Newsletter 19 - November 2013

Deconstructing c o n f l i c t

Paintings by Maciej Hoffman together with works by commission4mission artists were on show in Chelmsford Cathedral as part of an exhibition entitled Deconstructing c o n f l i c t during One World Week. Hoffman is a Polish artist whose work is concerned with the trauma of all individuals and peoples who have suffered - and continue to suffer - worldwide. He says that he "views his art as both a means of self-expression and a way of engaging in public discourse, depicting contrasts, emotions and powerful human experiences."

The Revd. Canon Ivor Moody (Vice-Dean, Chelmsford Cathedral) said, "We wish to use the interest, challenge and impact of art to draw people from our differing communities into genuine dialogue with each on the basis of the real issues each of us face. These events bring issues of justice and peace to the centre of local family, school and community life." 

A fascinating inter-faith lecture by Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum which seeks to build bridges between Muslim and Jewish communities, was held on Tuesday 22nd October in the Chapter House of the Cathedral. Beginning with a BBC film on the founding of the Muslim-Jewish Forum, Rabbi Gluck spoke about his family history, his work with the Next Century Foundation through which he has played a significant role as a mediator in conflicts as diverse as the Sudan and former Yugoslavia, as well as reflecting on the work of the Muslim-Jewish Forum. Rabbi Gluck first met Maciej Hoffman in Poland and has been a strong supporter of Maciej's work ever since, so it was particularly appropriate that he should be able to deliver this lecture as part of the programme of events for the Deconstructing c o n f l i c t exhibition.

These events were organised by Chelmsford Cathedral, commission4mission and the Mid Essex Inter-faith Forum, with the support of the Big Lottery Fund, to inspire, inform and encourage more people of diverse backgrounds to come together to explore shared values and take action to build a just, peaceful and sustainable world. Our aim was to challenge stereotypes which cause conflict and empower people to live and advocate peaceful lives. 

Inspire: art as spiritual exploration

Inspire: art as spiritual exploration is a commission4mission exhibition at St Stephen Walbrook from 18th – 29th November (10.00am – 6.00pm, closed 24 November). Among the artists exhibiting are: Ross Ashmore, Ally Ashworth, Hayley Bowen, Harvey Bradley, Christopher Clack, Anne Creasey, Valerie Dean, Jonathan Evens, Clorinda Goodman, Alan Hitching, Mark Lewis, Pouka, Caroline Richardson, Janet Roberts, Francesca Ross, Henry Shelton and Peter Webb. Parish priest, Peter Delaney  will also exhibit his work as part of the show.

A Private View will be held on the evening of Monday 18th November from 6.00pm – 8.30pm and will include a welcome from The Venerable Peter Delaney MBE. All are welcome.

Christmas cards

commission4mission is producing Christmas cards for the first time this year featuring designs from our artists in a variety of media and styles.

Artists contributing 11 different designs include: Hayley Bowen, Harvey Bradley, Mark Lewis, Henry Shelton and Peter Webb.

The cards will be available either in packs of ten and as single cards and can be ordered by emailing to cform@btinternet.com or by visiting the Inspire exhibition at St Stephen Walbrook.

 

Deconstructing c o n f l i c t exhibition

Paintings by Maciej Hoffman together with works by commission4mission artists are on show in Chelmsford Cathedral this week (21st - 23rd October, 7.45am - 9.00pm, ending 3.00pm on 23rd) as part of an exhibition entitled Deconstructing c o n f l i c t for One World Week.

 

Hoffman is a Polish artist whose work is concerned with the trauma of all individuals and peoples who have suffered - and continue to suffer - worldwide. He says that he “views his art as both a means of self-expression and a way of engaging in public discourse, depicting contrasts, emotions and powerful human experiences.”

 

commission4mission artists whose work features in the exhibition are: Ken Ashby, Hayley Bowen, Harvey Bradley, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Pouka, Henry Shelton, Joy Rousell Stone and Peter Webb. 

 

The Revd. Canon Ivor Moody (Vice-Dean, Chelmsford Cathedral) says, “We wish to use the interest, challenge and impact of art to draw people from our differing communities into genuine dialogue with each on the basis of the real issues each of us face. These events will bring issues of justice and peace to the centre of local family, school and community life."

 

An inter-faith lecture by Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum which seeks to build bridges between Muslim and Jewish communities in the UK and around the world, will be held on Tuesday 22^nd October in the Chapter House of the Cathedral.

 

These events have been organised by Chelmsford Cathedral, commission4mission and the Mid Essex Inter-faith Forum to inspire, inform and encourage more people of diverse backgrounds to come together to explore shared values and take action to build a just, peaceful and sustainable world. Our aim is to challenge stereotypes which cause conflict and empower people to live and advocate peaceful lives.

Deconstructing c o n f l i c t

Deconstructing c o n f l i c t is an art exhibition, an inter-faith lecture and an opportunity to engage with the aims of One World Week by bringing together people of different faiths and backgrounds from across Essex to share concerns about the causes of conflict, hear others' points of view and acknowledge shared values.

The art exhibition will be held in Chelmsford Cathedral on 21^st - 23^rd October 2013 (7.45am – 9.00pm, ends 3.00pm Wednesday) and will feature expansive expressionist paintings by Maciej Hoffman supplemented by related work from commission4mission artists. Maciej Hoffman is a Polish artist whose work is concerned with the trauma of all individuals and peoples who have suffered - and continue to suffer - worldwide.

The keynote speaker for our inter-faith lecture is Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum which seeks to build bridges between Muslim and Jewish communities in the UK and around the world. The lecture will be on Tuesday 22^nd October, 7.30pm, in the Chapter House of Chelmsford Cathedral. A drinks reception will be held in the Cathedral from 6.00pm for those wishing to view the exhibition prior to the lecture.

These events have been organised by Chelmsford Cathedral, commission4mission and the Mid Essex Inter-faith Forum to inspire, inform and encourage more people of diverse backgrounds to come together to explore shared values and take action to build a just, peaceful and sustainable world. Our aim is to challenge stereotypes which cause conflict and empower people to live and advocate peaceful lives.

Maciej Hoffman says that he “views his art as both a means of self-expression and a way of engaging in public discourse, depicting contrasts, emotions and powerful human experiences.” His work has been the focus previously of conferences and events on themes of conflict and resolution in the UK and Poland, including Holocaust Memorial events.

Dr John Rees (Mid Essex Inter-faith Forum) says: “The Chelmsford Jewish Community (CJC) is small in number but large in spirit and energy. I am certain that the Art Exhibition during One World Week will hugely affirm the CJC in its worship and tradition, and, not least, in its struggle, corporately and individually, to cope with the legacy and nightmare memories of unspeakable horrors both past and most recent.”

Sidra Naeem (Islamic Representative, Mid Essex Inter-faith Forum) says: “Muslims can feel very isolated and excluded due to the negative portrayal of Islam in the media resulting in Islamophobia. Members from the BME communities have often come across race/hate crime or have taken refuge in the UK due to horrific conditions in their own countries such as poverty, war, persecution, genocide or oppression due to government and politics. An art exhibition depicting these issues would greatly benefit members from the BME sector as well religious groups, including Muslims, as it would assist in the recovery process as well as raise awareness of these issues in the wider community. It would also help them to come to terms with the problems they have encountered in their lives.”

The Revd. Canon Ivor Moody (Vice-Dean, Chelmsford Cathedral) says, “We wish to use the interest, challenge and impact of art to draw people from our differing communities into genuine dialogue with each on the basis of the real issues each of us face. These events will bring issues of justice and peace to the centre of local family, school and community life. We will take this message into schools by linking it to a schools art exhibition which follows immediately after Deconstructing C o n f l i c t at the Cathedral.”

Our approach builds on the success of previous Mid Essex Inter-faith Forum One World Week events and the unique combination of art, presentations and debate which Maciej Hoffman has initiated in previous exhibitions such as: Art of Reconciliation 2012 - Edith Stein Centre, Wroclaw Poland; Blue Line Holocaust Memorial Exhibition 2012 - Town Hall, Barry; Journey Line 2011 - Town Hall Wroclaw; and Journey Line 2010 - Oxford Chabad Society.

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.

Peacing Together One World

commission4mission is to hold an exhibition of contemporary Art and Design work in St Mary Magdalen, Billericay. This is a great use of this recently redeveloped old building, with its own heritage, and will open each day during the week 16th – 23rd October from 9.00am to 5.00pm. During these opening times c4m artist Harvey Bradley will act as an artist in residence, working on his oil paintings and decorating some of his porcelain pottery. If others join him, there may be some coffee and biscuits available too. The exhibition in general will provide a good opportunity to view the work of 10 talented commission4mission artists.

On Friday evening from 7.30pm c4m members, and hopefully local poets, will contribute to a fascinating evening of poetry and music. We hope the exhibition and performance evening with the One World Week theme ‘Peacing Together One World’ will appeal to Christians of all denominations as well as to others, of faith or none, who are interested in contemporary art and the joys and plight of the human condition.

Peacing Together One World exhibition

Our next exhibition will be held at St Mary Magdalen Billericay from 16th - 23rd October. The exhibition is to be entitled Peacing Together One World as it will be held during One World Week. We are also planning to hold a Peacing Together One World performance evening on Friday 22nd October, also at St Mary Magdalen Billericay, featuring commission4mission members and others. More information on this, the exhibition, and other related events will be available nearer the time.