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an exhibition of the
works of David Blackwood
March 29 to April 22, 2003
Opening Reception March 29, 2:00 to 5:00 pm
The origin of the Christmas
tradition of 'Mummering' can be traced back to celebrations of the
Twelve Days of Christmas in the Middle Ages, and these traditions were
probably derived from much earlier Druidic rituals surrounding the
winter solstice. Mummering began on the night of Boxing Day and
continued until January 6. Groups of mummers would wander from village
to village at night, playing the fool and calling on a house with a
measured, ceremonial knock and the invocation "Any mummers allowed
in?" The mummers would be admitted to the kitchen and questioned to
guess their identity. Once their true identity was guessed they were
required to throwback the veil or mask and expose or 'unveil'. They
would then be offered a drink or their 'Christmas' a plate of cakes and
a glass of cordial. In repayment the mummers were expected to entertain
before they headed out for the next house.
Very rarely you would hear reports
of a 'Lone Mummer' appearing in a remote community as it was hard to
imagine anyone undertaking such a visit alone in the dead of winter. In
fact, this kind of sighting was a dreaded event, which stirred ancient
and instinctive superstitions against outsiders, the archetype of the
'Stranger'. A lone mummer was so unlikely and threatening that it was
always referred to as a 'Spirit' and was a certain sign of impending
death in the New Year. Actual encounters with lone mummers did happen
once or twice every ten years.
The home-made entertainments in
Newfoundland began to disappear with the arrival of radio and
television. By the time the National Film Board came to Wesleyville to
make the film 'Blackwood' in 1973, mummering had disappeared entirely
and was re-enacted for the film.
-excerpt from 'Mummering in
Newfoundland' by David Blackwood.
Order
the Catalogue Online
Order
the Poster Online
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Beautiful Young Mummer in
Margaret Feltham's House
Etching and aquatint1985
20 X 16 inches
Lone Mummer Approaching
1976 Etching and aquatint
20 X 32 inches
Great Mummer
1989 Etching and aquatint
24 X 20 inches
Great Mummer Unveiled
2002 Etching and aquatint
12 X 18 inches
Lone Mummer Inside
1979 Etching and aquatint
28 X 22 inches
Mummer Family at the Door
1985 Etching and aquatint
36 X 24 inches
Mummer in Lantern Light
1993 Etching and aquatint
14 X 11 inches
Young Mummer from
Wesleyville
1983 Etching and aquatint
14 X 11 inches
Pound Cove Mummers
Crossing Cold Harbour Pond,
1985 Etching and aquatint
20 x 32 inches
Mummer Group from Pound
Cove
1975 Etching and aquatint
8 X 10 inches
Young Mummer Dressing
1976 Etching and aquatint
11 X 14 inches
Three Mummers on Winsor's
Point
1979 Etching and aquatint
20 X 32 inches
Portrait of Heber Fifield
as a Great Mummer
2000 Etching and aquatint
36 X 24 inches
Study for Heber Fifield as
a Great Mummer
2000 Etching and aquatint
14 X 11 inches
Old Mummer Unveiled
1983 Etching and aquatint
5 x 31/2 inches
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Lone Mummer with Cat
Etching with aquatint 1987
28 X 22 inches
Study for Lone Mummer with
Cat: Hands
1987, Etching and aquatint
11 x 14 inches
Study for Lone Mummer with
Cat: Head
1987, Etching and aquatint
11 x 14 inches
Study for Lone Mummer with
Cat: Moon
1987, Etching and aquatint
11 x 14 inches
Fallen Mummer on
Brookfield Marsh
1996 Etching and aquatint
9 X 12 inches
Study for Fallen Mummer on
Brookfield Marsh
1996 Pencil on Paper
137/8 X 193/4 inches
Mummer at Dresser
1986 Pencil on Paper
19 X 213/4 inches
Pound Cove Mummer Unveiled
2003 Pencil on paper
101/4 x 81/2 inches
Elijah Mullett as a Mummer
Unveiled
2003 Ink drawing on paper
8 x 133/4 inches
Pound Cove Mummer
2001 Pen drawing
97/8 x 73/8 inches
Study for Lone Mummer
1970 Pencil on paper
141/2 x 91/4 inches
Nana Bishop as a Mummer
Unveiled
2001 Pen Drawing
77/8 X 133/4 inches
Self Portrait as a
Young Mummer
2002, Oil tempera on panel
20 x 16 inches. HOME PAGE |
