St Edmund
This remarkable object was given to Jim Ede by a friend, John Catto, in 1975.
When Catto first saw it, this was a burnt branch on a lightning-struck willow
by the banks of the river Cam. Having noticed its human-like appearance, he
cut it off and darkened the new wood revealed, otherwise leaving it as it
still is. Aware of Ede's love for natural objects, Catto thought that Jim
would particularly appreciate this one.
As he wrote in A Way of Life, Ede marvelled at the chance production of the
figure and its rough, irregular surface. He called the piece 'St. Edmund',
because of its resemblance to mediaeval sculptures of the saint, and positioned
it beneath the staircase in the extension of the house, on a revolving base.
This is meant to allow the viewer to look at the figure from all angles.
The piece highlights the importance of natural objects at Kettle's Yard. Stones,
plants, shells and flowers all provide a natural counterweight to the artifice
of paintings and sculptures. Ede wanted the visitor to have a new perception
of, or insight into, the collection during each visit. Natural objects, in
his terms, brought life to the interior and the artwork, and helped create
such new perceptions.
material - charred willow wood
location - downstairs extension