Between

Friday, 12 May 2023

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.

New Town, New Collection: Tales from George Morl’s private art collection

12 – 14 May 2023St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

This exhibition brings together works acquired by artist and curator George Morl. Through founding a collection which reflects on the communal legacies of New Towns, Plotlands, and the possibility of human connections across the virtual world, it visions a future art collection centring support. New Town, New Collection features works by contemporary artists such as Grayson Perry, Elsa James, Madge Gill, Rosie Hastings & Hannah Quinlan, Uma Breakdown, as well as by Morl.

Friday 12 May 7.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church - Talk: New Town, New Collection

Join George Morl for a talk about their collection as displayed in the exhibition New Town, New Collection. Reflecting on experiences as an artist and through their role as Programme Assistant at Firstsite in Colchester, Morl shares their joy of acquiring art, and motivations for building a collection to share for others.

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Bruce Cockburn - Us All.

Wednesday, 10 May 2023

Artlyst: Saint Francis Of Assisi - A Timely Exhibition

My latest exhibition review for Artlyst is on Saint Francis of Assisi at the National Gallery:

'The National Gallery’s Saint Francis of Assisi exhibition explores how Saint Francis captured the imagination of artists, how his image has evolved over centuries, and how his universal appeal has transcended time, continents, and differing religious traditions. Through more than 40 works of art which span more than seven centuries and range from medieval painted panels and relic-like objects to manuscripts and a Marvel comic, the exhibition illustrates the claim that, apart from the saints of the New Testament, Francis is probably the most represented saint in the history of art. That reality came about because the growth of the Franciscan movement went hand in hand with the rapid spread of imagery by some of the greatest artists. Art historians have estimated that as many as 20,000 images of Francis might have been made just in the century after his death.

Francis embraced Christ, his message, and way of life – as is literally depicted for us in Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s ‘Saint Francis embracing the Crucified Christ’ – with a depth of insight and commitment that was unsurpassed in his own time and has remained so ever since. That is part of his continuing inspiration and attraction to so many, alongside the breadth of his radicalism, which embraces environmental concerns, gender equality, issues of poverty and wealth, and interfaith engagement.'

In the review I also mention Arthur Boyd: The Life of Saint Francis at the David Roche Foundation in Adelaide and Sacred Meetings - paintings by Greg Tricker at the Marylebone Theatre. For more on Arthur Boyd see here and for my Visual Commentary of Scripture exhibition that includes a piece from Boyd's Nebuchadnezzar series click here. My review of Greg Tricker's The Christ Journey for Art + Christianity can be found here.

My other pieces for Artlyst are:

Interviews -

Monthly diary articles -

Articles/Reviews -

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Mumford and Sons - The Cave.

Start of the One Beautiful World Arts Festival

There is a feast of The Arts beginning this Friday in Wickford and Runwell with the One Beautiful World' Arts Festival, which has churches in Wickford and Runwell as its venues. Art, collections, dance, music, photography, poetry. Art trails, concerts, exhibitions, performance, readings, talks.

The One Beautiful World Arts Festival includes the following: Art Trail - 20 May; Concerts - Six Hands Together (12 May), Emma-Marie Kabanova (14 May), Yardarm Folk Orchestra (19 May), Festival Music Event (21 May), Simon Law (26 May); Dance - Steven Turner (13 May); Exhibitions - Tim Harrold (12-26 May), George Morl collection (12-14 May), Jackie Burns (16-26 May), Compass Photography (19-20 May), Wickford Christian Centre (25 & 26 May); and a Poetry Reading (20 May).

The Festival begins with the following events:

Friday 12 May, 2.00 – 4.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church - Six Hands Together
An afternoon tea with entertainment from Six Hands Together at St Andrew’s Church and Centre. A retiring collection will be taken.

Friday 12 May 7.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church - Talk: New Town, New Collection
Join British artist and curator George Morl for a talk about their collection as displayed in the exhibition New Town, New Collection. Reflecting on experiences as an artist and through their role as Programme Assistant at Firstsite in Colchester, Morl shares their joy of acquiring art, and motivations for building a collection to share for others. New Town, New Collection features works by contemporary artists such as Grayson Perry, Michael Landy, Elsa James, Madge Gill, Rosie Hastings & Hannah Quinlan, Uma Breakdown, as well as work by Morl.

Saturday 13 May, 4.00 pm, Miracle House: One Beautiful World performance by Steven Turner (Next Step Creative)
The premiere of a new dance, exploring the creation of the world and the science that holds it together. Steven Turner has trained in a variety of dance styles, including contemporary, street, mime and moving with props. He founded Next Step Creative to promote collaboration between dance and other creative arts. Choreographing and teaching for Dance 21 (a dance company for children/young adults with Down’s syndrome), he has taught in Rotterdam and performed in UK and Europe.

Sunday 14 May, 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm, St Mary’s Runwell (Runwell Road, Runwell, Essex SS11 7HS)
A unique event combining performances of new sacred music with discussion. Performed by acclaimed violinist Emma-Marie Kabanova, this interactive event features new psalm-inspired works written by an international collection of Jewish and Christian composers. Curated and produced by Deus Ex Musica.

One Beautiful World is an Arts Festival exploring aspects of our one beautiful world from the creativity of human beings to the beauty of the natural world, while remembering the challenges that human activity poses to the planet. The Festival is a mix of art, dance, music, photography, poetry and spoken word. Churches are providing venues for the Festival events and the Festival has received funding from Essex County Council’s Locality Fund. For more information about the Festival see https://onebeautifulworldfestival.blogspot.com/.

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Emma-Maria Kabonova - Divine Light.

Awake, my soul!

Sunday 14 May, 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm, St Mary’s Runwell (Runwell Road, Runwell, Essex SS11 7HS)
A unique event combining performances of new sacred music with discussion.

Performed by acclaimed violinist Emma-Marie Kabanova, this interactive event features new psalm-inspired works written by an international collection of Jewish and Christian composers.

Curated and produced by Deus Ex Musica.

No ticket required. A retiring collection will be taken.

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Emma-Marie Kabanova - Prelude, Hornpipe and Fantasy Pasacaglia.

Steven Turner: One Beautiful World dance performance

Saturday 13 May, 4.00 pm, Miracle House: One Beautiful World performance by Steven Turner (Next Step Creative)

The premiere of a new dance, exploring the creation of the world and the science that holds it together.

Steven Turner has trained in a variety of dance styles, including contemporary, street, mime and moving with props. He founded Next Step Creative to promote collaboration between dance and other creative arts. Choreographing and teaching for Dance 21 (a dance company for children/young adults with Down’s syndrome), he has taught in Rotterdam and performed in UK and Europe.

Tickets available on the door.

One Beautiful World is an Arts Festival exploring aspects of our one beautiful world from the creativity of human beings to the beauty of the natural world, while remembering the challenges that human activity poses to the planet. The Festival is a mix of art, dance, music, photography, poetry and spoken word. Churches are providing venues for the Festival events and the Festival has received funding from Essex County Council’s Locality Fund. For more information about the Festival see https://onebeautifulworldfestival.blogspot.com/.

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Steven Turner.

Monday, 8 May 2023

The Age of Destruction and Lies and (close)

Here are upcoming collections by two of my favourite poets:

Rupert M Loydell - The Age of Destruction and Lies
Published June 2023. Paperback, 104pp, 9 x 6ins, £10.95 / $18
ISBN 9781848618893

In this new book of poems Rupert Loydell writes about the world he now finds himself living in, questioning the damage caused by time, memory, lockdown, aging, politics, lies, neglect and disinformation. Whether grappling with social history, corrupt data, roadbuilding, Grenfell Tower, urban graffiti, faith and fine art, or 'the fickleness of language', these damaged prayers and disbelieving explorations are 'configured for maximum twitch'. And despite the resigned conclusion that 'we are only ever likely to have a clear backwards view', and even though 'it is totally absurd to expect answers that might help explain our world', Loydell clings to the way that 'memory is all about being able to change the past', and notes that 'the future is here right now'.

Rupert Loydell is the editor of Stride, a contributing editor to International Times and a Senior Lecturer at Falmouth University. He has many books of poetry in print, including Dear Mary, The Return of the Man Who Has Everything, Wildlife and Ballads of the Alone, all published by Shearsman, who also produced Encouraging Signs, a book of essays, articles and interviews. He has co-authored many collaborative works, and edited anthologies for Knives Forks & Spoons Press, Shearsman, and Salt. He also writes about post-punk music, pedagogy, poetry and film for academic journals and books.

'At times hard-hitting, at times biting, Loydell’s poems pull beauty from the broken contexts of a rudderless society. It is poetry of rebellion and of urgency that underscores the need for poetry, art, conversation, and friendship in what is rapidly becoming an alienating, contextless world.' —Andrea Moorhead

'Rupert Loydell’s world is strangely beautiful, or beautifully strange, but it’s also strangely familiar. What I like about Loydell’s work is his commitment to a kind of truth, not to experience so much as to language.' —Magma

'Loydell explored how we navigate the world around us, seen and unseen; how we might wonder, explain, and start to understand.' —Between

'[...] brilliantly surreal, acutely observed and funny.' —Ambit

https://www.shearsman.com/store/Rupert-M-Loydell-The-Age-of-Destruction-and-Lies-p542423549

For David Miller's next publication (close) from Knives, Forks and Spoons Press, I've written the following appreciation:

"David Miller examines words and phrases as if they are displayed on a rotating stand enabling us to view them from a myriad of different perspectives. In his poetry, prose and prose poems, things are never simply what they seem; there is always something more, something deeper, something beyond. Whether creating expansive word collages or paring poems down to their constituent parts, he is a skilled craftsperson utilising concision, elision, contrast and paradox to open up meanings as one opens up Matryoshka Dolls. At the heart of his vision are pathways leading us to the experience of expanse."

In reviewing Some Other Shadows for Stride Magazine, I wrote that:

"David Miller, under the influence of the sublime Robert Lax, is past and present master of just such a contemplative approach. Both combine close attention to each word chosen, the resonances of each word, and that word’s position on the page, with an equally close attention to the ordinary events of daily life and the depths that their words reveal of those events ...

Miller’s like and unlike images, questions and thoughts – affirmations and negations - are held together to form a whole that is simple yet complex, without contradiction because both are owned and honoured ...

Miller writes of Lax, that “it is the gentle yet strong focus, lucidity and faithfulness of the act of attention (to words, to the things and the people around him, to whatever he names in poems) that constitutes one of the most salient features of Lax’s poetry and also his life.” The same focus can be seen in Miller’s more diverse and genre crossing works and it is this core to his approach – whatever the genre – that becomes a model, not just for poetry, but also for life."

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David Miller & SpiritWork - Moments.