Ceres Gallery

Several years ago, sculptor Lynne Mayocole spent New Years in Prague. On the ice covered sidewalks, below the holiday crowds, beggars knelt, arms outstretched, palms open and crossed, silently asking for alms. They were everywhere, all wearing hoodies which concealed most of their faces. Each, Lynne felt, became a symbol of all who reached out for help.

Returning to her Soho studio, Lynne began a series of beggar sculptures, resulting in the current installation. Most adopt the crouching position she saw in Prague. They crawl up walls, they beg (hopelessly) from each other, they kneel on horseback (if wishes were horses, beggars could ride), one even appears to "escape" by breaking through the gallery ceiling.

The most recent part of the Installation was inspired by the tale of the 7 beggars by Rabbi Nachman. The seven, five foot tree-like totems, watch protectively over the two children from that tale.

In addition to the sculptures, accordion pen and ink drawings take the place of baseboards in the Gallery or hang in a long scroll, depicting the "Beggar's Tree". Poems by the artist and anecdotes round out the show.