§ Mel Howse, 'Poverty Over' sculpture, 2010, enamel on steel, 220cm high, bowl 120cm diameter, This sculpture was made for and is being sold by Christian Aid. "Poverty: lack of money, food, shelter - but ultimately about inequality and lack of power. This piece explores the gap between those who are living in poverty and those who are not. Here are two circular vessels. The most conspicuous of these, a vertically oriented shallow lens, represents the human eye. It stares challengingly at us. The eye is society's conscience. Beneath sits a deep bowl, it's interior hidden from us. If we come closer we see another eye looking up from it's base. This is the eye of the poor - unseen from a distance and lost as we walk away. This eye requires more from us to get our attention. The juxtaposition of the two vessels implies that one vessel brings attention to the other. In essence they are the same. Poverty is staring at us and can be uncomfortable to witness. But once we have seen, the challenge is to act." The piece was commissioned in 2010 by Christian Aid who exhibited it throughout the cathedrals of Britain over a three year period. It was launched at Southwark Cathedral by Loretta Minghella. The surreal sculpture animated their campaign about poverty, drawing in visitors to see a unique and unusual piece of work formed of two huge enamelled vessels which are in the form of eyes internally. It is made from spun steel and fired industrial enamels. The sculpture is by contemporary glass artist and enameller Mel Howse. It features we believe, the largest hand worked enamelled bowl ever made at a diameter of approximately 1.2m and 600mm deep. Mel is an experimental glass artist who pushes the boundaries within her commissions. Her largest work is a 500m2 glass façade for a Sainsbury flagship store - hand made in fired enamels. Her most unusual piece is the The Artbath in cast iron and vitreous enamel. She has long worked in industrial environments to create glass art despite scale. The auctioneer's are waiving their vendor's commission on the sale to benefit Christian Aid