6 December 2007
One Canvas - Many Lives at Guildhall Art Gallery
“We painted what has touched our lives”
A vibrant and life-affirming community painting exhibition
opened today at the Guildhall Art Gallery.
Using art as a basis for bringing communities together, Art of
Community enables people from a variety of backgrounds to discover
their artistic abilities, share a common vision and create positive
relationships through group painting projects such as One Canvas –
Many Lives on show at the Guildhall Art Gallery from 6 December
2007 – 3 February 2008.
Art of Community was founded in 2005 by Ros Lewis-Williams, a
qualified art therapist. For this exhibition, she facilitated a
series of weekly workshops for community groups including Headway,
Kentish Town Football Club, survivors of the 7/7 bombings and the
Metropolitan Police to work collectively on oversized canvases in a
creative and supportive environment.
Ros Lewis-Williams said the paintings contain powerful and
surprising imagery.
“The group creations are often both inspiring and moving.
Painting together on one canvas generates negotiation, discussion,
disagreements, insights, tension, anxiety, fun and collaboration,”
she said.
The paintings contain talented individual expression, yet they
are also holistic in representing the entire community
organisation. Each painting is unique and will stand as a permanent
record of the groups’ achievement.
The exhibition at Guildhall Art Gallery is in two consecutive
parts.
Part 1 (6 December 2007 to 6 January 2008) displays the
work of the following London groups;
- Faith Group of Roman Catholic Priests and Brothers
- Harington Scheme
- Headway North London
- Sotheby Mews Day Centre
- Kentish Town Football Club
Part 2 (10 January – 3 February 2008) is comprised of
paintings from:
- The Inner London Teenage social group
- Metropolitan Police, The Safer Neighbourhood Team
- The Studio Upstairs
- 7 July Assistance Centre (survivors of the Tavistock bus
bomb)
Ends
Notes for editors
Guildhall Art Gallery
The Guildhall Art Gallery is home to the City of London’s
renowned art collection. It was established in 1885 but reopened in
a new building in 1999. The gallery houses an important group of
Victorian paintings and sculpture, including famous pre-raphaelite
works; fascinating views of London and Londoners from the 16th
century to the present; John Singleton Copley’s painting The Siege
of Gibraltar, which spans two floors of the gallery; and selected
works from Sir Matthew Smith’s Studio Collection. Visitors can now
also step into the arena of the Roman London’s Amphitheatre which
was recently preserved and is located beneath the gallery. Visit
the Guildhall Art Gallery’s website.
Guildhall Art Gallery & Art of Community exhibition
At: Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, Aldermanbury, London
EC2
From: 6 December 2007 – 3 February 2008
Opening hours: 10.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Saturday, 12.00 noon to
4.00pm Sunday
Tube: St Paul’s, Moorgate, Bank, Mansion House Adults £2.50,
concessions £1. Children, Friends of Guildhall Art Gallery, City
resident / worker – free entry with ID. Free admission to the
Gallery all day Friday and after 3.30pm other days.
Press enqueries
Cubby Fox at City of London on +44 (0) 20 7332 3451.