The Ceramics of The Immortal Sisterhood: Charlie Russell X Gemma Cairney
Gemma and Charlie have come together from different parts of the Britain to create honour and ode through clay. A collaboration between ceramicist and a writer. Researching and responded together using text from the Immortal Sisterhood book (to be published by Canongate in Sept 2025) as a jump off for the brief of what’s being exhibited. Flora, fauna, colours, ephemera, reclamation and experience of each of the women’s childhoods and lives have been thought about. The Immortal Sisterhood about sisterhoods, mine and yours:
our hair roots,
our patterns,
our heartlands,
our bloodlines, motherlands, interconnections, our purpose and our past lives.
Wang, there are no words.
Born in 1768 China, Wang Zhenyi A young woman of expansive multi-talents who found language and codes from the moon; an activist poet and mathematics genius who was determined to create access to education for all.
Thank you so much Pixie.
Born in 1878 England, Pamela Coleman Smith aka Pixie, an artist, occultist, shapeshifter, with a gift for alighting the imaginations of anyone who came across her, through charm, performance or visual art.
Una, you were everything.
Born in 1905 in Jamaica, Una Marson, A traveler, a campaigner with a core of integrity and an irrefutable gift for communication as the first voice of black woman broadcast on the BBC.
Audre, we love you.
Born in 1934 in Harlem, New York, Audre Lorde. An original voice who harnessed intellect, queerness and wrapped it in poetry as a form of resistance.
Jeanne, we see you.
Born in 1827 in Haiti, Beyond the muse, Jeanne Duval was a sex working sorcerer whose polymathic skills for performance and dance made her the ultimate muse and conduit for century defining poetry in Paris.
Grace.
Born in 1948 in Jamaica, Grace Jones, A force of nature who paves a path for the abstract, DISCO royalty and free.
Marsha, where to even start…
Born in 1945 in New York, Marsha P Johnson, A butterfly of style, expression, and a human rights activist that understood the radical power and salvation of friendship in allyship for the most vulnerable.
Mary, your routes were not made in vain.
Born in 1759 in England, Mary Wollenscroft, A pioneer, an explorer, a lover, an activist, a brave soul and determined travel writer who showed women that we can and should move around this earth freely regardless of our situation.
Nanny, an eternal thanks.
Born in 1686 in West Africa Nanny Of The Maroons, A leader of the rebellion for the emancipation of enslaved people in Jamaica, who used ancient wisdom and tribal West African kingdom practice to heal and strategise.
Mary, we bow in reverence.
Born in 1805 in Jamaica, Mary Seacole, A healer, a doctor, a herbalist and vanguard for integrating the democratisation of care in the Global North.
Betty, Betty, Betty.
Born in 1944 in North Carolina, Betty Davis, A genre defying troubadour who channelled musicality, rage and exertion through performance and lyricism.
Hatshepsut.
Born in 1507 bc in Ancient / Kemet / Egypt, Pharaoh Hatshepsuit was a gender defying leader who excelled in architectural advancement, travel and trade and overcoming trauma.
Each of the original pieces in the Sistxrhood Ceramics collection have been made in collaboration with Charlie Russell and Gemma Cairney.
Each piece is 3,000GBP and will be sent to the buyer on the 1st September when the exhibition comes down.
Please email gem@gemmacairney.co.uk to enquire about purchasing a Goddess.
To keep updated on The Immortal Sisterhood concept including a live production version coming in 2025, sign up to the mailing list on gemmacairney.co.uk
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