Bank Street Gallery
Libby Jones' life is a colourful tapestry. Born in Mauritius, she grew up on the Isle of Whyte and is currently based in Twickenham. A teacher of English in her formartive years, she is now a sculptress, an observer of the planet, an artist, a printmaker. In her eighth decade, she shows no sign of narrowing her outlook.
Jones is quietly conscious of place. She has travelled a great deal and in each new envirnoment, wastes no time in quenching her thirst for knowledge. A recent trip to the Antarctic inspired a collection of work which reveals the growing understanding of our own 'footprint' on this planet we call Earth. The Antarctic series, produced in multiple media, provides poignant observation. It is deliciously non-judgmental and all the more profound for that.
Her observations on Kirriemuir are entertaining. Jones has an almost covert sense of humour. (She opened the first joke shop in Cyprus - a business still running today!) No doubt J M Barrie would have been pleased that she found the child in herself in creating her Kirriemuir Gingerbread snap game. Is the tantalising blank card the joker; the trump card; the player's freedom to choose victory? But look at the poster fashioned for this light hearted game. Suddenly, the blank card carries a different voice. Does it hark back and remind us of the great souls of Thrums no longer remembered? Does it taunt us for our forgetfulness? Or does it gaze to the future, to those yet to come? Take a little time to observe. Is it opportunity or omen?
Libby Jones - she is a clever lady.
Libby Jones show runs from 26th September 2013 to 8th November 2013