root & cause

 "One of the pleasures for me during the last year has been to visit Paul and to trace the evolution of his engagement with the Cathedral through the drawings and models, the bits of writing and the stacks of books that have gradually accumulated around his studio at Three Cocks Lane.

Norman Chatfield
Residentiary Canon

"He has used the opportunity of the Residency to immerse himself in the life of this great mediaeval cathedral, its past as well as its present.  His close, almost daily contact with the fabric of the cathedral has deepened an already incipient interest in mediaeval art and architecture as a reflection of mediaeval thought.

Professor Peter Wheeler

quotations from Root and Cause, published by Sarah Myerscough Fine Art

Piece for Lakeside

This is a piece made for, and recently re-installed, at the Lakeside Arts Centre at Nottingham University following the extensive tram developments.  Its an elegant work in black marble and dates from the period following the artist's relocation from Cheltenham to London following the residency at Gloucester Cathedral.  When originally sited next to the small pond at the city side of the Centre the sympathetic mature shrubbery around it shielded it from the busy dual carriageway.  At present it is a little more exposed, however the replanting should take care of this as it develops and the work benefits from good views from the passing tram.

Ideally the piece might also benefit from re-gilding though given the age of the work it has stood up to the elements quite well.

Drawings

Paul Mason was a prolific draughtsman - not for the sculptures themselves (such drawings are few and infrequent other than occasionally for public art works) but more as a practice in its own right. In the 00's this practice took on a major role with a great deal of resulting work, some on a relatively large scale. Indeed the number and variety of works is such that identifying them all as regards titles and/or dates is difficult.

This is one such work - it measures 99 x 68.5 cms and is drawn in charcoal. It deploys frottage to convey part of the surface texture and uses a wild and relatively uncontrolled range of marks to suggest a whirling vortex. The imagery is such that it might date from the period 2000 to 2001 when Mason was Artist In Residence at Gloucester Cathedral - it bears resemblance to the sculpture Root.