EARTHLY DELIGHTS APPEAL

January 26, 2021

Earthly delights is an exciting new artwork commissioned by Whitegold for St Austell to celebrate not only the town but also the far reaching impact of the Cornish china clay industry, its history and how that goes out into the UK, into Europe and indeed out into the world.
David has been given a large wall in the centre of the town as a blank canvas. Inspired by his findings and rich pickings of pottery and ceramics fragments found on his local beach, his vision of the new work is using hundreds of fragments, broken pieces of vase, parts of teapots, segments of teacups, plates, saucers and everything ceramic to tile the surface of the wall some 19 metres wide.

“It’s a common thing to do in the UK and an activity that binds and connects us [he says]. We walk our beaches. We pick up these small pieces, remnants of whole objects all designed, patterned and illustrated in a wide variety of colours and shapes, sizes and styles. I want to use these to make the installation and to extend that connection.” © David Mach 2020

But it is also about the stories behind these fragments which in turn are not just objects but memories of the living. They are witnesses of an era, of a moment in time; they are about someone special, a place, a celebration; they connect the present to the past and are a legacy to the future.

THESE STORIES WILL BE COLLECTED, RECORDED AND THEY WILL BE TOLD.

David’s message to you:

“I’d like to use the pieces you’ve found on the beach, on your walks, in your travels; the fragments, the shards and also the pieces of broken ceramics you may have kept; Items passed down from generation to generation; A hand from a damaged figurine, the lettering from a salt cellar, the spout of a teapot, the handle of a cup, a small thing you haven’t let go off yet, a holiday souvenir, a wedding gift, a commemorative plate, an heirloom, your dad’s ashtray etc …

SOMETHING with a story to tell. I want to hear it. I want to know why you kept it, where you found it, who gave it to you? Is it just a piece of your favourite mug? I’ll collect all your stories and set the ceramics together in the wall into one large installation.”

For more information about how to take part and send your ceramics please visit EARTHLY DELIGHTS.

Alternatively, please send your stories and your ceramics to:

EARTHLY DELIGHTS
ST AUSTELL BID OFFICE
BURTON HOUSE
TRINITY STREET
ST AUSTELL
PL25 5LS

DEADLINE 28 FEB 2021

Thank you for your support!