Carol Francis & John Bourne

Location: Canfas, Manchester House, Grosvenor Hill, Cardigan SA43 1HY

Date: 04/05/2024 - 25/05/2024

Carol Francis

As part of Francis Ceramics Carol has produced award winning hand painted ceramics since 1980, selling to customers in over 30 different countries and producing work for esteemed clients including Hampton Court, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum and Mason, Tower of London, Kensington Place, Harrods and Victoria and Albert Museum amongst others.

Carol studied painting at the Royal Academy Schools and has produced this new body of work especially for this show in Canfas.

John Bourne – HUMAN SPIRIT IN TEN PAINTINGS

‘Human Spirit’ was inspired by a visit to the Bethlem Museum of the Mind in S. E. London and my visit to the Canfas Gallery.

The term “Human Spirit” will here be interpreted both as Positive Determination and as Spiritual Awareness.
The following poem of my father’s is, I feel, a wonderful celebration of Human Spirit. My painting Station Road was partly inspired by it.

Monday Morning Meeting
On the narrow pavement
By the Wesleyan Chapel
We approached each other;
Would we stop or pass on
With casual lifting of the hand?
We stopped …. He small and brisk,
Hatless and eighty-three
His shirt open at the neck,
The skin red and scrawny
As a plucked chicken’s,
The drooping folds thickly sprinkled
With silvery hairs,
Myself stooping and leaning heavy
On my walking stick.
“How are you?” he enquires,
Eyes bright and knowing.
“I’m fine”, I say, without conviction
And while we seek and do not find
Suitable matter for conversation,
A silence grows.
He breaks it: “Keep going, then!”
His voice is strong
Though only months ago his wife,
Faithful companion of fifty years,
Died and was lost to him.
His words ring in my ears ….
They are an inspiration to me ….
“Keep going!”
We move to pass each other and I twirl
My stick vigorously.
We step out of the chapel’s cold shade
Into the Monday morning sunshine.
Eric Bourne

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