Member's updates

Viki Isherwood Metzler has a new website showcasing her cartoons. It can be found by clicking here and, once there, allows you to sign up to receive a free weekly cartoon.
Christopher Clack has added an essay by James Elkins to his Modern Religious Art website. The essay entitled 'Bridging the Gap between Modern Art and Religion' reflects on Re-Enchantment, a one-day event at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in April 2007 which has recently been written up and published as a book with the same title.

Jonathan Evens will be speaking on commission4mission and understandings of Christian Art at the February Learning Supper for West Mersea Parish Church (6.30pm, Sunday 26th February). Learning Suppers on Mersea Island include a time of worship, teaching, prayer and a convivial supper of soup, cheese and wine on the 4th Sunday in the month.  

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.  

Commissions update

Commissions are regularly being discussed, explored and developed through commission4mission. We currently have two which are rapidly approaching completion.

St John's Seven Kings have commissioned two mosaics as part of the development of their community garden. These 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 is currently adding 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. The church hope to have both works installed for their Patronal Festival this Sunday when they can be dedicated by the Bishop of Barking.

A faculty has been obtained for a second set of windows to be etched by Richard Paton to designs by Henry Shelton for a screen at All Saints Hutton. On this occasion, Henry Shelton's designs are of the four evangelists. The new windows will be located opposite those of the original commission.

Other commissions currently being designed and developed include a holy water stoup by Mark Lewis and an altar frontal by Anne Creasey. Additionally through the art workshop, which was held at St Paul's Harlow and led by Robert Enoch and Dr Philip Jenson during our recent Study Day, we have developed a design for a temporary freize at St Paul's which will tell the big story of the Bible.   

commission4mission @ St Martin-in-the-Fields

Our exhibition designed to encourage the commissioning of contemporary Christian art opens in the Crypt Gallery at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Monday 4 July. Sixteen commission4mission artists will show 40 works in a variety of media, including concept drawings, fused glass, paintings, reliefs and textiles.


Jonathan Evens, secretary of commission4mission, explains: ‘This exhibition demonstrates some of the ways commissioned art can be used to enhance a place of worship and add another dimension to a church’s mission.’

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. Some of the work is for sale, and enquiries are invited. The exhibition will also include examples of some completed commissions and information about the commissioning process.

The exhibition continues each day until 17 July. Open 10.00am - 8.00pm. Private View: Monday 4 July from 6.00 - 8.00pm. RSVP jonathan.evens@btinternet.com.

Club Urban's 'Genesis' Exhibition

Club Urban is a forum for Arts and the Bible providing the opportunity, over informal breakfast and supper gatherings, for engaging with other artists to advance Christian-based thinking and action. Their latest exhibition is currently at the Westferry Studios and last night they held an evening of artist talks and music in the exhibition space.

The exhibition featured work by Colin Burns (who also performed several of his guitar instrumentals) and Viki Isherwood-Metzler. Colin said, "In the Genesis exhibition I have explored the theme of the garden. I use the garden as a point of entry into another type of world and also to convey a sense of light and vibrancy reflecting something of the nature of God." Viki, commenting on her animation strip 'Eve' and cartoons 'The Big Bang' and 'Dinosaurs', said "In contrast to Stephen Hawking I do believe in God or a creator of all things, even if they didn't happen as I depict in my cartoons. I guess I am showing how things could have - and in the 'Eve' piece - how it should have happened."

This was a very interesting and engaging exhibition with a wide range of different media and styles on show. Among other works which particularly took the eye were: Jon Britten's Possibilities of new horizons with its abstract mark making suggesting the dynamism of creative activity; John Gledhill's Jacob's Dream and Jacob wrestling the angel with their Kossoff-like use of thick impasto echoing the drama inherent in these narratives; David Healey's The Word exploring the emergence of the Word of God through multiple images of John 1 from a screwed up to revealed state; Noel Isherwood's Stadt Babylon and Stadt Nineva paintings with their God's eye view of cityscapes anticipating the New Jerusalem; and Reto Scheiber's Jesus video animation based on light in darkness and inspired by his conversion experience.

c4m artist's update (8)

Colin Burns and Viki Isherwood-Metzler belong to a group of artists called ClubUrban who are holding an exhibition of paintings on the theme of Genesis from Monday 8th -Saturday 13th November. There is a particular invite to the Thursday evening exhibition event (11th November) when there will be artists talks and live music - including Colin Burns on guitar. This event is from 6.30pm onwards.

There is also the opening night on Monday 8th from 5.30pm - 9.00 pm. The other exhibition times are Tuesday - Saturday 11.00 am - 4.30pm. Colin Burns will be at the exhibition on the Monday and Thursday evenings and daytime Saturday. There are some 15 artists exhibiting. Directions can be found here: http://www.cluburban.org.uk/about.html. The exhibition address is 98 & 128 Westferry Studios, Milligan Street, London E14 8AS (Next to 'Westferry' DLR Station, on the way to Canary Wharf).
 
Faith and Image is a forum for all who are interested in art and spirituality. Their next event is Apects of Medieval Art - illustrated talks by artists Mark Lewis and Peter Webb on Medieval Stained Glass and Metalwork - on Tuesday, November 16th 2010 at 8.00pm. Venue: The Gwinnell Room, St Mary’s Church, High Road, South Woodford, E18. Visitors welcome Donations are invited Refreshments available

The talks will inform a visit to the Medieval Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Sunday, November 21st at 3.00pm. Meet inside the Main Entrance, Cromwell Road. Visitors welcome No charge for this event. Details of both events from Mark Lewis: Telephone 020 8504 5840 or Email: pharos@sketchbook.wanadoo.co.uk.

The Winter Selling Exhibition by members of Anglian Potters will feature the work of c4m artists, Harvey Bradley and Richard Baxter. The exhibition is from Saturday 13 November to Sunday 12 December 2010,
10am to 4pm, every day, including Sunday. All welcome. All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane, Cambridge.

Anglian Potters return to their usual winter venue for a selling exhibition of work by our members. A perfect opportunity for Christmas shoppers to buy something unique and special. All Saints' Church is owned by the Churches Conservation Trust, which has restored the interior and its extraordinary Pre-Raphaelite wall decorations over the last few years. These make a unique setting for the varied selection of ceramics, ranging from teapots, mugs and vases to sculpture, animals, jewellery or pots for the garden.

Directions: The church is opposite Jesus College, on Jesus Lane, Cambridge. The closest parking is either at a parking meter on the street outside, in Park Street multi-storey, or in the Newmarket Road Grafton Centre car park. Alternatively, try Cambridge Park and Ride.

Update: commissions and projects

'The Baptism of Jesus' by Rosalind Hore has been installed at St Edmund Tyseley and a date is being sought for the dedication of the painting which has been donated to the church by Jonathan Evens in memory of his father, Rev. Phil Evens, a former Vicar of the Parish.

Caroline Richardson has begun work on the windows which she has designed for St Peter Harold Wood. Her two windows show complementary images containing John 10.10 (I have come that they may have life and have it to the full) and in the other, John 8.12 (I am the light of the world).

The faculty has been obtained for the etched glass windows designed by Henry Shelton for All Saints Hutton. Each window will celebrate a different saint using Shelton's trademark minimal but flowing lines to form symbols of each saint.

A faculty is being sought for a sculpture in the new community garden at St John Seven Kings. This sculpture which has been designed in discussion with the community garden planning group incorporates a mosaic which will be created by Viki Isherwood-Metzler.

Mark Lewis has had an initial design for a holy water stoup approved by St Margaret Great Ilford and is also undertaking research for the Art Trail which commission4mission is creating for the Barking Episcopal Area. Mark has identified 40 churches in the Episcopal Area with artworks which may feature in the Trail. These include work by artists such as Hans Feibusch, Eric Gill, John Hutton and John Piper.

Submissions are being sought for Run with the fire, an Olympics-themed art project instigated by CANA, commission4mission and Veritasse. The project will create a virtual exhibition of international artwork for presention alongside Olympics-themed arts events or exhibitions organized by local churches in 2012. The closing date for submissions is 19th November and each submission will be considered by a jury/selection committee invited by the steering group which includes Dianne B. Collard (Director of Ministries - Europe for Artists in Christian Testimony International), Martin Crampin (Artist, researcher and designer), and Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker (Editor-in-Chief of ArtWay).

The Genesis Exhibition

commission4mission artists Colin Burns and Viki Isherwood-Metzler also belong to a group of artists called ClubUrban who are holding an exhibition of paintings on the theme of Genesis from Monday 8th -Saturday 13th November.

There is a particular invite to the Thursday evening exhibition event (11th November) when there will be artists talks and live music - including Colin Burns on guitar. This event is from 6.30pm onwards.

There is also the opening night on Monday 8th from 5.30pm - 9.00 pm. The other exhibition times are Tuesday - Saturday 11.00 am - 4.30pm. Colin Burns will be at the exhibition on the Monday and Thursday evenings and daytime Saturday. There are some 15 artists exhibiting.

Directions can be found here: http://www.cluburban.org.uk/about.html. The exhibition address is 98 & 128 Westferry Studios, Milligan Street, London E14 8AS (Next to 'Westferry' DLR Station, on the way to Canary Wharf).

c4m artist's update (7)

commission4mission's Peacing Together One World exhibition at St Mary Magdalene Billericay from 16th - 23rd October will feature work by Richard Baxter, Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Anne Creasey, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Caroline Richardson, Joy Rousell Stone, Henry Shelton, Sergiy Shkanov and Peter Webb. Additionally, the Peacing Together One World performance evening on Friday 22nd October, 7.30pm, also at St Mary Magdalene Billericay will feature poetry readings, original poetry, meditations, images, and music from Colin Burns, Anne Creasey, Michael Creasey, Jonathan Evens, Keith Harman, and Alan Hitching.

Joy Rousell Stone will have a one week one woman exhibition at St Nicholas Rawreth from Monday 25th October. 

Viki Isherwood-Metzler will be exhibiting cartoons in 'The Genesis Exhibition - In The Beginning God' organised by Club Urban at Westferry Studio Gallery, 98 Milligan Street, London E14 8AS from Monday 8th - Saturday 13th November.

Showcase exhibition & Study Day

'Consider the lilies' by Anne Creasey

'Nativity' by Rosalind Hore

'The Young Christ' by Joy Rousell Stone

'Grafitti Joy' by Viki Isherwood-Metzler

'St John' by Celia Ward

'Perspectives on commissioning Christian Art' is a commission4mission Study Day taking place on Saturday 7th November at Chelmsford Cathedral (New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1TY) from 10.00am – 2.30pm. It will bring to an end our showcase exhibition in the Cathedral (Monday 2nd - Saturday 7th November, Cathedral opening times).

Our showcase exhibition at the Cathedral will be the most comprehensive we have yet mounted both in terms of the number of artists contributing and the range of works on show. The showcase exhibition will include works by Harvey Bradley, Colin Joseph Burns, Anne Creasey, Michael J. Creasey, Jonathan Evens, Rosalind Hore, Viki Isherwood-Metzler, Mark Lewis, Sarah Ollerenshaw, Caroline Richardson, Henry Shelton, Peter Shorer, Joy Rousell Stone, Celia Ward and Peter Webb.

The Study Day programme is as follows:

9.45am - Registration & refreshments;
10.00am - Welcome & Introduction to commission4mission;
10.20am - The Very Revd. Peter Judd, Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral – ‘Experiences of commissioning art for Church & Cathedral’;
10.50am - Dr James Bettley, Chair of Chelmsford DAC – ‘Commissioning & the Faculty process’; 11.20am - Three commission4mission artists to be interviewed about their experiences of commissioning;
12 noon - Midday Prayers, Lunch break & Exhibition viewing;
1.00pm - Q&A session involving Peter Judd, Dr. James Bettley & the three artists;
1.45pm - Rt. Revd. David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking – ‘A Vision for the commissioning of contemporary Christian Art’;
2.15pm - Q&A session with Bishop David;
2.30pm: Close & Exhibition take-down.

To book a place or for more information, contact Jonathan Evens on 020 8599 2170 or jonathan.evens@btinternet.com.

Viki Isherwood-Metzler

SMILE (230cm x 100cm):
Psalm 42:5 (out of The Message)
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God- soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.

JOY (160cm x 80cm):
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds i Christ Jesus?

Viki Isherwood-Metzler learnt the art of mosaic in Ravenna, Italy and worked until 2001 as a mosaic maker in Zurich, Switzerland from where she comes. Since 2002 she has lived and worked in London.

Viki's Mosaics does all kind of commissioned mosaic work in marble, glass, ceramics, terracotta and pebble stones. She writes that:

"Mosaics are used on all kinds of surfaces. They are a beautiful way to decorate and protect facades, floors, walls, ceilings and swimming pools. They are equally appropriate indoors and outdoors. Some types of furniture covered in mosaic look great too."

To see a good range of Viki's work click on the link here to view images on her website.