all change for Wallspace...
Wallspace closed down as a company with charitable status on 28 February 2011. Unfortunately, given the current economic climate, it is difficult for organisations like this to remain viable. In our particular circumstances, we could not confidently foresee being able to raise the necessary funds to build a future. So, rather than put voluntary contributions at risk, we decided, with regret to close our doors. For a fuller explanation, please see the letter from our Trustees below.
But we do not want to see the vision that launched Wallspace and gave it a vibrant, groundbreaking four years, die out. We are now looking to the future. Wallspace’s director, Meryl Doney, will continue as a freelance curator and consultant with specialist knowledge of showing artworks in unusual venues, like cathedrals and churches. She will continue to use the name Wallspace, and host a reconfigured website. In this new manifestation, she will still be in a position to offer many of the services that Wallspace provided to its broad family. So watch this space.
Two exhibitions to continue at All Hallows on the Wall
19 MAY 6.00–8.00
An exhibition of the work of children from St John’s School, Bethnal Green, curated by Regan O’Callaghan and Lucy Brennan Shiel.
21 June 6.30–8.00
CITY: Student from the Royal College of Arts’ Ceramics and Glass Department will be producing work inspired by the centrality of All Hallows in the City of London.
DO KEEP IN TOUCH
If you are still on the Wallspace mailing list you will be kept up to speed on future developments and sent a link to the new website when it has been developed. In the meantime, please keep in touch: Email: meryldoney@me.com
THE LETTER FROM OUR TRUSTEES
You can download a PDF of a letter from the Trustees here
SOME STATISTICS
In our four years of operation we have:
Curated 14 exhibitions and four performance pieces
Worked with 128 artists, 232 volunteers and 3 interns
Built a mailing list of over 300 young and emerging artists
Welcomed more than 15,500 people through the doors
Hosted 3,433 people for special events and private views
Held 10 special services and more than 60 Take Time on Tuesday lunchtime meditations
Built a mailing list of over 3,600 people
Offered advice and mentoring to over 25 individuals and groups
Press coverage included an interview with Mark Lawson for BBC’s Front Row and Faith in the Frame with Melvin Bragg, World Service, Resonance FM. Times, Financial Times, Telegraph, Independent on Sunday, Evening Standard, Church Times, Methodist Recorder, The War Cry, ArtRabbit, Visit London and any number of blogs.
EXHIBITIONS IN 2010
The two survey exhibitions – our farewell shows, as it turns out – were a great success.
The Collection: Highlights of the Methodist Art Collection:
was opened by art historian and journalist Richard Cork and over a thousand people attended in four weeks. One of the aims was to draw attention to the new acquisitions currently being made for the Collection by the Trustees. Alongside the Collection’s ‘greatest hits’ by George Rouault, Graham Sutherland, Eric Gill, William Roberts and F N Souza Wallspace was able to show new works by Craigie Aitchison, Susie Hamilton, Peter Howson andd Roger Wagner.
What people said about The Collection
"I congratulate you for putting on such a very special show." Richard Cork
"This is quite the best showing of the Collection I have seen in ages, largely owing to the hang itself." Nicholas Cranfield, Church Times
"I would like to say how splendid the exhibition looked. Very well deserved congratulations to Meryl and her team!" John Gibbs, Chair of Trustees, Methodist Collection of Modern Art
"We recommend a visit to Wallspace on London Wall. It definitely achieves its aim ‘to provide a spiritual home for the visual arts in the capital’ and ‘to explore the relationships between art and spirituality." William Roberts Society
"Meryl and her team are to be congratulated on the brilliantly executed hang of the exhibition at Wallspace. From the foyer the first glimpse of the Craigie Aitchison gave a hint of what was to follow. The visual impact was quite stunning". Friends of the Methodist Art Collection
Commission: contemporary art in British churches:
included For You, a new edition of Tracey Emin’s neon piece created for Liverpool Cathedral. We were able to announcement the winner of the new commission for Chichester Cathedral at our Panel event. It was good to co-curate the exhibition with Paul Bayley of Art and Christianity Enquiry and to include the launch of their new monograph, Contemporary Art in British Churches.
What people said about Commission
"Wonderful experience. Well explained – I want to go and visit all these churches now!!"
"Very interesting. Lovely old idea of having services amongst art."
"Interesting and helps to places often ‘lonely’ work - seemingly isolated – into a wide, richer practice. Thank you. Catalogue very good and important to substantiate these works and their origins."
Envisage
More Easter Island than Easter, Richard Gilbert’s huge and fearsome heads provided a unique vision of the traditional ‘stations of the cross’. They provided a challenging sculptural journey and an opportunity for meditation in the run-up to Easter, and many visitors lingered in All Hallows for far longer than the usual exhibition stay.
What people said about Envisage
"It’s been a journey again for me to see Christ’s passion and at times I was moved to tears. Thank you,"
"Well-suited work to the setting. Fantastically weird as always!"
