9 January 2008
Guildhall exhibition showcases work by Met Police officers,
inner-London teenagers and 7/7 survivors
A new exhibition at Guildhall Art Gallery, which brings together
‘collaborative art’ paintings by various London-based communities,
will be opened today (9 January) at 1.00pm by the Minister for the
Olympics and London, The Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP.
One Canvas: Many Lives (Part 2) is a unique collection of five
large group paintings by inner London teenagers, The Studio
Upstairs, Metropolitan Police officers from Fortis Green Safer
Neighbourhoods Team and survivors of the 7th July Tavistock Square
bus bomb. The work was facilitated by art therapist, Ros Lewis
Williams.
Vivien Knight, curator of the Guildhall Art Gallery, says: “It’s
been a privilege to devote space in the art gallery to these
paintings, which will engage, intrigue and perhaps, unsettle some
visitors. It is our view that the gallery should display art that
represents the feelings, experiences and interests of all sections
of society, and to help it tell the story of London.
“This is particularly true of the canvas painted by the
survivors of the Tavistock Square bus bomb. This terrible incident
was a major event in our collective history, and I hope that those
involved in creating the work will feel rightly proud of their
achievements.”
One survivor, who wished to remain anonymous, says: “In my
personal view, this painting represents the journey that we have
had to travel since that day - our pain, our efforts to make sense
of a cruel and tragic event that will be with us for the rest of
our lives, our daily struggles to recover from its consequences and
our constant search for a more hopeful future, in which peace and
tolerance are the prevailing forces that drive humanity.”
Admission to One Canvas: Many Lives (Part Two) is free on
purchase of a ticket (£2.50 for adults, concessions £1) to the Art
Gallery. Entry to Guildhall Art Gallery, which is run by the City
of London Corporation, is free of charge to City workers and
residents, as well as all day on Fridays and from 3.30pm on other
days.
Ends
Notes for editors
One Canvas: Many Lives (Part Two) is at the Guildhall Art
Gallery from 9 January to 3 February. The Gallery’s contact details
are: Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London, EC2V 5AE,
telephone 020 7332 3700, email
guildhall.artgallery@cityoflondon.gov.uk
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