspires others to see the more off-the-wall in this beautiful island of ours.”

Pictured: The 'Souaixante' exhibition is open until 4 June at the Harbour Gallery in St. Aubin.

For the exhibition, many of the titles have been translated into Jèrriais by Tony Scott-Warren and Geraint Jennings from L’Office du Jèrriais. Jools says: "It brings the language into the exhibition. It is fascinating. It gives another dimension to it."

While she has started work on a Guernsey Icon Series, Jools says Jersey is still her favourite. "Jersey is the beautiful island," says Jools. "It made me go out and inspired me to try new things as an artist."

Woodturner Martin Cotillard

Pictured: Martin Cotillard is presenting his turned wooden bowls at the Harbour Gallery, alongside Jools' Icon Series.

For 'Souaixante,' Jools shares the Harbour Gallery with Martin Cotillard of 'Out of the Tree Wood Art.' A woodturner since 1995, Martin is presenting beautiful turned wooden bowls from various woods, shapes and sizes. 

The exhibition is open until 4 June. Open seven days a week, 10:30 to 17:00. 

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