The Cafe Below, St Mary Le Bow London Exhibition
Well, Wednesday 8th October and its up… a culmination of e-mails, conversations, creativity, framing, collecting, delivering, self doubting, deep satisfaction, and a whole chunk of heart and soul…
Firstly, I have to say, what an awesome building to have my work displayed in, St Mary Le Bow church, I have learnt, began around 1080 as the London headquarters of the archbishops of Canterbury, survived three collapses before being completely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, it was destroyed again in 1941 but was rebuilt and re-consecrated in 1964. The interior is amazing and well worth a visit.
My encaustic work is displayed downstairs, in the crypt, which has been turned into a bustling city cafe, its walls date back to William the Conqueror with a few finishing touches by Wren. The crpyt is apparently, the oldest of its kind in London.
So, it is with surprise and awe that of all places I am showing my work here! Time will tell what response, if any, my work will get. There are strict limitations on how and where work can be hung on the walls, no drilling new holes allowed, no matter how fabulous it might look! So I have hung the maximum quantity I can in the spaces available, eight pieces of Encaustic and Mixed Media Wax work on display.
I have not arranged a private view, much like our open studios, we just ran out of time, the past few months have whizzed by in a blur and it has been a job just to get the work up there. Now it is up, I can take my foot off the gas just a bit and take time to reflect upon the past five weeks, catch up on everybody I have met, contact the people I have promised to contact and pick up on the next stage of my journey.
The exhibition will run throughout October into early to mid November. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 7.30am – 2.30pm (don’t do what I did and go on a Saturday!) Final take down date is still being confirmed as I write this.
Big thanks to Joel Chernin who has arranged this show. Paula and Pam for helping me get the artwork there and on the walls, straight! To Anthony and Rachel for the use of the cafe and everybody else in between who has helped this exhibition come about.
If you are in the area, drop in, have a cuppa and take a look. Make sure you check the church out too and let me know what you think.
Enjoy!
http://www.stmarylebow.co.uk/#
http://www.cafebelow.co.uk/index.html
PS – It has made me chuckle each time I’ve heard the church bells, to be classed as a true cockney you are supposed to have been born within the sound of Bow Bells, my husband has debated so many times about the true validity of being a cockney and it seems ironic that I am now showing my work here. The Cornish Cockney connection continues!
