Spring is the season of new life, and after the equinox our world explodes with vitality: seeds germinate, eggs hatch and animals give birth. The Mad March Hare literally jumps for joy (or so it seems to us) in a burst of high spirits.
Eggs, obvious symbols of fertility, played an important part in pre-Christian festivals of spring, and the traditional association of eggs with new life is echoed in the modern day celebration of Easter.
However, intensive farming, destruction of habitat and urban growth all have far-reaching effects on wildlife and the Brown Hare – our most poignant symbol of spring – is now in major decline. So too are many of the most common British birds.
This exhibition celebrated the popular Brown Hare – still a familiar sight in the Suffolk countryside near Halesworth – alongside beautifully painted depictions of birds’ eggs and nests.
Artists contributing to this exhibition included Jan Adgie, Kate and Hannah Breach, Marie Brown, David Cemmick, Leo du Feu, Yvonne Forster, Ian Griffiths, Izzy Hutchison, Yvonne Lamden Cooper, Lesley Pyke, Susan Smith, Mary Woodin and Jonathan Yule.
Exhibition Dates & Opening Times: March Hares & Easter Eggs opened at World Land Trust gallery in Halesworth on 28 March 2013. Opening hours were: Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, also Easter Saturday 10am - 3pm. The gallery was closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday and the exhibition ended on 26 April 2013.