CLOSE TO THE WIND

In Close to the Wind, artists Jo Ewing, Jane McCulla and Jan Valentine Priestley and antique map expert, Paul Arnold navigate marine themes through paintings, ceramics and maps. As a nautical expression, sailing close to the wind is when a boat is steered as near as possible to the direction of the airstream. Executed correctly, the vessel will speed along at full sail. Make a minor error, and the boat will lose wind and slow. The risks and exhilaration of this approach are akin to the leap of faith required to make art.