Wickford Remembers

 

See the 'Wickford Remembers' display at St Catherine's Wickford until 12 November. Archive photographs and stories of those who served in the two World Wars. Our thanks to Basildon Heritage for the display. See also the War Memorial and Commonwealth War Graves at St Catherine's.

Also, 'Wickford Heroes': A talk by Steve Newman, 3 November 2023, 7.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN.

Hear Steve Newman of the Wickford War Memorial Association and author of ‘Wickford Heroes - The Wickford & Runwell Roll of Honour Book’ speak about the War Memorial & some of those from Wickford & Runwell who made the supreme sacrifice in the World Wars.

Part of ‘Unveiled’, the fortnightly Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church.

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Mark Knopfler - Remembrance Day.

The Art of the Diorama

TIMOTHY HARROLD
The Art of the Diorama
St Catherine’s Church, Wickford
12-24 May 2023, part of the One Beautiful World Arts Festival

What is this?

An exhibition of miniature dioramas in boxes and drawers using the assemblage of found objects to create visual parables.

Who is Tim?

Tim was born in London in 1960. In the 1980s, he did a Foundation Course at Thurrock Tech and then a degree in Expressive Arts at Brighton Poly, during which time he co-founded the Theatre of the Bleeding Obelisk performance art group. His degree show included dioramas and assemblages using natural materials. Tim went on to teach art in secondary and further education, later working as a detached church youth worker. With his wife Vera, he created crossdenominational interactive prayer spaces and led creative workshops at national gatherings. Tim has shown his dioramas in a number of group exhibitions, notably with commission4mission in London and the Thurrock Art Trail. He has had solo shows: The Perceptual Eye at Well House Gallery (Horndon on the Hill, 2014) and Perceptualism at 35 Chapel Walk Gallery (Sheffield, 2017). Tim is also a poet, photographer, itinerant speaker, and has made a film. Tim & Vera live in Grays Thurrock, Essex and have 3 grown up sons and 2 grandchildren. 

What is a diorama? 

A diorama is a model representing a scene with 3- dimensional figures in miniature, or a work of art made by grouping together found or unrelated objects. The French word diorama means ‘through that which is seen’. 

What is assemblage? 

Assemblage is an artistic form or medium usually created on a defined substrate (an underlying layer) that consists of 3-dimensional elements projecting out of or from the substrate. Assemblage is 3-dimensional collage, typically using found objects. 

What is a visual parable? 

A parable is a story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. These works of art are visual allegories or metaphors with spiritual meanings. 

What is Perceptualism? 

‘Perceptualism’ is ‘where the conceptual and metaphysical meet’. Tim seeks not to show only the surface of things nor to see into the shallows, but to perceive and pictorially express the deeper things that lie in hidden depths. His dioramas are creative journeys into the enigmas of discovery, adventure and explanation. Isaiah 43:19 asks us, “Do you not perceive it?”

The wonderfully creative Mothers Union in Wickford and Runwell have created a special Coronation display at St Catherine's Church. Their display is called The Way to the Coronation. Visit to see how many faces you can identify.

St Catherine's is open through the day from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm, so do come in to see the exhibition and the display.

Foyer Display - Ruth Hutchinson

St Martin-in-the-Fields is home to several commissions and permanent installations by contemporary artists. We also have an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, as well as a group of artists and craftspeople from the St Martin’s community who show artwork and organise art projects on a temporary basis. One of the initiatives from this group is a changing display of work by the group members or artists linked to the group. Each month a different artist shows examples of their work, so, if you are able, do return to see the changing display.

Ruth Hutchinson came to England from Jamaica in 1959 to train as a nurse. Now in her active retirement she enjoys lots of artistic pursuits including her art and her poetry. She does lots of poetry with local groups. She is also a longstanding active member of the congregation at St Martin-in-the-Fields, one of the welcoming stewards’ team and a co-leader of The Archers. Her passion for the arts was ignited when she re-trained as a nursery nurse but really grew when she studied art after retiring in 2001.

Ruth writes: ‘The Tie Suit was inspired by “my Dave.” When he died I found it difficult to part with his ties. I added to the collection by gathering more ties from charity shops to first create my tie skirt which was a hit at parties and then create the Tie waistcoat Shirt.

Sometimes we can find it hard to part with our loved ones. By reusing we can creatively create something new out of something sad and at the same time protect our environment.’

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Julie Miller - All My Tears.

Foyer Display - Asanka Lekamalage

The changing monthly display by the St Martin-in-the-Fields artists' and craftspeople's group in the Foyer of the Crypt for January is by Asanka Lekamalage. Each month a different member of the group or artists linked to it will show examples of their work, so do look regularly to see the changing display.

Asanka is a member of the congregation of St Martin-in-the-Fields. He has been interested in art since childhood but didn’t have a chance to pursue it further until the last few years. He enjoys experimenting with colour, techniques and media. Currently, he particularly likes working in soft pastels and subjects from nature.

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The Innocence Mission - On Your Side.

Foyer Display - Rae Gillott

St Martin-in-the-Fields is home to several commissions and permanent installations by contemporary artists. We also have an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, as well as a group of artists and craftspeople from the St Martin’s community who show artwork and organise art projects on a temporary basis.

One of the initiatives from this group is a changing display of work by the group members. Each month a different member of the group will show an example of their work, so, if you are able, do return to see the changing display.

This month we have a selection of small baskets by Rae Gillott. Rae writes:

When our children were very young, friends and I began attending evening classes to keep our brains active. After a couple of false starts we ended up at a class learning how to re-cane chairs. When I had eventually completed all our chairs my tutor said ‘you’d better make a basket’. To be honest I was not keen. What I had glimpsed going on down the other end of the room did not look very interesting but there were several weeks of the term left and nothing else to do so I reluctantly started to make my first waste paper basket out of centre cane. From the start I was absolutely hooked and my life changed dramatically from then on.

I went on to study for the City & Guilds qualifications in basketry at the London School of Furniture being taught a wide range of techniques using many different materials by a fantastic group of experienced basketmakers. Then I joined The Basketmakers’ Association and was introduced, through their courses, to even more types of baskets, materials and techniques from the UK and overseas.

Basketmaking is a fascinating craft which, until the very recent invention and use of plastics, touched everyone’s life in one way or another, world-wide. Early peoples learnt to utilise whatever materials were to be found locally from wood and bark of large trees, through flexible stems like those of willow and rush found in the UK to grasses, roots, pine needles and countless other materials. Learning about the ingenious methods they found by which to make their materials flexible enough to use and the patterns and dyes they discovered is fascinating.

Eventually I came across Ply Split Braiding. This is not found widely around the world and is different from other weaving techniques I’ve come across in basketry in that the elements, the warp and weft, the stake and strand, are not taken in front and behind each other to form the structure, but are taken through. Soft materials, originally animal hair or plant materials, now cotton, wool etc., are twisted under tension to make cords, usually 3 or 4 ply, and then one cord is taken between the plies of another cord. In northern India this technique was used to make camel regalia but since research was carried out to understand the weaves, modern basketmakers and artists have started to form three dimensional objects using the technique. Ply Split Braiding has enabled me to indulge my love of colour and pattern.

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Eric Whitacre - Light and Gold: Lux Aurumque.

Foyer Display: Jenny Cox

The changing monthly display by the artists' and craftspeople's group at St Martin-in-the-Fields in the Foyer of the Crypt for November is by Jenny Cox. Each month a different member of the group or artists linked to it will show examples of their work, so do look regularly to see the changing display.

Jenny says, "Although I was born and brought up in London, I have felt close to the land and the countryside all my life. Nature was my extended family, and is still where I feel most at home. My relationship to Creation is a love affair, and my photographs are an expression of that love.

Since I was a child I have photographed the landscape, and it remains a process of prayer and praise. The images in this exhibition do not depict extraordinary places, but woodlands and forestry and streams.... I hope they express at least a little of the magic and mystery of the unseen worlds that can sometimes be sensed behind what we see.

The photographs are for sale. 25% of the proceeds will be given to Connection. If you would like to purchase one please contact me at jennyllcox@gmail.com, or on 07891 015332.

There are also 2 chalk pastel drawings in the display, made in the St Martin’s Art Club. To purchase a print of one of the drawings, please send an email, or phone".

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Leonard Cohen - Happens To The Heart.

Foyer Display: Dan Kaszeta

The changing monthly display by the artists' and craftspeople's group in the Foyer of the Crypt at St Martin-in-the-Fields for August is by Dan Kaszeta. Each month a different member of the group or artists linked to it will show examples of their work, so do look regularly to see the changing display.

Dan’s photographs were all taken on the same day in October 2010 during a visit to Liwonde National Park in Malawi, a 212 square mile park known for its wildlife. He explains: 

‘It was the end of the dry season and animals were concentrated around the Shire River, practically the only remaining water until the rainy season began after this visit. Susannah Woodd of this congregation was the driver during this small safari. 

The elephant in the first photo was quite unconcerned with our presence. The second photo was shot at considerable distance. The remaining elephant photos are of a group that were crossing through the forest. We were very lucky to spot them. I approached on foot only to have the group stop, turn on me, and decide that they did not like me. They were making stark eye contact with me and did not trust me. It was best for me to retreat.’ 

All of the photos were shot on slow-speed ASA 50 Fuji Velvia colour slide film, known for its rich colour saturation in bright sunlight, and were subsequently scanned to create “Giclee” prints.

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Hothouse Flowers - I Can See Clearly Now.

Foyer Display: Andrew Carter & Helen Ireland

‘Float’ & ‘Black and Blue’, handprinted on Japanese paper, 120cm x 45 cm, 2019, collaborative linocut prints by Andrew Carter & Helen Ireland

St Martin-in-the-Fields is home to several commissions and permanent installations by contemporary artists. We also have an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, as well as a group of artists and craftspeople from the St Martin’s community who show artwork and organise art projects on a temporary basis. One of the initiatives from this group is a changing display of work by the group members or artists linked to the group. Each month a different artist shows examples of their work, so, if you are able, do return to see the changing display.

‘Float’ was made in response to a walk along Studland and Shell Bay in Dorset, watching and collecting pieces of seaweed as they washed up and floated in the tide. Helen made a series of drawings from the sea weed and then we both cut the blocks and printed them with transparent ink so that the shapes would appear as layered, delicate traces. This piece was printed over a part of the second, splash print.

‘Black and Blue’ came about through a process of experimentation with making transient marks. Splashing, dripping, throwing and making spontaneous ink marks became the basis of this careful and slowly made print. This piece is about different types of time. A quick emotional response made slowly. The overlaying of two strong colours feels bold and all of the accidental markings have become deliberate and permanent.

Both works are made by the two of us; shared response, shared drawing and cutting blocks, choosing colour and printing. All takes time and requires decision making and working together. It has been an exciting challenge and these are the results. Both prints are Artists’ Proofs from an edition of 20.

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Cowboy Junkies - Powderfinger.

Foyer display – Rosalind Beeton

St Martin-in-the-Fields is home to several commissions and permanent installations by contemporary artists. We also have an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, as well as a group of artists and craftspeople from the St Martin’s community who show artwork and organise art projects on a temporary basis. One of the initiatives from this group is a changing display of work by the group members or artists linked to the group. Each month a different artist shows examples of their work, so, if you are able, do return to see the changing display.

For February, the display is ‘Music In Landscape,’ a series of mixed media paintings by Rosalind Beeton.

Rosalind writes: 

‘Being a musician and painter I have always been interested in synaesthesia, being able to see sound and hear colour. In these paintings I have tried to show how notes, music, cannot be trapped in a formal music stave as printed music is written. Music is free, it belongs to another dimension outside time or space, there are no boundaries only man-made use of bar-lines, a stave and time signature. In these paintings I have tried to show how these sounds, for me, can be related to the rhythms of landscape, how I find music in nature, the trees, the birds, the hills, the cosmos. For me, the act of painting is a very sensual activity. All these paintings are composed of mixed media, collage, graphite, oil and water colour.

I studied music for my B.Ed degree, learning about classical harmonic structures and how to compose pieces. I also spent many years training in art. I have played the piano since I was 7, and have played various instruments over the years but my great love has always been the cello, the music of which touches my heart deeply, so I am attempting to learn this beautiful instrument. Now I am also enjoying words in poetry that I write, enjoying the evocative musical sounds and colours that words can evoke and create. I feel privileged and happy to be a member of the Nazareth Contemplative Community here at St Martins-in-the-Fields.’

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Don McLean - Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).

Foyer Display: Michelle Fuller

1) 

Me

Intelligent

Gifted

Resilient

A Human Being

Native to earth

Tremendous

#M.I.G.R.A.N.T – This label captures only a finite idea of who I know I am.

2) The ‘Hostile Environment’ – the inhumane barriers constructed to debilitate and scar individuals - blocking integration.

by Michelle Fuller

St Martin-in-the-Fields is home to several commissions and permanent installations by contemporary artists. We also have an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, as well as a group of artists and craftspeople from our community who show artwork and organise art projects on a temporary basis. One initiative of this group is a changing display of work by group members or artists linked to the group. Each month a different artist shows examples of their work, so, if you are able, do return to see the changing display.

Michelle Fuller has been based in the UK since 2001. She is an accountant who formerly worked for the NHS for nine years. Having experienced the UK immigration ‘hostile environment’ first hand she decided to speak out about it. Since 2016 she has been a volunteer writer for the charity Migrant Voice, which encourages migrants to tell their stories and campaign for positive change. She conducts interviews and her articles continue to be published on their website.

In the summer of 2018 her two photos displayed here were part of Migrant Voice’s, ‘Changing Lenses, London Stories of Integration’ project which was exhibited at the Guardian. Michelle’s additional photos from the project can be found online here: http://www.migrantvoice.org/photography/michelle-fuller-changing-lenses-210818142827

Migrant Voice is a migrant-led organisation supporting fellow migrants, refugees and asylum seekers regardless of status or country of origin. They develop the media skills and confidence of migrants so that they may contribute directly to the media and public debates about migration in order to counter xenophobia and increase support for the rights of migrants.

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Eric Bibb - New World Comin' Through.