05 Apr — 07 Jun 2025
The Picture Room, Newlyn Art Gallery
THE DANCE OF THE MERRY MAIDENS
Alice Kilpatrick empowers herself through her artistic practice by becoming her own muse.
For this new series, The Dance of The Merry Maidens, each painting corresponds directly to one of the 19 granite megaliths that form the Merry Maidens Neolithic stone circle in Lamorna, Cornwall.
All 19 paintings were made during the nine months of her pregnancy with her first child, to honour the end of her maidenhood and the beginning of motherhood. With each painting, Kilpatrick engaged in an act of summoning an ancestor from her maternal bloodline, honouring the birth of every female who came before her. The oval shape of each piece is reminiscent of pregnancy and the egg, with the red ribbon each maiden holds onto symbolising the umbilical cord.
Many believe the significance of 19 standing stones connects to the 19-year cycle of the moon, known as the Metonic cycle. This would connect the stone circles deeply to the cycle of fertility, pregnancy and birth.
These paintings are a series of devotional works, created in honour of our maternal ancestors, and channelled through our ancient granite landscape that held them.
All works are for sale. Price list coming soon and selected works will be available from our online shop.
MEET THE ARTIST
FRI 4 APR, 16.00 – 19.00
Join us for a special event to celebrate the opening of The Dance of The Merry Maidens, and for an introduction to the work from Alice.
FREE ENTRY, and all welcome.
Venue: The Picture Room, Newlyn Art Gallery
Find on Map
Open: TUE - SAT, 10.00 - 16.00
Follow the Exhibition
Instagram: @newlynexchange
