Portraits

Our recent exhibition at St Paul's Goodmayes included three portraits of local clerics: Michael Creasey exhibited a striking portrait of The Rt. Revd. David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking, in reflective pose; Henry Shelton showed his portrait of Fr. Benjamin Rutt-Field, Vicar of St Paul's Goodmayes; while Peter Webb included his quirky painted wood relief portrait of Rev. Jonathan Evens.

Portraits are an aspect of the work by our artists which is not well known currently but, in which, several of our artists possess considerable expertise. Peter Webb, for example, has been working on a series of painted and also wood relief portraits as a fundraising project for St Mary's Woodford, while the characters in his major paintings for church settings, such as The Denial at St Mary's Woodford are often based on life studies.

c4m's Goodmayes exhibition

Painted wood relief portrait of Rev. Jonathan Evens by Peter Webb

St Jerome by Ross Ashmore

Tree of Life by Danielle Lovesey

Among the works which can be seen at the next commission4mission exhibition (St Paul's Goodmayes, 1st - 7th July, 10.00am - 4.00pm daily) are three portraits of local clerics: Michael Creasey will exhibit a portrait of The Rt. Revd. David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking; Henry Shelton will show his portrait of Fr. Benjamin Rutt-Field, Vicar of St Paul's Goodmayes; while Peter Webb will include his painted wood relief portrait of Rev. Jonathan Evens, commission4mission's Secretary. Other works which can be seen include an impressive series of large impasto paintings by Ross Ashmore based on works by Michelangelo and Carravagio, plus work by Danielle Lovesey, our newest member.

c4m newsletter No. 9

The Bishop of Barking dedicated Viki Isherwood Metzler’s mosaic

Newly completed commissions

Two mosaics, commissioned as part of the development of the community garden at St Johns Seven Kings, were dedicated in October by the Bishop of Barking. Envisaged as bold, bright works to catch the eye of passers by and draw them into the green space of the garden, Viki Isherwood Metzler’s Graffiti Love is displayed on the East wall of the church, while Sergiy Shkanov added a mosaic to the Trinity sculpture in the remembrance area of the garden. This design of circular and triangular lines connecting three granite shapes symbolises the constant exchange and interconnections within the Godhead.

A second set of etched windows have been installed at All Saint's Hutton completing our second commission at this church. These windows, as with the earlier commission, were etched by Richard Paton to designs by Henry Shelton. The windows feature symbols of the four Evangelists complementing the earlier set of windows in the opposite screen which features symbols of seven Saints.

The value of public art

The value of public art came under discussion at St Paul's Harlow during a study day, organised by commission4mission and supported by both Art and Christianity Enquiry and the Harlow Art Trust. Delegates heard from The Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking, and Benedict Read, Trustee of the Harlow Art Trust and Deputy Chairman of the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association.

Bishop David argued that our towns and cities are increasingly dominated by multi-national brands and images that overtake communities visually and commercially. Within this context, "Public art helps to create the identity of a place by providing a rallying point around which people can be formed, as well as providing an opportunity to look beyond the humdrum in order to live better lives with more inspiration.”

Benedict Read summarised the history of public art in the West to set in context the outstanding collection of public art in Harlow: "In their context, Harlow's commissions placed an emphasis on restoring the social fabric. Sir Frederick Gibberd saw public sculpture as a sign of civilisation and much public art is about exploring what should be valued in society.”

Delegates visited the Gibberd Gallery to see the John Mills retrospective and the Frederick Gibberd Collection of British watercolours and drawings before taking a tour of the Town Centre sculptures. An art workshop for members of St Paul's was led by Dr Philip Jenson of Ridley Hall and commission4mission artist, Robert Enoch. Participants planned a freize for St Paul’s telling the big story of the Bible to which the congregation and the wider community will be able to contribute. We ended with a cream tea at St Mary's Little Parndon.

A127 Art Trail exhibition

Harvey Bradley curated the latest commission4mission exhibition held at St Mary Magdalen Billericay in September as part of the A127 Art Trail. The exhibition included work by Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Caroline Richardson, Henry Shelton,  Joy Rousell Stone together with a number  of exciting sculptural works by Vin Harrop, founder of the Basildon Arts Trust and Heritage Director in Basildon.

Member profile: Anne Creasey

Anne Creasey is a textile artist and embroiderer working in a variety of styles from traditional to abstract and experimental. She is very interested in helping people discover their spirituality through the creative process. Her work includes traditional embroidery, appliqué with painted fabric and includes a large range of materials, from yarns and threads to plastic bags. If it can be sewn down, it can be used!

Run With The Fire

The 25 international artists participating in Run With The Fire have completed their works and the DVD displaying those works as a virtual exhibition is being compiled. The DVD will come together with a guide to setting up art events and will cost £50.00. Copies of the DVD can be ordered from Jonathan Evens – tel: 020 8599 2170 or email: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com.

Christmas exhibition  

c4m will be exhibiting at the Tokarska Gallery in Walthamstow  throughout December - Thursdays – Saturdays,  12 noon – 7.00pm. The Private View will be from 6.00pm on Saturday 3^rd December. See http://tokarskagallery.co.uk/.

Dedication of mosaics

The Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking and patron of commission4mission, dedicated new mosaics, commissioned through commission4mission, at St John's Seven Kings today. The dedication took place at the end of the Patronal Festival service for St John's.

The two mosaics were commissioned as part of the development of the community garden at St Johns. They were envisaged as bold, bright works to catch the eye of passers by and draw them into the green space of the garden. Viki Isherwood Metzler has re-created her Graffiti Love design for display on the East wall of the church, while Sergiy Shkanov has added a mosaic to the Trinity sculpture in the remembrance area of the garden. This design of circular and triangular lines connecting three granite shapes is intended to symbolise the constant exchange and interconnections within the Godhead.

Completed commission: St John's mosaics

A commission for two mosaics at St John's Seven Kings has been completed today in readiness for their dedication by Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking, during tomorrow's Patronal Festival service at the church.

The mosaics complete work that the church has carried out to create a community garden and will also feature in both the local Church art trail and the art trail for the Barking Episcopal Area.

Graffiti Love by Viki Isherwood Metzler has been installed on the east wall of the church, where it can be seen by passers-by on the busy Aldborough Road South. The second mosaic is by Sergiy Shkanov and forms part of a Trinity sculpture, designed by the community garden planning group, for the remembrance area of the community garden.  

The value of public art

The value of public art was under discussion yesterday at St Paul's Harlow with delegates to a commission4mission study day touring the Gibberd Gallery and Harlow Town Centre sculptures as examples of good practice in public planning.

Those attending the study day, organised by commission4mission and supported by both Art and Christianity Enquiry and the Harlow Art Trust, heard from the Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking, and Benedict Read, Trustee of the Harlow Art Trust and Deputy Chairman of the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association.

Bishop David argued that our towns and cities are increasingly dominated by multi-national brands and images that overtake communities visually and commercially. Within this context, "Public art helps to create the identity of a place by providing a rallying point around which people can be formed, as well as providing an opportunity to look beyond the humdrum in order to live better lives with more inspiration."

In his presentation, Benedict Read summarised the history of public art in the West in order to set in context the outstanding collection of public art in Harlow: "In their context, Harlow's commissions placed an emphasis on restoring the social fabric. Sir Frederick Gibberd saw public sculpture as a sign of civilisation and much public art is about exploring what should be valued in society."

Delegates visited the Gibberd Gallery to see the current John Mills retrospective and the Frederick Gibberd Collection of British watercolours and drawings before taking a tour of the Town Centre sculptures. An art workshop for members of St Paul's Harlow was led by Dr Philip Jenson of Ridley Hall and commission4mission artist, Robert Enoch. The workshop was used to plan a freize for St Paul's Harlow telling the big story of the Bible to which the congregation and the wider community will be able to contribute in future. The day ended with a cream tea at St Mary's Little Parndon.

St Paul's Harlow is a key part of the artistic heritage of Harlow being a modernist church designed by Humphrys and Hurst which includes an impressive mosaic by John Piper, on the theme of the Emmaus Road. St Paul's is also, as a result, one of the churches which features in the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area. Recognising the significance of the Arts to Harlow and wanting to contribute to the understanding and development of public art in the Town Centre were two of the reasons why St Paul's Harlow chose to host this study day and involve commission4mission in exploring new possibilities for artwork in the church building. A photographic display, which can still be seen at the church, had also been commissioned to show hidden aspects and unusual perspectives of the church building as part of stimulating thought and encouraging fresh thinking. 

For more on the presentations at this study day click here and here.

Forthcoming events and exhibitions

Our Study Day on the value of public art will be at St Paul's Harlow (http://www.stpaulsharlow.org.uk/) on Saturday 17th September from 10.00am - 5.00pm.

Speakers at the event include the Rt. Revd. David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking, and Benedict Read, Visiting Research Fellow, School of Fine Art, University of Leeds, Trustee Harlow Art Trust, Deputy Chairman Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Benedict has published and lectured on British sculpture since 1974. Presentations during the day include 'The value of public art to Harlow' and 'The spiritual value of public art'.

Participants will also be able to tour the Gibberd Gallery (to see the John Mills retrospective & the Frederick Gibberd Collection of British watercolours and drawings - http://www.visitharlow.com/places-to-visit--things-to-do/art-galleries,-theatres-and-live-music/the-gibberd-gallery) and Harlow Town Centre's sculptures (http://www.visitharlow.com/places-to-visit--things-to-do/harlow-sculpture-collection/the-collection). Local participants will take part in an art workshop led by commission4mission members, Robert Enoch and Jonathan Evens, designed to contribute to new artwork at St Paul's Harlow. The day will end with a cream tea at St Mary's Parndon.

To register for the Study Day contact tel: 020 8599 2170 or email: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com. There is no charge for this event. For more information see http://commissionformission.blogspot.com/.

c4m exhibition

commission4mission members will be exhibiting at St Mary Magdalen Billericay (http://www.billericaychurches.org/html/st_mary_magdalen.html) from 9th - 18th September (10.00am - 5.00pm), as part of the A127 Art Trail (http://www.a127trail.com/). Our exhibition will feature work by work by Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Caroline Richardson, Henry Shelton and Joy Rousell Stone. Work by Vin Harrop can also be seen at the same venue.

Stations of the Cross

Three commission4mission members - Valerie Dean, Rosalind Hore and Henry Shelton - have completed series of Stations of the Cross and would be interested to discuss the possibility of these being located in local churches. To discuss this possibilty further and to see images from each series, please contact tel: 020 8599 2170 or email: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com. The series by Henry Shelton is being exhibited as part of the E17 Art Trail this month (see below).

Members' exhibitions

c4m associate, Rev. Steven Saxby writes: "The E17 Art Trail programme is just out. Once again we have a wide selection of top quality work at St Barnabas Walthamstow (Venue 76 - http://www.saintbarnabaswalthamstow.co.uk/) and some excellent work, including Henry Shelton's Stations of the Cross, coming into St Saviour's Walthamstow (Venue 77 - http://www.saintsaviourswalthamstow.co.uk/). The link for the programme with all the listings for both churches and all other venues is http://www.e17arttrail.co.uk/index.php?page=97&name=Exhibition.

Work being shown at St Barnabas this year includes banners, cartoons, flower arrangements, jewellery, photograms, photographs, silver. Artists include: Rebecca de Quin, Lorraine Huddle, Lano, Louise Loder, Anna Newson-Lyons, Sean Pines, J.A. Saxby, Kirsten Schmidt, Sandra Shevlin, Simplystems, Paul Tucker. St Saviour's will also show paintings by Elizabeth Pell and soft sculptures by Harriet Hammel.

The Tokarska Gallery (http://tokarskagallery.co.uk/), run by c4m member Nadiya Pavliv Tokarska, is also taking part in the E17 Art Trail. Cognitive Congestion is a group show featuring: Allen Browne, Punk Recruit, Fiona McGregor, Patrick O'Sullivan, and Nadiya Pavliv-Tokarska. This exhibition continues until 11 September, 12 noon – 7.00pm. 12p

Two c4m members - Michael Creasey and Peter Webb - have works in the forthcoming exhibition by the National Association of Painters, Sculptors & Printmakers (http://www.nationalsociety.org/) at the Menier Gallery, Ground Floor, Menier Chocolate Factory, 51 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU.  The exhibition runs from September 14th to 24th (11.00am - 6.00pm), and the private view is on the 14th September, from 5 to 8.30pm.

Jonathan Evens will be showing a specially shot set of photographs - taken in and around St Paul's Harlow - from my Windows on the World series at St Paul's Harlow during the Study Day there on 17th September. From 8th - 22nd September a selection of my paintings and photographs will be on show in the c4m exhibition space at All Saints West Ham (http://www.westhamchurch.org.uk/). 

Clorinda Goodman has two pieces in the Wanstead Art Trail (11th - 25th September 2011 - http://www.artgroupwanstead.com/01/art_trail_wanstead_2011.html). 'Eagle beset by hound' is a drawing in sanguine chalk which can be seen in the gallery at the George Pub, while 'Head of Aurora' will be displayed in St Mary's, Wanstead Park.

c4m exhibition and Study Day

The next commission4mission exhibition will include work by Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Caroline Richardson, Henry Shelton and Joy Rousell Stone and will be held at St Mary Magdalen Billericay from 9th - 18th September (10.00am - 5.00pm). This exhibition is being organised for the A127 Art Trail.

Our next Study Day is taking place on Saturday 17th September at St Paul's Harlow, College Square, Harlow CM20 1LP. Exploring the value of public art, the day will feature input from the Bishop of Barking, Harlow Art Trust and Art and Christianity Enquiry plus opportunities to view the public art of Harlow Sculpture Town (including a tour of Harlow Town Centre sculptures and a visit to the Gibberd Gallery to see the John Mills retrospective and the Frederick Gibberd Collection of British watercolours and drawings). The day will end with a cream tea at St Mary's Parndon. To register contact – tel: 020 85992170 or email: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com.

Newsletter No. 8 – July 2011

commission4mission exhibition, Crypt Gallery at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Exhibitions @ St Martin-in-the-Fields & the Leytonstone Festival

Our exhibition in the Crypt Gallery at St Martin-in-the-Fields (4th – 17th July) was designed to encourage the commissioning of contemporary Christian art as 16 of our artists showed work in a variety of media, including cartoons, concept drawings, fused glass, paintings, reliefs and textiles, and new roll-up banners provided examples of some completed commissions and information about the commissioning process.

Contributing artists include Adam Boulter, Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Ally Clarke, Anne Creasey, Valerie Dean, Jonathan Evens, Viki Isherwood-Metzler, Mark Lewis, Nadiya Pavliv-Tokarska, Caroline Richardson, Janet Roberts, Henry Shelton, Sergiy Shkanov, Joy Rousell Stone and Peter Webb.

A well attended private view was followed by significant numbers viewing the exhibition. Comments made included: “Great variation and imagination”; “beautiful and interesting”; “a creative combination of art – materials, textures and colours”; “deserves lots of visitors, looking forward to the next exhibition and a growing network of Christian artists!”

A smaller commission4mission exhibition was also held at Holy Trinity with St Augustine of Hippo Leytonstone (14th - 20th July) as part of the Leytonstone Festival and the Barking Episcopal Area Art Festival.

The exhibition included work by Colin Burns, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Caroline Richardson, Henry Shelton and Joy Rousell Stone. Also able to be seen as part of this exhibition were a set of intricate Stations of the Cross by Barbara Sampson and Scenes from the life of St Augustine, a concrete frieze by the sculptor Stephen Sykes.

c4m AGM

We held our AGM on Wednesday 20th July at Holy Trinity with St Augustine of Hippo Leytonstone and heard presentations from Dr Graham Gould on Scenes from the life of St Augustine, a concrete frieze by the sculptor Stephen Sykes, and Mark Lewis speaking on the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area, before agreeing a revised constitution designed to enable us to register as a charity.

Annual charitable donation

We have recently made our annual charitable donation accrued over the previous financial year from our commissions and sales. Following our first full year of operation we were able to make a donation of £2,700 to the children's hospice, Haven House. This year we have donated £1,568 split between Sightsavers and SmileTrain. Sightsavers is a charity which works to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people in the developing world. SmileTrain is focused on solving a single problem - cleft lip and palate - by providing free cleft surgery for poor children in developing countries.

Member profile: Joy Rousell Stone


Joy studied under John Nash, Edward Bawden, Stanley Spencer and Edward Ardizzone at the Royal College of Art. She has had many one man shows. Her favourite subject matters are: The Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Italy (especially Assisi) and USA. She works in all media and is the retired Head of Art & Design at The Plume School, Maldon.

Study day: The value of public art

A study day, organised by c4m, featuring input from the Bishop of Barking, Harlow Art Trust and Art & Christianity Enquiry plus opportunities to view the public art of Harlow Sculpture Town (e.g. Harlow Sculpture Trail, Gibberd Gardens, Parndon Mill etc.) will be held on Saturday 17th September at St Paul’s Harlow. To register contact – tel: 020 85992170 or email: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com.

Forthcoming exhibitions @ St Mary’s Billericay (9th – 18th September) and Tokarska Gallery, Walthamstow throughout December 2011.

Study Day: The value of public art

Annual Report 2010/11

Rt. Revd. Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford launching the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area

In our second full year of operation commission4mission has consolidated its initial achievements, reviewed its strategy, and maintained its growth and development.

During 2010/11 commission4mission has:

• researched, published and launched a Church Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area;

Pottery and paintings in our ‘Peacing Together One World’ exhibition at St Mary Magdalen, Billericay

• completed commissions for artworks at All Saints Hutton, St Peter’s Harold Wood, St Edmund’s Tyseley and St Pauls Goodmayes;

• gained commissions for artworks at All Saints Hutton, St John’s Seven Kings, and St Margaret’s Great Ilford;

• maintained a changing display of member’s work at All Saints West Ham and organised exhibitions at St Mary Magdalene Billericay, St Nicholas Rawreth and as part of the West Ham Festival;

• held a networking event and a performance evening and organised a launch event for the Barking Episcopal Area Art Trail;

• worked in partnership with CANA and Veritasse to create ‘Run With The Fire’, an international art project for the London 2012 Olympics;

• completed a strategic development review resulting in work commencing to gain charity registration for commission4mission;

• expanded our membership to 38 (as at 31/03/11) and were joined by Wendy McTernan as regional co-ordinator in South/West London; and

Jonathan Evens and Henry Shelton present the c4m cheque to staff of Haven House.

• presented a cheque for £2,700 to the Haven House Children’s Hospice, this being the charitable element from our first year of operation.

We are very grateful to: all members for their support and involvement; all committee members for their direction and guidance; our Patron, Bishop David, for his ideas and interest; Rev. Helen Gheorghiu Gould for her work on our Strategic Development Review; Mark and Matt Lewis for work on the Barking Episcopal Area Art Trail; Wendy McTernan who joined us as a Regional Co-ordinator; Ranjit Solomon for his independent examination of our accounts; and to London-over-the-Border for their generous financial support of the Barking Episcopal Area Art Trail project.

Revd. Jonathan Evens, Secretary – July 2011

Congratulations: Helen Gheorghiu Gould

Our congratulations to Rev. Helen Gheorghiu Gould, who was ordained as a priest yesterday by the Bishop of Barking at St John the Baptist Epping.

Over the past year, in addition to her responsibilities in the Epping District Team Ministry, Helen has been revising commission4mission's constitution prior to our application for charitable status. Helen's proposed new c4m constitution will be discussed at our AGM on Wednesday 20th July at Holy Trinity and St Augustine of Hippo Leytonstone.

We wish Helen every blessing and pray for her in this new stage of her ordained ministry and as she continues to integrate the visual arts into that ministry:

God our Father, Lord of all the world,
through your Son you have called us into the fellowship
of your universal Church:
hear our prayer for your faithful people
that in their vocation and ministry
each may be an instrument of your love,
and give to your servants now to be ordained
the needful gifts of grace;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Partnership possibilities

The following letter has been sent to a range of arts and faith organisations by our Patron, the Bishop of Barking:

Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number and range of organizations engaging in fostering links between the Arts and Christianity (or faith communities, more generally).

This increase includes commission4mission which I, as Patron, launched in March 2009 to encourage the commissioning and placing of contemporary Christian Art in churches, as a means of fundraising for charities and as a mission opportunity for churches.

On one level this increase is exciting as it indicates a growing interest in the connections between faith and the Arts but on another level, if such growth continues, it could be seen as an additional complication for artists and those interested in the Arts to negotiate.

commission4mission intends to work in partnership with other organizations and therefore we are writing to ask whether you would be interested in either a one-to-one discussion about partnership possibilities or a broader discussion with others engaged in fostering and exploring links between faith and the Arts. We would be very interested in meeting with you to explore ideas and possibilities further.

We are aware of the establishment of the Forum for Art and Religion (FAR), which aims to represent and address the needs of those who work at the interface between Art and Religion, and are contacting FAR as part of this initiative to explore possibilities for partnership working in future.

If this invitation to meet with us is of interest to you, please respond to our secretary, Revd. Jonathan Evens (jonathan.evens@btinternet.com). We look forward to hearing from you and to the possibility of exploring some form of partnership working in future.

Launch of the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area (3)

A new Art Trail created for the Barking Episcopal Area by commission4mission with funding from London-over-the-Border was jointly launched by the Bishops of Chelmsford and Barking at St Paul’s Goodmayes on Thursday 17th February 2011.

The aim of the Art Trail is to raise awareness of the rich and diverse range of modern and contemporary arts and crafts from the last 100 years which can be found within the 36 featured churches. The significant works of art in these churches, taken collectively, represent a major contribution to the legacy of the church as an important commissioner of art.

The Rt. Revd. David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking, has said: “For centuries the Arts have been an important medium through which public communication of the faith has taken place and the Church has had a lengthy and happy marriage with the Arts.” The Art Trail demonstrates that this long relationship between the Church and the Arts continues today, as the Trail includes work by significant twentieth century artists such as Eric Gill, Hans Feibusch, John Hutton and John Piper together with contemporary work by the like of Mark Cazalet, Jane Quail and Henry Shelton.

At the launch of the Art Trail, The Rt. Revd. Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, described and interpreted a painting by Stanley Spencer, from his Christ in the Wilderness series, entitled The Scorpion, before concluding:

“I do not know what other art form could convey and hold the possibility of converging in so many layers. Not just do the visual arts comment on biblical narrative, but they illuminate it in a way that written or spoken forms cannot, being linear forms. Art opens windows on a set of concepts and ideas and brings them together. These windows offer a fresh perspective onto the faith we share, that other forms simply cannot.”

The Bishop of Barking stated that:

“Our inspiration for understanding Christianity comes from the visual arts ... The visual arts continue to be an important way of communicating our faith. Words are not enough to express the breadth, depth and height of what we want to communicate. It’s then that the visual arts express what we want to communicate.

God knew that: for centuries he relied on the words of the prophets and then he realized that he needed to send his Son to communicate in ways that words could not, the breadth, depth and height of his love. The word became flesh: the most beautiful living sculpture ever created – Jesus Christ.”

The Art Trail is being publicised through a leaflet which provides information about the featured artists and churches and includes a map showing the churches featured on the Trail together with contact details, so that visits to one or more churches can be planned in advance. Fine Arts lecturer, artist and commission4mission member, Mark Lewis, researched and developed the leaflet documenting the Art Trail and introduced those present at the launch to some of the highlights of the Trail and the rationale behind it.

Mark Lewis said that his brief had been to research commissioned art and craft in the Episcopal Area from the past 100 years. While stained glass is the dominant Ecclesiastical art form, he had been concerned show a diversity and variety of media and styles within the selections made. He highlighted works such as the significant mosaic by John Piper at St Paul’s Harlow and the striking ‘Spencer-esque’ mural by Fyffe Christie at St Margaret’s Standford Rivers. Churches with particularly fine collections of artworks included: St Albans, Romford; St Andrew’s Leytonstone; St Barnabas Walthamstow; St Margaret’s Barking; St Mary’s South Woodford; and, the church chosen as the location for the launch event, St Paul’s Goodmayes.

Launch of the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area (2)

Programme for the launch of the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area
Thursday 17th February, 12 noon, St Paul's Goodmayes

12.00 noon Welcome and introduction by Revd. Jonathan Evens, Secretary of commission4mission and Assistant Area Dean of Redbridge

12.05 pm Speech by Rt. Revd. Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford

12.15 pm Speech by Rt. Revd. David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking and Patron of commission4mission

12.25 pm Visual presentation of the Art Trail by Mark Lewis, commission4mission member and Fine Arts lecturer

12.40 pm Launch reception and viewing of artworks in St Paul’s Goodmayes

All are welcome to attend. RSVP to jonathan.evens@btinternet.com or 020 8599 2170.

Launch of the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area

The Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area is to be launched at St Paul Goodmayes on Thursday 17th February at 12.00 noon.

This Art Trail, which will publicise the extent to which churches in the Barking Episcopal Area of the Diocese of Chelmsford contain significant art and craft works, will be launched jointly by the Bishops of Chelmsford and Barking. You are invited to join them for the launch reception.

The Bishop of Barking says, “for centuries the Arts have been an important medium through which public communication of the faith has taken place and the Church has had a lengthy and happy marriage with the Arts.” Created by commission4mission with funding from London-over-the-Border, this Art Trail demonstrates that the long relationship between the Church and the Arts continues today as it includes work by significant twentieth century artists such as Eric Gill, Hans Feibusch, John Hutton and John Piper, together with contemporary work by the like of Mark Cazalet, Jane Quail and Henry Shelton.

The visual arts can contribute to the mission of the Church by speaking eloquently of the Christian faith; providing a reason for people to visit a church; making a link between churches and local arts organisations/initiatives and providing a focus around which local people can come together for a shared activity. For these, and other, reasons there are more than 30 churches in the Barking Episcopal Area which have significant artworks on show and which are included on the Art Trail.

A leaflet documenting the Art Trail , which has been researched and developed by commission4mission member, artist and Fine Arts lecturer, Mark Lewis, will publicise the Trail and provide information about the featured artists and churches.

commission4mission exists, in the words of its Chairperson, Henry Shelton, to offer "quality work and craftsmanship, rather than mass-produced work, to continue the legacy of the Church as a great commissioner of art." Through this new Art Trail , we hope that the eyes of visitors to churches and church members alike will be opened to the continuing legacy of the Church as a significant commissioner of art.

We look forward to seeing you on 17th February. Please RSVP to jonathan.evens@btinternet.com or 020 8599 2170.

commission4mission Newsletter No. 6

Pottery and paintings in our ‘Peacing Together One World’ exhibition at St Mary Magdalen, Billericay

Newsletter No. 6 – December 2010

Peacing Together One World

Peacing Together One World, our most recent exhibition, was held at St Mary Magdalen Billericay during One World Week. The exhibition was curated for us by Harvey Bradley who also acted as artist-in-residence throughout the exhibition. The exhibition featured a varied range of work by 14 commission4mission artists including our newest members at that point, Richard Baxter and Alan Hitching, both potters. As a result, a significant selection of pottery was shown alongside paintings and sculptures.

Harvey, and his wife Barbara, organised a range of supplementary events during the week which helped to swell the numbers attending the exhibition as a whole. These included a successful performance evening featuring images, meditations, music and poetry readings. Among those taking part in this evening were Colin Burns, Anne Creasey, Michael Creasey, Jonathan Evens and Helen Gheorgiou Gould.

Joy Rousell Stone @ St Nicholas Rawreth

Following from our ongoing exhibition space at All Saints West Ham, a second church has offered space to commission4mission members and Joy Rousell Stone was the first member to take up their offer with an exhibition of landscapes and animal paintings held at St Nicholas Rawreth in October. Joy’s skilful technique and insightful eye were greatly appreciated by those viewing the exhibition.

Run With The Fire

Run With The Fire is an arts project for the London 2012 Olympics organized by CANA, commission4mission and Veritasse based on the image of fire which links the Church’s Pentecost celebration with that of the Olympic runner.

Over 40 artists have applied to be part of Run With The Fire. Artists from South Korea, China, South Africa, USA, Netherlands, UK and the Philippines are all keen to supply artwork for the project. The deadline for entries has now passed. The next stage is the selection of artists by the jury members, all respected Christians with a background in the arts. All artists will be informed of the jury’s decision during January 2011.

Run With The Fire will create an original, international collection of artwork, for churches running community arts outreach projects, linked with the 2012 Olympics in London. Information for churches wishing to use the digital exhibition and put on community events will be produced by Easter 2011. If you wish to put your church on the Run With The Fire information mailing list, please contact Sue Newham, membership@veritasse.co.uk.

Run With The Fire is our first collaborative project but we hope it will not be the last as our Patron, the Bishop of Barking, is writing to a range of other arts and faith organizations to sound them out about the possibility of working in partnership in future.

Member profile: Ally Clarke

Ally Clarke studied Sculpture at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee and is inclined to create installation works complimented by photography, drawing, collage and print. Enjoying creative collaborations, she has worked with other artists to produce film and performance works. Ally views her creative work as a means of investigating the world and presents evocative, personal creations that produce opportunities for reflection and refreshment.

2011 plans

In 2011 expect to see among other initiatives:

• the launch of the Barking Art Trail;
• dedications of commissions at All Saints Hutton, St Edmunds Tyseley; St Peters Harold Wood;
• a group exhibition at the Crypt Gallery in St Martin-in-the-Fields;
• a new charitable constitution presented at our AGM;
• a new publicity leaflet; and
• involvement in the Barking Episcopal Area Art Festival and the Bishop of Barking’s resourcing mission week in Harlow.

Keeping Art and Soul Together

c4m featured in a recent Church Times article entitled ‘Keeping Art and Soul Together’ which can be read at http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=103880.