The March Hare

This March we have dedicated The Box Gallery to the start of Spring and hares depicted in art and sculpture. Featuring a collection of work by artists using various artforms including ceramics, print, collage, willow and wire.

“The March Hare will be much the most interesting, — at least not so mad as it was in March.” – Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.

The character of the Mad March Hare in Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland is based on the old English proverb “mad as a March hare”. This comes from the behaviour of the hare during the first breeding season of the year, coinciding with the start of spring. During early spring, the hares are seen in large groups presenting increasingly erratic behaviour, including leaping, boxing, chasing and biting. For most of the year the hares are shy animals and are difficult to spot and this makes their strange behaviour suddenly appear borne of madness. The sight of hares boxing in the fields is often taken to be a sign that spring is just around the corner.

Christine Cummings – Ceramics

Christine Cummings dedicated her life to creating her wonderful sculptures.

Her natural ability to study animal form, and affinity with the medium of clay has brought us timeless creations that are featured in many of the UKs most prestigious galleries. Her early work focused on her extensive studies of pigs, capturing their character and beauty, drawing inspiration from her pet pig Jezabelle. Subsequently a whole menagerie of animals including foxes, goats, chickens, hares, donkeys, dogs and many more were added to the collections. The small team at Christine Cummings Ceramics are continuing Christine’s legacy to bring you unique pieces which are taken from her original designs.

Alison Walling – Willow

Alison Walling is a great admirer of willow in all its many varieties and forms and is keen to see species once cultivated widely in Lincolnshire growing again, whether coppiced as a resource, for amenity, for wildlife or for one of the many other good reasons to grow willow.

Alison’s background is teaching arts to people of differing ages and abilities working regularly with communities and organisations and their gardens. Alison also regularly teaches willow weaving workshops here at The Ropewalk. Training in basketry led Alison to use these techniques to create small- and large-scale pieces, from woodpeckers to sculptural shelters which she creates to commission.

Alison Read – Print

Brought up on a farm, Alison studied art at Newcas­tle University before running the Printmaking Work­shop at Lincoln University for nine years, where she also completed her MA Degree before becoming a full-time artist.