Free as a Bird is inspired by Rose Wright, a 19th century inmate of Bodmin Jail, who, according to legend, put a curse on both the prison and the town of Bodmin.
Rose was known as a witch in the local community, providing herbal remedies to help with ailments. She took company with jackdaws and upon her death she cursed the jail; ‘Should the last jackdaw be born at Bodmin Gaol, so the spirits of the condemned shall rise and bring misfortune and chaos to all that reside within.’
The sculpture responds to this curse and features a flock of ceramic jackdaws mounted on a charred black wooden plinth.
The sculpture offers an invitation to reflect on our personal freedom and a greater sense of the freedom taken away from those incarcerated in this important location.
If the story of the curse is true, the sculpture also provides a safeguard by ensuring there will be jackdaws on site!
Links
About the Artist
Rebecca Proctor is a ceramicist based in North Cornwall. Her work focuses on strong forms and elegant silhouettes. Each piece is inspired by local traditions, yet is wholeheartedly modern.
Rebecca often works with high end restaurants and retailers. She also teaches pottery in Bude, North Cornwall and is the author of Throwing Clay: The Art of Making Pottery on the Wheel, published this year by Bloomsbury.
She uses local Cornish clay and materials in her ceramics and enjoys transforming them into new forms which can inspire people. Whether creating sculpture or beautiful tableware, the work is all about encouraging users to pause and take notice of our everyday freedoms and simple pleasures.
