The Methodist Art Collection 'Space' Retreat

The Leicester Retreat Day at St Andrews Church

In June this year the Methodist art collection came to Leicester City. It was displayed in the  Cathedral Church of Saint Martin, where Richard III is now buried. I was asked by the Methodist Church if I would lead an Art Retreat at St Andrew’s Church. There were eight artworks on display including those by Francis Hoyland, Phillip Le Bas, John Reilly, Jyoti Sahi and Francis Newton Souza.
The retreat gave participants the opportunity to view and discuss these paintings with me and then I gave a talk about my work before we all spent some time making a piece of artwork. (See the images below) 

The first thing that struck me about the exhibition was its location. As a Christian I felt a stronger connection to the artwork in this Church. At the start of the day I encouraged everyone to consider this. We often see paintings in a more sterile space, with white walls, in an environment removed from the world. They are preserved and can feel artificial.
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In a place of worship where people bring their prayers, emotions, troubles and joy an artwork takes on a deeper meaning. Paintings ask us many questions which can change according  to our different perspective at different times. We react in new ways and see new things in pictures different times, as you do when reading a book for the second or third time. The paintings in St Andrew’s offer colour, texture, expression, emotion, and worship in a place that is all about the human condition, meeting with God and each other.

During my talk I introduced my ‘word art’ and brought along my painting called ‘Baptism’ which is my testimony following my Baptism in 2013. You can read more about this here. This shows a cross on a lake at my home town in Irthlingborough and is made using collage words from prayers. The delegates were then given a chance to contemplate the day and make a cross of their own. See the results below.... ​

“The Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars.” 
 Francis A. Schaeffer, Art and The Bible

This was some of feedback people gave of our day. Thanks everyone! 

• A good day. The “therapy” of creating, learning about and sharing other people’s art
• Use of words to create art
• That I can be creative given the right medium
• To make time to be creative
• That a simple process can be used to deeply focus
• The importance of allowing time and space to reflect and how I can use art within that
• Peace and patience
• How I could use this day to move me on with worship leader training
• I can create, I have got some good ideas
• How creativity can be an act of worship
• Relaxation! Experimentation!