Newsletter No. 15 – January 2013

Christmas Exhibition: Incarnation

Wendy McTernan curated and organised an excellent commission4mission exhibition entitled ‘Incarnation’ at Wimbledon Library Gallery in December 2012. commission4mission's South London launch took place at a well attended Private View. We were encouraged by the interest shown by all who came both in the conversations that took place and in the works that were sold.

Those who came appreciated the look and feel of the show, our invigilators had several valuable conversations with those who came, we also made a number of new contacts and gained new members. Midnight Church by Elizabeth Duncan Meyer and Transforming Power by Caroline Richardson were amongst several works which sold. 

Those exhibiting included Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Christopher Clack, Ally Clarke, Valerie Dean, Elizabeth Duncan-Meyer, Jonathan Evens, Ken James, Sarah Ollerenshaw, Caroline Richardson, Janet Roberts, Francesca Ross, Henry Shelton, Sergiy Shkanov, Joy Rousell Stone and Peter Webb.
 

franciscan: The Gospel in Art

Three commission4mission members have written articles on the arts for the latest edition of franciscan, which is published three times a year by the First Order brothers and sisters and includes articles on Franciscan themes, as well as book reviews and news of the Society (http://www.franciscans.org.uk/franciscan-january-2013). 

The three articles are:

• ‘Facets of faith: the gospel in modern and contemporary art’ by Jonathan Evens
• ‘Father Andrew the artist: Plaistow friar, who never lost his boyhood enthusiasm for all things artistic’ by Steven Saxby
• ‘Re-imagining the gospels’ by Helen Gheorghiu Gould

The article by Jonathan features the work of Ally Clarke, Caroline Richardson and Sergiy Shkanov while Helen's piece includes interviews with Henry Shelton and Peter Webb. 

To order a copy of the magazine contact the subscriptions secretary using franciscansubscriptions@franciscans.org.uk. 

The Seed 

The Seed (http://seedresources.com/) has an expanding collection of over 40,000 resources to download and use throughout the Church year including Digital Worship resources and inspirational articles. The Seed and seedresources.com is a collaboration between the Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust and Twelvebaskets Ltd. 

Among the available resources are two by commission4mission artists, both of which raise funds for c4m. They are:

• Mark of the Cross which features 20 poetic meditations by Jonathan Evens on Christ’s journey to the cross and reactions to his resurrection and ascension complemented by a set of semi-abstract watercolours of the Stations of the Cross and the Resurrection created by Henry Shelton.
• The Passion: Reflections & Prayers: Pictures, poems and prayers by Henry Shelton and Jonathan Evens enabling us to follow Jesus on his journey to the cross reflecting both on the significance and the pain of that journey.

New publications

Christopher Clack and Jonathan Evens feature in a new Dutch book entitled Jezus voor ogen (Eyes on Jesus) with visual meditations and word & image Bible studies for Lent. The visual meditations included in the book have all featured previously on the ArtWay website (http://www.artway.eu/artway.php?lang=en) and include the meditation which Jonathan Evens wrote on Christopher Clack's Descent II.

Jonathan Evens' new book, The Secret Chord, is jointly authored with Peter Banks of After The Fire, and is an impassioned study of the role of music in cultural life written through the prism of Christian belief. A website for The Secret Chord (http://www.thesecretchord.co.uk/) has news, bios, additional links, comments and views. The Secret Chord is available in paperback as well as a Kindle book. 

Member Profile: Gillian Barritt

Gillian Barritt is a ceramics artist whose work is expressive and sculptural. Her work reflects her Christian faith as well as capturing a love of Cornwall where she lives and was born. Gillian incorporates words with clay pieces which include scripture and also poetry. She also has an interest in recycled media like sea china and glass.

Response to 'Incarnation'

Midnight Church by Elizabeth Duncan Meyer

Transforming Power by Caroline Richardson

Wendy McTernan curated and organised an excellent commission4mission exhibition at Wimbledon Library Gallery. Those who came appreciated the look and feel of the show, our invigilators had several valuable conversations with those who came, we also made a number of new contacts and gained new members. Midnight Church by Elizabeth Duncan Meyer and Transforming Power by Caroline Richardson were amongst several works which sold.

Private View: 'Incarnation'

commission4mission's South London launch took place tonight at a well attended Private View for our Christmas exhibition entitled 'Incarnation'. We were encouraged by the interest shown by all who came both in the conversations that took place and in the works that were sold. 

The exhibition, which had curated by Wendy McTernan, can be seen at Wimbledon Library Gallery (1st floor, Wimbledon Library, Wimbledon Hill Road, London SW19 7NB) and includes the work of 16 artists in media including ceramics, fused glass, paintings and photography. The exhibition continues until Saturday 8th December, 9.30am - 7.00pm (2.00pm on Saturday) with access through the Library. A second Private View will be held tomorrow from 6.30 - 9.30pm. All are welcome.

Those exhibiting are Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Christopher Clack, Ally Clarke, Valerie Dean, Elizabeth Duncan-Meyer, Jonathan Evens, Ken James, Sarah Ollerenshaw, Caroline Richardson, Janet Roberts, Francesca Ross, Henry Shelton, Sergiy Shkanov, Joy Rousell Stone and Peter Webb.

In launching commission4mission in South London, Jonathan Evens, c4m's secretary, said the following:

commission4mission was launched in March 2009 by our Patron, the Bishop of Barking, 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.

We aim to:

·                    provide opportunities for churches to obtain and commission contemporary Christian Art for church buildings;

·                    provide information, ideas and examples of contemporary Christian Art and its use/display within church settings; and

·                    raise funds for charities through commissions and sales of contemporary Christian Art. 

In the short time that commission4mission has been in existence we have:

·                    built up a pool of over 30 artists available for Church commissions;

·                    developed a blog profiling our artists and giving up-to-date news of our activities;

·                    completed of 10 commissions;

·                    organised 13 exhibitions, two Study Days, three art workshops, several performance and networking events for members;

·                    created an Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area;

·                    worked in partnership with two other arts organisations (Christian Artist’s Networking Association & Veritasse) to create an Olympic-themed art project – Run With The Fire; and

·                    published several sets of images and meditations primarily with a Lenten or Passiontide focus.

We seek to be a proactive organisation for both the artists and the churches with which we work. For our artists we regularly provide information updates and networking opportunities as well as actively promoting their work through our blog, events and exhibitions. This ensures that they feel connected to one another and the wider faith and arts scene as well as benefiting from the support and ideas of fellow members. For churches, we actively provide opportunities to think about the possibility of commissioning contemporary art by seeing and considering the work of our artists and by suggesting ways to overcome some of the barriers which sometimes seem to stand in the way of new commissions such as finances and the differing tastes of church members. 

Why do we do what we do? Fundamentally, I would want to say that there is a Trinitarian underpinning to what we do. Firstly, that we are creative because we are made in the image of our Creator. That, as Dorothy L. Sayers reminded us in her book The Mind of the Maker, to be made in the image of God means that we are most like God when we are being creative. Secondly, that it is the Holy Spirit who gives skill to craftspeople and artists. The first Spirit-filled man in the Bible, Bezalel, was chosen by God to be skilled, knowledgeable and able to teach in all kinds of craftsmanship. So, to be biblically inspired is to make. Thirdly, that because God became truly human in Jesus we can represent his human nature as with any other member of the human race. So that, if we paint a picture of Jesus, we’re not trying to show a humanity apart from divine life but a humanity soaked through with divine life.

Next, I would want to say that the Arts are in many ways foundational to all that occurs in Church. Very briefly, we can say that:

•         the Architecture of our churches provides a designed context and stage for the worship that occurs within them;

•         we re-enact Biblical narratives through the poetry of the liturgy;

•         music in church provides composed expressions of emotions and stories in and through song; and

•         images in churches re-tell Biblical narratives and open windows into the divine.

Finally, we would also say that the Arts contribute to the mission of the Church by:

•         speaking eloquently of the faith;

•         providing a reason to visit a church – something we have tapped with our Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area;

•         making links between churches and local arts organisations/ initiatives; and

•         providing a focus for people to come together for a shared activity.

These then are key reasons why, in commission4mission, we seek to encourage the commissioning and placing of contemporary Christian Art in churches.

I would like to end with a poem by the German kinetic sculptor Heinz Mack who has had much experience of trying to work in and with Catholic chapels in Germany:

“Church art is not always art.

Art that happens to be placed in church, is art in the church,

But not Church art.

Church art that is shown in museums, remains church art in museums.

Art for the Church is not always regarded as art by the Church.

The Church does not always want art.

Art is art without the Church.

Great Church art is art in the church and for the church.”

In seeking to encourage the commissioning and placing of contemporary Christian Art in churches, commission4mission is aiming to be about “art in the church and for the church.”

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

art, pray, love (2)

art, pray, love is Hillside Church Wimbledon’s inaugural art festival which launched on 26 March 2011 at The National Gallery with a guided tour by art historian and gallery lecturer Stuart Currie.

commission4mission regional repreentative, Wendy McTernan, has assisted with curation of the exhibition of paintings, ceramics and sculpture, some specially made for art, pray, love, which opened on Thursday 7 April at the church. The artists are drawn from local organisations and private galleries including Wimbledon Art Studios, YMCA London South West and The Cynthia Corbett Gallery.

The show includes paintings from Ghislaine Howard’s 365 Series, small pieces inspired by images seen in the news each day; Sarah Ollerenshaw’s iconic figurative work that speaks of sacrifice and love; and Claire Burke’s meditative compositions using shimmering gold and silver leaf. There’s also photography by Tim Edmonds and Tom Leighton, and drawings by Mercy Kagia. All work is for sale, with 15 per cent of proceeds going to support the local YMCA. A suggested donation of £5 to £10 will be collected at the door.

‘The festival came about through our passionate belief in the arts, and how this shapes the landscape of our journey through life together,’ says Anita Taylor, who is curating the exhibition on behalf of the church and showing some of her work.

Richard Thomas, church leader at Hillside says, ‘We believe that artists are generous people, sharing their gifts to inspire others.’

The festival continues with a guided gallery tour of Tate Britain on Saturday 9 April, and a series of Sunday morning talks at the church, celebrating Easter Sunday with a focus on Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus.

The art, pray, love exhibition is open 11.30-4pm, Tuesday to Friday, and 10-1pm on Sundays. Full programme details can be found at www.hillsidewimbledon.org or by telephoning 020 8944 5544.

Hillside Church, 37 Worple Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4JZ. Nearest station: Wimbledon 5 mins walk. Buses 57 and 131 pass the door; 156, 163, 164, 200, 219, 93 and 493 stop nearby.

art, pray, love

Wendy McTernan is to help curate art, pray, love, an art festival being put on by Hillside Church Wimbledon. The programme for the Festival is as follows:

Festival launch: Saturday 26th March, 10am @ The National Gallery: Gallery visit and Guided Tour with Gallery Lecturer and Art Historian, Stuart Currie. A former lecturer in the History of Art at the Education Departments of the National and Tate Galleries, and at the Universities of London, Reading and Kingston. In his earlier career he trained in Fine Art and taught painting and drawing in London. He now works as an Arts Evangelist for the London City Mission, and has given talks across the capital, in other parts of the UK, and in France, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria and Poland.

Sunday 27th March, 1030am @ Hillside: Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper. Talk given by Richard Thomas.

Mothering Sunday 3rd April, 1030am @ Hillside: John Everett Millais, Christ in the House of His Parents. Talk given by Susanna Thomas.

art, pray, love: Exhibition Opening: Thursday 7th April, 7pm @ Hillside. Come and meet the artists and find out more about far reaching church partnerships. All art is for sale with 15% of proceeds going to YMCA London South West. A donation of £5 to £10 will be collected at the door / Free for those on benefits.

Saturday 9th April, 10am @ Tate Britain: Gallery visit and Guided Tour with Gallery Lecturer and Art Historian, Stuart Currie (Art Trolley for Kids provided).

Sunday 10th April, 1030am @ Hillside: Andrea Mantegna, The Agony in the Garden. Talk given by Stuart Currie.

Sunday 17th April, 1030am @ Hillside: Gerrit Van Honthorst, Christ before the High Priest, c.1617, National Gallery, London - Richard Thomas

Good Friday Experience: 22nd April, Art Exhibition Open 10am-2pm @ Hillside. Plus: Pavement Café, artist in residence window and an art workshop for all.

Easter Sunday: 24th April, 1030am @ Hillside: Michelangelo da Caravaggio, Supper at Emmaus, 1601, National Gallery, London - Stuart Currie.

Sunday 12th June, 1030am @ Hillside: Art, Faith, Life: Artist, Charlie Mackesy talks to us about his work.

Please note: Gallery Tours will be charged at £5 per person / Free for those on benefits. Book your place at: art@hillsidewimbledon.org.

New regional c4m representative

We are excited to be able to introduce Wendy McTernan, who has offered to represent commission4mission in Central, South & West London and to link up with our artists living and working in these areas. We think that Wendy's input can help to establish a regional cell for c4m artists in these areas to organise local social and arts events, develop relationships with local churches/structures and commissioning opportunities.

Wendy has been thinking about doing some art curating with a Christian ethos for a couple of years and just recently took the plunge by moving on from her job as Head of Development & Communications with the mission agency Latin Link. As well as seeking new employment, she is pursuing her art and mission interests. One project on which she is working is a photographic exhibition, originally seen in a church in Paris, that she is hoping to bring to London this year linked with the Year of the Bible/Biblefresh.

Wendy will initially be getting in touch with our artists in her area to discuss the idea of a regional c4m cell and to arrange an initial networking meeting.