The Gossips is a one-off piece, slip cast and decorated by Gus McLaren for his first solo exhibition at Potters' Cottage in Warrandyte in the early sixties. Gus was a well known animator, artist and potter. He also happened to be a neighbour and good friend of the family's. His larrikin manner and lose limbed demeanor belied fastidious craftsmanship and his pieces were always flavored by his cartoonist past. He died in 2008.
THE GOSSIPS - an Ekphrastic poem
Glazed and hollow
with mouths agog,
'The Gossips' pose
in ceramic surprise.
Slip cast in the Sixties,
this decorated duo
take their name
(so rumor has it)
from two well loved locals:
Jeanie White - passionate
one-eyed producer of plays,
and Enid Bird (my mum)
Jeanie's best friend and shadow.
My dentist father (never arty)
bought the pair in Sixty One
(cost him sixty pounds!)
They sat for years
conjoined in pride of place
atop the new TV.
Today they're chattering yet.
And still at home
in my new kitchen
beside the fruit bowl and the toaster.
'The Gossips' remain
a comical reminder
of happy adolescence
and arty crafty days.
a beautifully crafter piece Ali..and I love the pic here.Love it so much
what a brilliant descriptive poem madam reminiscing the the good old days.. they say 'old is gold'.. your poem brings this out so very well... keep well and keep blessing as ever.. regards prashant
Love the reason and the seasoned sweetness of this verse...you have such a way with you! Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing
Beautiful! The poem and the picture. The gossips are worth keeping for it is a constant reminder of your happy days in the past. SMILE!
I am amazed at your creativity here Allie.Artfully portrayed a very well crafted piece.Love ly to read.I love the very first and the concluding stanza so much.
Your words bring The Gossips to life, with their alliterative allure and tantalizing tale of origin...Gus would be proud to hear his beloved piece chattering away, courtesy of a the revered poet, Alison Cassidy - Poetry meets Art History beautifully. :)
Glorifying the past, with a warm expression of a crafted art form. A treasure to keep. A lovely poem.Bookmarked.
Karin ma'am said it well indeed. The uniqueness about your poem is the way in which you make the poem filled with life and vibrant energy with nice rhythmic lines.. You simply bring this sculpture to life with this poem.. I guess, it is in your nature to be vibrant and energetic lol.. I love the first stanza in the poem, very arresting and amusing...
You certainly bring 'The Gossips' to life with your splendid descriptive writing and your introduction. The are so unusual and so unique and would make an excellent topic for conversation in your new kitchen. A poem alive with memories and a special time in your life when your exposure to art and craft would have build on your creative foundation to make you the artistic lady you are today...
what a delightful poem about a special sculpture that means so much to you....did you ever ask him which one is your mother? :)
Wonderful Ekphrasis this is Allie... you have captured the beauty of the object... you've said more than what the eyes can see...
Rich with creativity and reminiscence... lovely
Delightful and amusing. "Glazed and hollow with mouths agog," pretty much captures the essence of non-ceramic gossips.
A wonderful and amazing piece Alison the ceramic couple gives the rest of eveything in the detailed poem, you have the best creativity and that's why I admire you! This is another piece of Cassidism!
Wonderful detail Allie in both image and verse. A delightful piece which adds asides to the pleasure of owning and writing about such clever craftsmanship. A charming reminder indeed of more than the artist and a treasured memory no less.
A wonderful write to that piece of art and the sentimental value, priceless.
Allie, this is an amazing piece, love the image of the little ceramic pair that adds to the charm of reminiscing over the Gossips...
memories of the past, remain as art.. poetry...thanks
Oh I wanted more of the inspired gossip of times past, and less about the object bent from clay. A suggestion of dark secrets and mold of old letters, with lost emotions sifted through endless time. A place where Jean told Enid to buy a new dress. And she said: well did you see what Ms. Smith was wearing the other day. She blinded me with the orange thing coming my way. And then Jean replied: We Mr. Jones whistled at her in that skimpy thing. And then Enid commented; well he's always eyeballing the girls in the swing. He's definitely a dangerous thing. I could only imagine what has be secretly hidden from me. I just want to the gossip to be all it could be. I could only imagine and guess and then settle for much less. A poet friend//RH Peat