St George’s Arts is an arts organisation based in a redundant church in Esher, Surrey. This year we are organising a more varied programme including two residencies, an installation, exhibitions, artist’s talks and creative workshops for artists as well as the local community.
‘Thresholds’, Saturday 10 – Sunday 18 September, Janet Medway, Claire Reed and Ann Varlow
For our Showcase this weekend, we are very pleased to present exciting artwork created in the workshops throughout the week. Drawings, fabric paintings and digital prints from the creative use of mobile phone cameras all explore the changing moods and overlooked aspects of St. George’s.
Thank you to all the participants – it was a pleasure working along side you and the standard of work is fantastic.
Artist Ann Varlow writes about making work for ‘Thresholds’ at St Georges.
Impalpable, thought provoking, eternally peaceful – these are the words that describe the experience of working as an artist in the heart of the space that is St Georges Church.
It was a voyage of discovery as the research revealed a history with some unexpected stories. From the rioting Thomas Pelham, soon to become Prime Minister, who had to make quick his escape across the rooftops of London, to the very sad story of the much loved Princess Charlotte who died in childbirth – stories from the past that may have been printed in our newspapers today.
Every contemplative minute spent inside the building evokes a different sensation as the light changes and the sun illuminates a different casement window or highlights a corner of the installation shrouding. The wind blows gently through the open doorway, the shrouds billow as you glimpse the atmospheric drawings while the sound of the pendulum pulls you toward the video installations.
If you are ever invited to work in a church I would encourage you to do it and would totally recommend the experience – you may find yourself working on quite a different plane altogether, I know I did.
Artist Claire Reed writes about making work for ‘Thresholds’ at St George’s.
Fascination. Frustration. Inspiration.
The challenges faced in creating work for and installing work in a Grade 1 listed building have produced a roller coaster ride of frustration and elation – its been a great experience! There are certain protocols that need to be respected in a sacred space and of course you have to avoid fixing into or damaging the building and any of its priceless contents. I definitely recommend working closely with someone who knows the peculiarities of the space. We have had the advantage of working with St George’s Visual Arts Organiser, Jane Ponsford, who has helped us devise innovative hanging solutions.
With ‘Thresholds’ timed to coincide with Heritage Open Days, the historical aspect of this church has been important to the concept of the installation. For me, some intriguing historical facts unearthed in our research have brought St George’s alive, changing my initial perception of it as a rather melancholy, historic site. We also felt that we could not ignore the spiritual essence here, after all, it is a sacred building. This quote from ‘How to read a church’ by Richard Taylor sums it up: ‘Admiring a church for its beauty or history alone is like admiring a Monet for its frame’.
The play of light throughout the building seems to highlight a capacity for transformation which prompted us to complement this with an idea of ‘the heavenly’ suggested through the ethereal nature of the work. Over this week, I have been surprised at how much the experience of the space changes as the strong winds billow the translucent drapes, animating the serene interior.
As the week goes on, I find myself increasingly inspired by this historic, hidden gem.
Claire Reed http://clairereed.co.uk
‘Thresholds’ has been installed and open for three days now and it is good to read the responses in the comments book. My favourite comment is about the way that the installation interacts with the C16 building; ‘the old church has become a time traveller’.
Thresholds: Behind the veil at St George’s, Saturday 10 – Sunday 18 September
ECAN artists Janet Medway, Claire Reed and Ann Varlow, bring into view the hidden spaces of St George’s Church through their installation, ‘Thresholds’.
Heritage Open Days in September celebrate England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to Heritage properties. We are delighted to present work by artists from the Epsom Contemporary Artist’s Network during this week of events exploring the hidden architectural treasures. They invite you to join them in St George’s Church, Esher, for a series of events celebrating its historic setting.
‘What initially caught our imagination about this building was the many thresholds and overlooked areas which, as we began to explore them, revealed a complex and intriguing history. Inspired by this and the idea of conservation and protection so crucial to the life of St George’s, we will be using traditional and new media to create an environment through which you can experience things concealed and revealed within the church’.
We are offering free drop-in workshops suitable for all ages 7 years to 70 years from 12th to 16th September. So come and join us on a journey of discovery, revealing the secrets of this fascinating building and explore the creative potential of this historic setting. The work that has been created will then be showcased during the weekend of 17th and 18th September.
A Digital Response with Claire Reed
Monday 12th September, 10am – 3pm
Experiment with your mobile phone camera or video to capture your response to St George’s Church. Bring your mobile phone and, if you have one, your phone’s USB cable.
Atmospheric Drawing with Ann Varlow
Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th September, 10am – 3pm
Using a range of drawing media, explore the changing moods of the church evoked by the new installation. Materials supplied.
Creative Drawing on Fabric with Janet Medway
Thursday 15th and Friday 16th September, 10am – 3pm
Explore St George’s through layers of drawing on translucent fabric. Materials supplied.
Tea and coffee will be provided and there will be a break for lunch.
Directions: St George’s Church is near the junction of Claremont Lane (the A244) and Esher Park Avenue behind the Bear Public House. The closest Bus stop is on Esher High Street (2 mins) and it is near both Esher Station and Claygate Station for trains to London and the south coast. There is parking directly outside (including disabled parking) or a pay car park at the Civic Centre (5 mins). Walk to St George’s from the car park via a path next to the Library.
For more information, please email us at [email protected] or phone Jane Ponsford, Visual Arts Organiser on: 01372 467720.
http://stgeorgesarts.wordpress.com
Epsom Contemporary Artists Network (ECAN) is a support and networking hub for contemporary artists in Surrey. It organises the annual summer arts festival at Bourne Hall, Ewell and aims to provide opportunities for Surrey residents to experience contemporary art outside London.
Claire Reed is an artist and graphic designer based in Surrey. A core member of ECAN, she holds a First Class BA Honours Degree in Fine Art. She has written for Art and Christianity Enquiry (ACE) Journal and her multi-disciplinary art practice has featured in solo and group exhibitions in London and the South East.
Janet Medway is a Surrey based artist and core member of ECAN. She gained her BA in Fine Art in 2009. Working across a range of disciplines from drawing to 3D installation, her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in London and Surrey.
Ann Varlow is a visual artist and Membership Secretary of ECAN. She specialises in drawing, having obtained her Fine Art degree from the University of the Creative Arts. She has exhibited in London and the surrounding areas.
