Time travel is on the agenda as the much-loved Shrewsbury Arts Trail returns for its fourth year this July and August, with a captivating theme:
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“TIME.”
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At Soulton Hall we are delighted to report that our commission to the artist Jacob Chandler is an important part of the show.
Audrey, Touchstone, The Orlando and Rosalind figures from Jacob Chandler’s AS YOU LIKE IT dancers, being shown in Shrewsbury Museam,
Chandler’s work explores the fascinating interaction between Shakespeare’s timeless play, As You Like It, and time. This springs from Soulton’s association with the play, and in particular the enigmatic Dancing Pavement we have betwen the hall as the As You Like It wood.
Phoebe Silvius Oliver and Celia shown in an exhibition of the AS YOU LIKE IT dancers in Shrewsbury Museam.
As You Like It contains perhaps the most famous meditation on time and human life by Shakespeare:
JAQUES:
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.Re-enter ORLANDO, with ADAM [the latter is very ill]
This year, the Shrewsbury Arts Trail commission by Jacob Chandler delves into this important timeless dance which goes back thousands of years – a series of intricately patterned stones that record court dances of the C16th that go back further in time to the ancient classical world.
The Soulton Dancing Pavement, showing The Dance, which features in AS YOU LIKE IT
Shrewsbury Arts Trail, now in its fourth year, is a cornerstone of Shropshire’s cultural vibrancy. Each year, it brings a unique blend of contemporary art to the public, transforming Shrewsbury into a free, open-air gallery.
This year promises to be particularly exciting, featuring an all-female sculpture trail by renowned British artists. Additionally, the “Inspirational Exhibition” at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (SM&AG) will showcase works by iconic figures like David Hockney and Damien Hirst, alongside Jacob Chandler’s own contribution.
The full program for the Shrewsbury Arts Trail, including a comprehensive list of exhibitions, workshops, and events, can be found here.
Pictures at an exhibition: the 2024 Shrewsbury Art Tour Launch
Mark your calendars for July and August 2024, and prepare to embark on a captivating journey through time, art, and the hidden stories that resonate within the walls of Soulton Hall.
Don’t miss Jacob Chandler’s thought-provoking commission, and experience the magic of the Shrewsbury Arts Trail!
Chandler Jacob with Phoebe and Silvius
