We have a new temporary exhibition space now within the museum and we will be showing a wide variety of work and objects within the space each year. We are starting off with a show of the original artworks from Erica Jong's 1980 book, 'Witches' illustrated by Jos. A. Smith. With a long and
varied career as an artist and illustrator, most notably for Time, Newsweek and The
New York Times, and as an arts
educator at New York’s prestigious Pratt Institute, Jos A. Smith (b.1936) has
over twenty solo exhibitions to his name.
The forthcoming exhibition at the Museum of Witchcraft and
Magic running until November 2015 is the latest,
showcasing his original artwork for the seminal book, ‘Witches’ by Erica Jong,
first published in 1981.
The book charts the persecution of witches, through poetry,
history and stories and also functions as a grimoire, or handbook for
contemporary practitioners. Using pen, ink and watercolour, Jos A. Smith’s
illustrations vividly explore all aspects of the various guises of the witch:
from seductress to crone; perpetrator to victim. His skilled draughtsmanship
reflects witchcraft’s connection to nature, with figures seamlessly blending
into other forms, to create an otherworldly, eerie presence on the page. These
images also express Jos’s own connection to nature through his study of
esoteric religion and meditation, as he states: “I am fascinated by the lore
that accrues to natural things..”
Displayed together for the first time at the Museum of
Witchcraft and Magic, this is the inaugural exhibition in a planned new series
of temporary shows to be hosted at the museum from Spring 2015. The newly
refurbished temporary exhibition space will allow the museum to examine its
rich and varied objects in more depth and will also feature exciting
collaborations with artists and researchers. People will have something new to
see at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic every time they visit, alongside the
fascinating permanent collection.
Three prints from the original artworks are for sale from the museum website or shop as high quality art print or as an art card.
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