Exhibition: ‘New Vision’
* The ‘New Vision’ exhibition has now been deinstalled. The Collection continues to tour around the UK, for future tour dates, please visit the MMAC website.
Emmanuel Church, 48A Upperton Road, Eastbourne BN21 1LQ
Sunday 19th May 2024 to Thursday 13th June 2024
Open Tuesday to Sunday: 11.00am to 4.00pm
Admission Free
The Collection
The Methodist Modern Art Collection is one of Britain’s most important collections of modern religious art, comprising more than fifty paintings, prints, drawings, relief and mosaics. The artists include famous names from the British art world of the last 100 years (Graham Sutherland, Edward Burra, Elisabeth Frink) alongside more contemporary artists.
This collection was started by a Methodist layman and art collector, who along with a Methodist minister, wanted Methodist people to have an appreciation and understanding of contemporary art and what it could bring to illustrate the Christian story. The collection has steadily grown since then and has visited many towns and cities giving people of all denominations an opportunity to see this for themselves.
The Exhibition
Following the recent opening of its new church building in Upperton Road, Emmanuel Church, Eastbourne is proud to host an exhibition ‘New Vision’ featuring 35 pieces from this amazing collection of paintings.
The exhibition is open from Sunday 19th May to Thursday 13th June 2024. Viewing times are Tuesday to Sunday, 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m, and refreshments are also available during these hours. All are warmly welcome to visit and while admission is free, your donations are highly appreciated to help sustain the exhibition. The exhibition is curated by local artist, Pat Latham and includes a programme of workshops, talks, and reflections giving you an opportunity to view and learn more about this wonderful art collection. Admission is also free to these special events and further details can be found below.
Our Selection
Oil on canvas, 76.2 x 76.5 cm, c. 2003. ©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes.
The 35 pieces selected for our exhibition depict scenes from different events in the life of Jesus Christ. Some of the artists are Christian, others not, and they therefore offer widely differing perspectives on the Christian story. We hope that whether you are a person of faith or no faith, Christian or non-Christian, you will find yourself challenged in intriguing new ways through this exhibition.
The exhibition opens on Pentecost, in light of this, the exhibition is named‘New Vision’. This particular picture is one exhibit that best epitomises this theme. In this work, the artist wanted ‘to convey a sense of a hovering bird’ and offers strong intimations of the early verses of Genesis, darkness covering the face of the deep and the spirit of God ‘hovering on the chaos of the world’s first day’, as John Bell puts it. Bird and spirit are images which go hand in hand and so the painting also speaks of that same Spirit which would re-create the disciples, filling them with radiant courage.
Calendar of Events
Unless stated otherwise, it is not necessary to book for these special events, all are welcome. Please also be mindful, the exhibition is closed to the general public on Mondays.
Sunday 19th May
10:30 Morning Worship, led by Rev Paul Tabraham
18:00 Evening Worship, led by Rev Barbara Evans-Routley & Rev Dr David Hinchliffe
Wednesday 22nd May
12:30 Lunchtime Devotion, using ‘The Storm over the Lake’ by Eularia Clarke, led by Rev. Tricia Williams.
Thursday 23rd May
15:00 ‘Artists in the Methodist Modern Art Collection and the Towner Collection’, led by John O’Reilly (fee applies and booking is essential via Towner Eastbourne website)
Sunday 26th May
10:30 Morning Worship, led by Rev. Andy Melvin
16:00 ‘In Conversation with… John Brokenshire’, a British artist whose works have been exhibited in UK galleries for almost thirty years. His piece ‘Untitled – Pentecost’ has central place in the exhibition.
Monday 27th May
CLOSED to both general public & private groups
Tuesday 28th May
14:30 Emmanuel Guild, using ‘The Dalit Madonna’ by Jyoti Sahi, led by Tricia Elhinn and Carol Jewell
Wednesday 29th May
12:30 Lunchtime Devotion, using ‘The Supper at Emmaus’ by Roy de Maistre, led by Miss. Gillian Wood
Thursday 30th May
15:00 ‘Artists in the Methodist Modern Art Collection and the Towner Collection’, led by John O’Reilly (fee applies and booking is essential via Towner Eastbourne website)
19:00 ‘Seeing the Spiritual: The Story of the Methodist Modern Art Collection’, Illustrated talk by Professor Ann Sumner, Chair of the Methodist Modern Art Collection Management Committee
Friday 31st May
09:30 Messy Church does Art, led by Sarah Skelton
Sunday 02nd June
10:30 Morning Worship, led by Rev. David Yule
18:30 Evening Worship, led by Mr. Tom Lunt
Wednesday 05th June
12:30 Lunchtime Devotion using ‘The Dalit Madonna’ by Jyoti Sahi, led by Rev. Roger McAvoy
Saturday 08th June
10:00 Slow Looking Workshop: The More We Look, The More We See, led by curator of the ‘New Vision’ exhibition, Pat Latham
Sunday 09th June
10:30 Morning Worship, led by Rev. Paul Tabraham
Wednesday 12th June
12:30 Lunchtime Devotion, using ‘The Washing of the Feet’ by Ghislaine Howard, led by Rev. Gordon Harrison
Thursday 13th June
The last day to view the exhibition before it is deinstalled.
Special tours and groups are also welcome, please contact us to schedule a time.
Contact Us
For further information please contact:
Minister: Rev. Paul Tabraham
01323 730118
contact@emmanueleastbourne.org.uk
The Methodist Modern Art Collection
https://methodist.org.uk/artcollection
Location:
Upperton Road (on the corner of Watts Lane), Eastbourne, BN21 1LQ.