A Brush with Faith - exhibition
The Methodist Church Collection of Modern Christian Art
At Norwich Cathedral 26th April - 15th May 2005

This Spring, Norwich Cathedral will be hosting a major exhibition of important Christian modern art. The collection was drawn together by the Methodist Church and contains examples of many famous British painters.

The project is timed to coincide with the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

The pictures will be spread through the north transept, ambulatory, and four side chapels of the cathedral.

Paintings on display include those by:
Edward Burra
Elizabeth Frink
Eric Gill
Francis Hoyland
Ceri Richards
Georges Roualt
Graham Sutherland

The Collection was started in the 1960s with the purpose of encouraging Christians to appreciate good modern Christian art and to learn how to apply it to church environments. It travels constantly round the country but has never been to Norfolk before.

The Exhibition in Norwich will open the Collection up to a wide public and provide a setting for dialogue about faith with visitors; it will give Christians a chance to spend time as stewards and to engage with the public who come to view the exhibition, while overseeing its security. Many of the pictures are quite arresting to look at and make a powerful impact. Although the paintings are all modern, they are not all by any means 'difficult'.

Exhibition Guided Tours: For Schools or Adult Groups
Contact: Saul Penfold, Education Officer Tel: 01603 218 320

Volunteer Stewards required
We wish to recruit Stewards from the arts and ecumenical communities; stewards will patrol the collection and be on hand to chat to visitors about their response to the paintings. There will be a stall for the sale of books and postcards.

We would be delighted to hear as soon as possible from anyone who can offer to be a Steward for a half day or a whole day, or who could help with the setting up and dismantling of the exhibition during the week before and the week after.
Training session for Stewards:
Saturday 16th April, 10 am - 12 pm at Norwich Cathedral
Contact Revd Pauline Greasley, 01603 261409.

Exhibition Events

Radio: 'Pause for thought' Radio Norfolk
Monday 25 - Saturday 30 April, at 5.45 am
Local figures share reflections on chosen paintings.

Lecture: 'The Faith Behind the Brush' Canon Phillip McFadyen
Thursday 28 April, at 7.30 pm
Chapelfield Road Methodist Church, Norwich. FREE
Public Lecture on the Artists and Paintings in the exhibition (illustrated with slides). Admission free.

Lecture: 'Graham Sutherland, Church Artist and Man of Fire!'
Mr. Tim Egan, Curator of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales
Sunday 1 May, at 8.00 pm
Prior's Hall, Norwich Cathedral.
Public lecture on the art of Graham Sutherland (illustrated with slides)

The lecture will begin with a brief survey of art and design in English cathedrals durng the early to mid 20th century and then look chronologically at Graham Sutherland's various church commissions and other related works before ending with some comments on his theology.

The lecture will follow the Exhibition Act of Worship organised by the Norwich Methodist Circuit at 6.30pm in the Cathedral.
Tickets: £3 available from the Cathedral Shop (01603 218323)


Seminar: 'Gazing at the Gospel' Susanna Gunner
Saturday 7 May, from 10.00 am - 3.30 pm
Norwich Cathedral. FREE
An opportunity to spend time with this arresting exhibition and to reflect closely upon several of the paintings with the help of prayer, silence, poetry and music.
Contact: Jenny Poltock Tel: 01603 622 805

FREE Training session for Teachers:
Close Encounters: Free workshops for Norfolk Teachers: Equip yourself to enhance your pupils' experience of the exhibition; a unique opportunity to support art, RE and literacy.
Contact: Saul Penfold, Education Officer Tel: 01603 218 320

Links

Read more on the BBC Norfolk website