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Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Alma Berrow, Take a Pew, 2024

Alma Berrow

Take a Pew, 2024
Earthenware and wood
Pew: 48 x 91 x 86 cm
Cushion: 14 x 26 x 6 cm
Open book: 20 x 27 x 5 cm
Closed book: 19 x 13 x 3 cm
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The title, 'Take a Pew,' invites viewers to engage with the work's playful double meaning, bridging the gap between the sacred and the profane, the serious and the humorous. It...
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The title, "Take a Pew," invites viewers to engage with the work's playful double meaning, bridging the gap between the sacred and the profane, the serious and the humorous. It encapsulates the journey from childhood rebellion to adult reflection, celebrating the complex relationship between personal growth, faith, and the enduring power of laughter.

"This work is an ode to my early years spent in church, often unwillingly. My mother, determined, would bring me there week after week, despite my kicking and screaming. Yet, in those moments of resistance, I also found joy—in drawing, singing, and being part of a community. Religion, which I experienced as a rigid, austere space, left little room for humor or play. By my twenties, I had distanced myself from both faith and the church, finding them difficult to reflect on. Now, however, I’ve found a way back, able to recall those moments with a sense of warmth and laughter. I remember the out-of-tune singers, the uncontrollable giggles shared with my sisters or cousins, and endless hours of drawing. I remember the juice and biscuits after service, and the sense of community that surrounded it all. The kneeler, embroidered with “Hairy Mary full of grace... and Alma,” reflects the childhood jokes I made during evening prayers with my mum and older sister, Grace. The high of 4 year old humour. The Bible in the installation holds historical misprints—errors that have led to confusion and sometimes unintended humor. Examples include: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom?” “Go and sin on more.” “Thou shalt commit adultery,” among others. These errors remind us of the human fallibility in even the holiest of texts. Atop the Bible sits a saint card for St. Bonaventure, the patron saint of bowel movements—a subtle wink at the dual nature of this piece" – Alma Berrow
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