Victoria Musson 22/03/73 - 11/07/22

Victoria Musson as artist in residence with her larger than life straw figures; as part of the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic’s Midsummer event in 2018.

Victoria Musson 22/03/73 - 11/07/22

Old Earth and Magic : I use the landscape as the inspiration for my artistic creations. Each piece that is created is made to breathe a magic of its very own. The spirit of place and the magic of the landscape are encapsulated in my craft. Folklore and ancient traditions are also primary in my artistic creations. I work in harmony with the seasons and use natural fibre as the main source of material. The farming year and seasonal calendar is of great significance as I hand gather, reap and sow my own working medium. I specialise in working in the old Arte of Straw and making Harvest Home dolls, effigies, idols and figures with a contemporary twist on an old pre christian tradition.

The above was taken directly from Victoria’s website. I wanted to honour her here, as she recently lost her long battle with Breast Cancer. In the process, we have all lost a visionary straw artist; one many of you may not even be aware of?

I blissfully stumbled upon her work some years back and was amazed with what she was creating! I wrote to her and we ended up becoming friends. Sadly, we never actually met, although we had many interesting conversations over the phone, as we also shared many other mutual interests; especially working magically with the straw.

Victorias wonderful straw images created for the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, in Cornwall.

Victoria was born in Ticknall, a small village in South Derbyshire and was recently laid to rest in the hills above the very farm where she had grown up as a child. She told me shortly before she passed that she wanted to be buried with the last sheaf of corn from her families crop; and laid to rest with her ancestors; near her favourite wood, where numerous Viking burials had also been discovered.

Victoria helping to bring in the annual harvest at her families farm in Derbyshire.

Victoria came from a farming family in a very rural area; saying; ”The harvest was and is always an important and extremely busy time of the year that we all take part in.” Her art began with traditional harvest Corn dollies, but soon took a more contemporary variation. Victoria had studied Fine Arts at the University of Derby and was very interested in textiles and soon developed into using natural fibres; especially straw. Later she moved to Swadlincote. After her degree she commented: “I like to create works that have appeal for both design and folk tradition. I use the barley, oats and wheat we grow in the family fields. I personally harvest my own natural fibre by hand. I reap with a hand sickle, scythe or even a pair of scissors.”

Victoria learned some the old traditional straw craft methods, but always preferred to add her own contemporary twist to her art. She was inspired to create art through all that is natural. Calling herself a ‘Folk Artist’; a student of the traditional ways, a rural folklorist and teacher of straw craft and natural fibre art. Working closely with and in the rural landscape and the changing seasons. Her work a strong reflection of what she felt and also found in nature. Her work touched a nerve of something ancient, indigenous, tribal and sacred.

Until her illness, Victoria would hand reap the first and last cut of grains each year before they are commercially cut. The fertility of the land in folklore and practice is a theme that is richly entwined within her work.

“Each year and season is different she said, and thus results in an array of unique colours and textures of fibre. I use the earth, the sandy soils and the rich iron clays of the area, the trees from Oak to Silver Birch, the flowers and herbs of the hedgerows and feathers and bones found, that come to rest upon the land”.

So it seems only fitting that now, so does Victoria come to rest upon and within the landscape she loved and worked with for so long.

May you finally rest in peace within the Elysian Fields my dear Victoria. Blessings,

Melanie Lorien )0(