​Jakki Trainor

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One for Sorrow – ceramic panel
 
Listening to the raucous chattering of our resident garden magpies and watching their confident posturing in front of my two cats prompted me to explore their somewhat maligned personalities in my work.
 
Folklore, storytelling, myths and superstitions abound about magpies across the globe providing me with a wealth of ideas for exploring their nature and our human perception of them. This work is the first of a series of planned pieces investigating how humans view the birds while also recording their wonderful forms, actions and attitudes. ‘One for Sorrow’ records the arrogant stance of a bird confident in its own beautiful feathers while paying a nod to the old English tradition of saluting magpies to ward off bad luck. Coming across a lone magpie the correct procedure is to say “Hello Mr. Magpie. How are Mrs. Magpie and all the little magpies?” The superstitious can double down on these defences by spitting three times over their shoulders and flapping their arms like wings. The gold ring held in its beak pays tribute to the widely held belief that the birds are prone to larceny and seek out glittering prizes.
 
The ceramic panel is modelled by hand, bearing marks and textures to capture the bird’s iconic plumage. The gold ring contrasts strikingly against the darker glazes bringing the piece to life.