Christine Pike is a sculptor, curator and performer, but one passion runs like a thread through all her creative endeavours - a love of the natural world, particularly as it is reflected through folklore.
Folklore is an echo of the history of the land that stretches back in time before recorded memory. We feel it more strongly in some places than in others. I grew up in the London suburbs, and my hunger for stories was fed by weekly visits to our local library. I never quite felt I belonged in an urban environment and my happiest times as a child were spent on family holidays to Somerset.
When I moved to West Norfolk it was hard to adjust at first, but has felt like a gradual homecoming. Here. At last, I can really feel the seasons and rhythms of the land. I live on the edge of the Norfolk Fens, which is a very special place: much of the land was drained for agricultural use in the 17th century and it still has a watery, drowned quality. Mists can rise out of nowhere and it is common to see vast flocks of geese or swans flying noisily overhead. Because of its flat, open landscape, it is famous for its ‘big skies’ and breathtaking sunsets. No wonder it has attracted artists to live and work here for centuries!
The nature reserve.
Winter light.
Perhaps it’s because I didn’t grow up surrounded by an abundance of nature that I appreciate it so much more now. To see a hare run across a stubble field, or spot the electric blue flash of a kingfisher as it darts under a bridge, never loses its wonder for me. And this is what I try to convey in my work. I want to say to people “Look - really look - at how amazing the world is!”
"Bunzie" close up.
I have sculpted in many different materials for most of my life, but when I moved to Norfolk in 2007 I was finally able to have a kiln and a proper studio. Like many artists I was quickly seduced by the hare, which is a gift for a sculptor to play with. The huge ears and feet and long, powerful legs make it a very satisfying animal to interpret creatively in clay. And, of course, East Anglia is a thriving stronghold for hares, so I get to see them in the wild quite regularly.
"Bunz."
The hare is a subject of folk beliefs from all over the world. For me they represent wisdom, change and transition (they are closely associated with the moon). A lot of my work reflects my interest in liminal states, in that they are part human and part animal or bird. Sometimes they sport hare’s ears or deer antlers. I am never quite sure what these beings are, but I suspect they are Nature Spirits, conjured into existence to protect different aspects of the natural world.
Sacred.
Pedestal hare.
I always say that, if you come away from a demo or a workshop having learned one thing, then it has been well worth your time and money! This is the philosophy I employ when I am teaching my own workshops: I encourage students to bring notebooks and take pictures throughout the process of making so that they can look back on the day later and remember how to do a particular technique. I put myself in their shoes and remember how in awe I have been of certain sculptors - many of whom have been generous enough to share their knowledge with me. Often all it takes is a spark - the right words, a gentle tweak - to set someone on a path of creative discovery.
I know that not everyone who takes one of my workshops will want to embrace clay as a way of life, but I truly believe in the transformative power of creativity. For me, as a tutor, the best thing ever is to see the look of amazement and pride on people’s faces when they have finished a piece of work and they can see that it’s so much more than they thought they were capable of! I hope they will carry that confidence into other aspects of their lives and embrace the idea that uncertainty doesn’t have to be scary and that challenging yourself to do something new can be a good thing.
Masquerade.
I have to pay homage to my own tutor, Brendon Hesmondhalgh of the Sculpture Lounge, in the Holme Valley. Not only is he an amazing wildlife sculptor, but he is a great teacher who will push you just that little bit further than you thought you could go. He has taught me so much about the art of teaching.
Hare in the making.
For 2025 I am offering a whole range of workshops, both in person and online. I have also teamed up with fellow Craft Courses tutor, Blended Monkey, to offer some exclusive workshops at their studio in Upwell. Most of my workshops are suitable for beginners but there are also some workshops for those who would like to take their skills further.
Christine with some of her creations.
As an experienced teacher I can gauge the difficulty level of a particular workshop and I make sure every student gets the amount of attention and support they need to make something they will be proud of. I have never forgotten the feeling of being a newbie sculptor venturing into the unknown for the first time and wondering if I would be any good - I make sure that my workshops are a safe and supportive space for people to explore their creativity and do something different. Because being creative makes you feel alive and is the best feeling in the world!
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