Grayson Perry at Cannon Hall Museum

Cannon Hall Museum is excited to announce a very special arrival to the stunning Georgian Country house.

From Saturday, 19 October until Sunday 22 December visitors have the unique opportunity to see a spotlight loan by Turner Prize winner 2003, Grayson Perry.

‘Spirit Jar’ will be on display at the free to enter museum in the Cracking Ceramics! project space funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, delivered through the Museums Association. With funding of £88,100 over three years, the project has made accessible the Museum’s beautiful ceramics collection through changing exhibitions, activities for families and young people and new digital interpretation. The final themed exhibition of the project is ‘Mythical Creatures’ exploring the dragons, mermaids and legendary creatures which adorn many pieces in the collection. ‘Spirit Jar’ is loaned by the Arts Council Collection and will take centre stage in the Mythical Creatures display.  The beautiful piece has been decorated with intricate and highly charged images that subvert the domesticity usually associated with ceramics.

Perry recently wrote:

When I made “Spirit Jar” one of my bugbears was “Spirituality” which I still find “problematic” as they say in the art world. Woolly mysticism has always annoyed me more so than ever in these “Da Vinci Code” days.

Grayson Perry was catapulted into the public consciousness in 2003 for winning the Turner Prize, and for accepting his award in the guise of his alter ego, Claire. As part of the Cracking Ceramics! project and in partnership with the Arts Council Collection, Barnsley Museums are delighted to bring one of the world’s most influential ceramic artists to Cannon Hall Museum.

Born in Chelmsford, Essex, in 1960, Perry is a chronicler of contemporary life, drawing us in with affecting sentiment and nostalgia as well as, at times, fear and anger. His work tackles subjects that are universally human: gender, social status, sexuality, religion.

More recently, Perry has reached new audiences through his TV programmes by exploring themes such as identity, including his latest series Grayson Perry: Rites of Passage currently airing on Channel 4.

Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place (Regeneration and Culture) says:

Once again Barnsley Museums have gone above and beyond bringing such high calibre and high profile artists to our town.  To have a Turner Prize winner on display in Cannon Hall Museum is an incredibly proud moment.  Such a beautiful piece will not only attract people from Barnsley but from further afield and we look forward to welcoming visitors.