Thursday 26 September 2013

Members update: Clack & Pavliv-Tokarska

Christopher Clack will be showing two pieces of work at the 5th annual Urban Dialogues exhibition from 2 - 14 October at Red Gallery, 3 Rivington St, London EC2A 3DT. The private view is on the evening of 1st October. All are welcome. 
 
"Clack’s work examines the relationship between art and religion and the part this relationship plays in the contemporary world. 
 
Part of a larger series of work, both In God We Are Imagined and God Is Dead Now Pray are influenced by the central ideas of Negative Theological thinking. Negative Theology attempts to describe God by negation; to think only in terms of what may not be said of God. Fundamentally, negative theology is an attempt to overcome the confines of language, it is a recognition that ideas of God and the Divine cannot be sufficiently addressed by human expression. Furthermore, it argues that attempts to do otherwise have been the cause of individual and inter-group conflict. The negative way is a process of removing that which causes conflict,
so that we can look beyond and behind the words. " 
 
The annual Campaign for Drawing has one aim, namely to get everyone drawing! Drawing helps us understand the world, see, feel, shape and communicate ideas. It is fun, accessible and an invaluable way to learn and enjoy daily life’s blessings.
 
To celebrate this medium, Tokarska Gallery in collaboration with Frank Gambino’s Life Drawing Class has organised a drawing event which will coincide with duration of The Big Draw exhibition at the Gallery. The show runs: 3 – 19 October 2013, Thur - Sat, 12 - 7 pm. Private View: Thur 3 October 2013, 6pm - 8pm. 
 
Additionally, Frank has arranged for an extra drawing class with a clothed model on Thur 10 October 2013, 6.30 – 9.30 pm. This is open to all age groups. Frank’s drawing classes provide an excellent platform for professional, beginner or amateur artists. Book your free place or just drop in and discover your hidden drawing talents.

Thursday 19 September 2013

Members update: Christopher Clack



Christopher Clack has a print included in the current exhibition at Esbjerg Art Museum. Entitled 'What am I doing here?' this exhibition explores art and human existence.

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Members update: Nadiya Pavliv-Tokarska

Latest and well-known earlier works by Nadiya Pavliv-Tokarska are at the Tokarska Gallery until 28 September 2013 (Thursday – Saturday, 12 - 7pm).

"In her works, Nadiya sees London as a expressive essence that takes on different dimensions and identities, delivered through a subtle balance of intensity, vibrancy and dynamics of the images.

More than often this vision of city expression as a being encompasses structures, humans, vehicles and other creations that collectively make an uncensored depiction of daily life in the city. Capturing energy of this collective formation serves as a great source of challenge and fascination for the Artist."

Monday 16 September 2013

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 21st - 23rd 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 22nd 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.

Thursday 12 September 2013

Opening of National Society Exhibition







 
Ross Ashmore and Peter Webb spoke at the opening of the 80th annual exhibition of The National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Printmakers on Tuesday at the Menier Gallery.
 
The exhibition can be viewed until Saturday 21 September and also features the work of two other commission4mission artists,  Michael Creasey and Elizabeth Duncan Meyer.
 
The exhibition provides an opportunity for the public to see a broad range of work encompassing a dynamic mixture of contemporary paintings, sculpture and printmaking by well established artists from around the UK. Not only is there hung work to view but also works on paper in browsers and artist cards. 

Friday 6 September 2013

Members' update: Ross Ashmore


Ross Ashmore writes: "It's a pleasure to be have been asked to open this exhibition at the Preview on Tuesday 10th September. The National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Printmakers is a wonderful society. Previous members who are now much acclaimed in the B
ritish art world include Mark Gertler, Jack B. Yeats, L. S. Lowry, David Bomberg, W. Russell Flint, Henry Moore, Bernard Meninsky, William Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, Christopher Nevinson and Frank Dobson.
 
Ross' work is included in the show, along with fellow commission4mission members Michael Creasey, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer and Peter Webb. The exhibition, which will be held at the Menier Gallery and will be the 80th annual exhibition of The National Society, can be seen from Tuesday 10 - Saturday 21 September.