A Sawdust Trail Talk/Show at the Westminster Reference Library October 2009

A Sawdust Trail


At the opening parade of a Sawdust Trail, Baccara Smart will show her work, on life in the circus, as ringmistress, Yasmine Smart, will conduct her speech on her own account, of living the circus life.
Sawdust Trail, reflects on circus life inside and out of the ring. Paintings depict the circus community and photographs, will show the performers in the spotlight of the in the ring. Baccara's paintings epitomise the snapshots, that make up our memories of a lost circus era, however, close examination reveals her ability to twist what seems to be discernible and reassuring into something that is unnerving and unsettling.
This cultural, iconic form of performance, has played a indispensable role in our cultural society, raising issues of racial diversity to gender difference and from animalized human beings to humanized animals.

After graduating from City & Guilds of London art college, Baccara's work has been shown in institutions from, The Princes Trust Mask charity, at the Royal Festival Hall, The British Film Institute for HP Photography, The Courtauld Institute, The ICA and Galerie Morgen, in Berlin. For 2010, Baccara will be part of the Elephant Parade, the capitals biggest outdoor art event, in aid of the Asian elephant, then onto Henley Festival and lastly Spain, for the Arts-Relief auction.

http://baccarasmart.com/

http://www.galerie-morgen.com/



Yasmine first presented a liberty routine when she was ten years old, and was presented with her first horse when she was thirteen. Yasmine was then tutored in the art of horse training by John Gindel. For the past twenty years, she and the horses have travelled throughout Europe and America, and their work in the circus horse shows, have always been an equal demonstration of horsemanship and glamour. Yasmine was the first British circus artist to be awarded in Monte-Carlo and remains the only artist to be awarded three times.

From 1995 - 2003 Yasmine was at Circus Roncalli, in Germany, appearing in 2002 at Circus Knie, Germany. In 2004 - 2008 Yasmine was based in New York in the Big Apple Circus. 2007, she was on the jury at the Monte Carlo Festival and the returning to Europe for 2008. Yasmines next base will be Giffords Circus for the new 2010 season.

http://www.yasminesmart.com/

http://www.giffordscircus.com/