Group exhibition: All Saints West Ham

All Saints West Ham have kindly provided commission4mission with a permanent exhibition space which we can use to display a changing programme of works by our artists. We began today by hanging a group show featuring work by Colin Burns, Ally Clarke, Valerie Dean, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Jonathan Evens, Mark Lewis, Caroline Richardson, Joy Rousell Stone, Henry Shelton and Peter Webb.

Our exhibition can be viewed during All Saints' usual opening times which include their regular services and between 9.00am and 3.00pm most Tuesdays. To visit at other times or to confirm opening times, phone the All Saints office on 0208 519 0764.

Grace & Passion, our Passiontide exhibition at St Laurence's Upminster, proved to be one of our busiest and most popular shows to date. Rosalind Hore's Stations of the Cross continue to be on display at St Laurence's throughout the Easter period.

Stations of the Crown of Thorns Tryptich (2)

Here are photos of Henry Shelton's tryptich installed at St Paul's Goodmayes and forming the backdrop to their Palm Sunday Eucharist. The tryptich, which forms the centrepiece of the Stations of the Crown of Thorns commission, has been fitted around an existing crucifix which now forms the 12th Station, Jesus dies on the cross. The tryptich is complete except for its gilded frame. The church are planning for the Stations of the Crown of Thorns to be dedicated and prayed by the Bishop of Barking later in the year and we hope to arrange a commission4mission event around this dedication.

Networking evening, consultation & permanent c4m exhibition

Networking evening

Networking evening - Helen Gould, Henry Shelton & Rosalind Hore

Detail of Prophet Moses by Elizabeth Duncan Meyer

Angels by Elizabeth Duncan Meyer

Last night, we held a useful networking evening at St Laurence Upminister, as part of the current Grace & Passion exhibition, which featured Rosalind Hore and Henry Shelton talking about their recent series of Stations of the Cross leading into general discussion of the issues involved in painting the Passion.

In addition, we also had some stimulating discussion about the strategic development of commission4mission. We have been going just a year. In that time we have made great progress in establishing a membership base among artists and churches, and developing dialogue and opportunities for art in church – through commissions, exhibitions and other events. We now want to develop a strategy to guide the evolution of the organisation over the next 3-5 years and beyond and are asking members to contribute comments to a consultation exercise which we began last night.

Among the questions we are asking members are:

• What are your main reasons for being a member of c4M?
• How can c4m contribute to you, as a church or an artist?
• What is your vision for c4m?
• Is your vision addressed by the current vision and mission statement?
• What can you contribute to developing c4m?
• How far has c4m met your expectations of membership this year?

Following the Grace & Passion exhibition many of the works included in the exhibition, together with some additions (see, for example, the images of works by Elizabeth Duncan Meyer above), will be taken to All Saints West Ham who are making a permanent exhibition space available to commission4mission. This will mean that we will always have the opportunity to show potential commissioners of future works examples of work by our current artists. We intend using the space for a mixture of group and solo shows beginning with a group show which will be our contribution to this year's West Ham Festival. Once installed this exhibition can be viewed during All Saints' usual opening times (click here for details) or by phoning the Church Office on 0208 519 0764.

The Sculptress JOEL

JOEL is a sculptress working in clay and casting in bronze and other materials. Her work includes detailed figurative portraits and studies of people and animals. She makes sculptures in public and looks for opportunities to talk and share about the Christian faith.

Grace & Passion exhibition

Grace & Passion is an exhibition of Christian Art for Passion Week by commission4mission members, 21st - 28th March 2010 - open 10.00am - 4.00pm daily at the Church of St Laurence, Corbets Tey Road, Upminster.

The exhibition's centrepiece is the first showing of a contemporary set of Stations of the Cross by Rosalind Hore. The Stations of the Cross have been a big influence on her and her work. Each of her Stations feature three rose buds as a sign of the Trinity. Also on display around the church will be work from Rosalind’s series of clay and plaster sculptures. A booklet featuring Rosalind's Stations is on sale at the exhibition.

Also featuring in the exhibition is work by other commission4mission artists: Adam Boulter, Colin Burns, Ally Clarke, Ann Creasey, Michael Creasey, Valerie Dean, Jonathan Evens, Rosalind Hore, Mark Lewis, Nadiya Pavliv, Caroline Richardson, Joy Rousell Stone, Henry Shelton, Peter Shorer and Peter Webb.

A networking event will be held during the exhibition on Monday 22nd March at St Laurence's Upminster, from 7.30pm-9pm. Rosalind Hore and Henry Shelton will be in conversation about the process of producing their Stations of the Cross - both have recently unveiled sets at their respective churches.

There will also be lenten reflections inspired by Jonathan Evens, and we will be consulting with members about the development of commission4mission. The evening will be relaxed and informal and a good opportunity to meet and talk with fellow members.

Adam Boulter

The prologue to John: yet the world did not know him, Monoprint on paper 8"x10"

Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross, 11"x15", Oil

Adam Boulter writes:

"My work has two dominant tensions. The first is between the abstract and the figurative, where we work out if the world is as we see it and find out how we make the world seem to our selves. The second is between the exterior space where we encounter others and the world, and the interior space where we encounter ourselves. I have found that the tension and space created by these two sets of tensions forces me to notice God. Much of my work has revolved around landscape and religious themes. It is concerned with a sense of belonging and of the sacred in places as diverse as the inner-city and deserts, and in ancient stories, myths and sacred texts."

BA Theology: Cambridge
MA Drawing: Kingston
BA Fine Art: Bath
Foundation: Central St Martins

Adam has exhibited frequently in and around London.

Passion at the Cafe

Seeds of Life at St Andrew’s Leytonstone is the second phase of a creative project, The Tree of Life, working with community groups and local artists to celebrate life in Leytonstone in the run up to Easter.

As part of this a programme of drop-in sessions and recitals by local artists, craftspeople and musicians has been organised in St Andrew’s community café, Cafe Refresh.

Called Passion at the Café the programme will feature a musical recital by Latin American harpist and poet, Ricardo Curbelo; a felt-making workshop with Leytonstone craftswoman, Lizzie Houghton; a drawing workshop with Mark Lewis, environmental art with Wendy le Ber and a Salsa dancing taster session with Jane Kendrick, as well as mandala making.

Other Seeds of Life events at St Andrew’s this spring include the St Andrew’s Youth Group producing a decorative collage in partnership with local artist Peter Webb, and the church’s Lent group making Christian mandalas.

Passion at the Café will run from Tuesday 23rd March until Wednesday 31st March (excluding Sundays) between 12 and 2pm. The full programme is as follows:

Tuesday 23rd March
Mark Lewis - drawing
12.30-2pm

Wednesday 24th March
Lizzie Houghton - feltmaking
12.30-2pm

Thursday 25th March
Wendy Le Ber - environmental art
12.30-2pm

Friday 26th March
Ricardo Curbelo - Latin American Harp recital
1-1.30pm

Saturday 27th March
Jane Kendrick - Salsa taster class
12.30-1.30 pm

Tuesday 30th March
Mandala making
12.30-2 pm

Wednesday 31st March
Lesley Palmer - seed pot planting and making
12.30-1.30 pm

For further information, email Helen Gheorghiu Gould (Development Worker) at hsgheorghiu@btinternet.com or tel: 07866 451744.

Faith & Image: Vincent Van Gogh

The next Faith and Image event is a talk on Vincent Van Gogh by art historian, Roberta Flynn, on Tuesday 23rd March at St Marys Woodford followed by a visit to the RA exhibition on the morning of Friday 26th March. Contact Mark Lewis on 020 8504 5840 / 07981757426 or at info@drawingfirst.co.uk for more details.

Stations of the Crown of Thorns commission (2)

Henry Shelton's Stations of the Crown of Thorns have been hung at St Paul's Goodmayes, following rewiring and redecoration, while Henry continues to work on the tryptich which will complete and form the centrepiece of the scheme.

The next stage with the tryptich will involve its being hung in position behind the existing crucifix before the works are completed in situ. The final stage will be the fitting of a glided frame.