Monday 21 February 2011

We Did It. A Very Busy Opening In Manchester.

www.antoniarolls.co.uk for my website
www.jesusonthetube.co.uk for the Jesus on the Tube image story and image
www.antoniarolls.blogspot.com for an account of an Artist and Mother in Bognor Regis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl44L6Izrd0 for a short film from the first weeks of creating the A Graceful Death exhibition by Bertram Somme




We Opened And All Was Well.

You are warmly invited to the A Graceful Death exhibition -

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St Nicholas Church, 408 Kingsway, Burnage, Manchester M19 1PL

From Saturday 19 February to Friday 25 February
In the Church

Opening Times

Sunday to Friday open from 12 - 1 pm and from 7 - 8pm
All other viewings happily supplied via appointment through Rachel on 0161 432 7009 

OPENING NIGHT SAT 19 FEB FROM 6PM - 9PM

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY FROM 7PM - 9PM


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This is the Heather Stott interview below, I am 1 hour 4 minutes into it. 
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00drdj1/Heather_Stott_Whitworth_Art_Gallery_and_royal_wedding_souvenirs
 

This below is the Mike Shaft interview from 20.2.2011. I am 1 hour 10 minutes into it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7dq

The Opening of the A Graceful Death exhibition was excellent.  It took a lot of effort and patience, it took time and energy but by 6pm on the Saturday, Rachel Mann's church of St Nicholas in Burnage looked very wonderful indeed.  It took the A Graceful Death Exhibition team a good three days to get the paintings unwrapped, sorted, a place for them to hang, the literature for the exhibition in the right places, the atmosphere created and the whole show to be appropriate not only to the subject, but to Rachel's truly amazing 1930s church.

There were two radio interviews to do at BBC Radio Manchester, on Heather Stott's programme on the Friday morning and then on Mike Shaft's programme early on Sunday morning.  Both those needed to be filmed as A Graceful Death is being made into a film by Neill Blume, who is both a sensitive, creative film maker and a friend.  That was possible through the kindness of BBC Radio Manchester - so thank you to them. The A Graceful Death team were Neill and his camera assistant Graham who drove up with me on the Thursday.  On Friday arrived the photographer and one of my oldest and dearest friends Eileen Rafferty, who is writing a book on the A Graceful Death exhibition and story.  Eileen knew Steve well, and was there for that final week.  She is very much a part of the whole creation of the exhibition.  Later on Friday my son Costya arrived;  Costya is very good at helping to organise my exhibitions.  He has helped many times and knows the ropes.  And finally on Saturday, Alan Bedford arrived to give his support and help. Alan is instinctively aware of what needs to be done, and is always a very practical and valuable person to have on any project.  He also knows the exhibition well, and can guide people during the openings, explaining and talking about the paintings and listening to what people have to say.  And the most important member of the team, Rev Rachel Mann who not only gave her church over to us, but accommodated all of us for three days at her home.  Rachel also made herself available for any help we needed, and was patient, calm and extremely sensitive to every one's needs throughout our stay.

The paintings were wrapped up and couriered over from Dublin, with thanks to my dear Dublin friends and to Philipp Matuschka who met the entire costs of the transportation.  Philipp has supported this exhibition by taking on the worry of transporting the A Graceful Death paintings to Dublin for the exhibition there at the end of 2010, and from Dublin to Manchester for this showing now.  Unfortunately, one of the most important paintings escaped the courier's attention.  Through nobody's fault, the painting of Steve "I'm Not Going Anywhere" was overlooked and remains in Dublin. I only discovered it's absence on the Friday when we were sorting out the hanging of the pictures in the church.  It is a very important painting, as it shows Steve at the very beginning of his journey to his death - it shows him alive and well, full of  normal every day health and life.  Alan sorted the problem out by printing and framing an A4 copy of it, and we displayed that.  

"I'm Not Going Anywhere" .  Steve well and happy and not concerned with his liver cancer diagnosis.  This painting has stayed in Dublin and accidently escaped the courier over to Manchester.  It will come over for the next exhibition in Birmingham inNovember 2011.
Rachel's church, St Nicholas in Burnage, is a huge, dark and imposing building from the outside.  It looks monumental and slightly alarming.  It is heavy, made of brick and looks weathered but tough, like an old warrior.  Inside - what a contrast.  It is clean, colourful, light, open, warm and welcoming.  As Rachel says, it is a place that has been constantly prayed into, and it is this that washes over you as you walk in.  The tough exterior fits perfectly with the beauty of the welcome inside.  The A Graceful Death team couldn't stay away from the church, we loved it. It really spoke to us.

Setting up the paintings was very hard work.  Once they were unwrapped and lined up along the pews prior to selecting a hanging space, they seemed insignificant inside this huge and gracefully empty church.  We had to have faith that they would be OK when hung, and that the exhibition and the church would compliment each other.  On the Thursday night, Rachel took me into the church alone with her for some silent time.  I needed to gather my thoughts and focus.  I have taken on much with the progress of this A Graceful Death. Each time I show it, the exhibition is larger and better known.  I am also making a film of it with Neill, and he neccessarily has to follow me and those involved to capture the whole story of how the exhibition works, and what it all means.  Rachel saw that I needed to be silent and alone to think clearly about how the exhibition would be presented.  That time alone with her, and later with Eileen too, made all the difference.  We got a sense of where we were and what we were doing.  Neill was very happy with this - it helps him if I don't flap about being indecisive and fragmented when he is trying to film.  

Before the exhibition opened, Neill interviewed Rachel about what it meant to have the A Graceful Death exhibition in her church.  She has taken a risk, the paintings are powerful and raw, and are visible and present in the church for each service that she takes.  Her congregation has to engage with them, and Rachel has had to take that into consideration.  Rachel does not take her ministry nor her congregation lightly.  She knows what she is doing;  I think she is right, the paintings are superb in the church and the subject is such that the church can take it and hold it with grace and strength.  When people started to arrive, they took their time looking and really engaging with the paintings.  Many people were visibly moved, and Rachel, Eileen, Alan and I moved among them talking and listening and being there.  Eileen was also taking photographs as the official photographer.  Neill and Graham interviewed a selection of those who were looking at the paintings, and asked them for their reactions.  Costya had organised the wine and food area, and had created a display of relevant cards and information which was very successful.  He arranged a space for people to sit and take time out, and put flowers and candles around the spaces that needed them.  In fact, he surprised us all by being a magnificent flower arranger.  Neill and Graham were very busy finding out what people thought of what they were seeing and experiencing, and documenting the reactions as they happened.

Alongside this A Graceful Death paintings I am showing a selection of Every Day Angels, and a small Jesus on the Tube exhibition.  I have found that this works well, people have more to look at than the subject of the End of Life.  And the end of life always takes part amidst life, so the two small unrelated but complimentary exhibitions give a grounding to the experience of walking amongst the A Graceful Death paintings and reading the A Graceful Death poetry.

A comment that struck me from a lady who spent a long time looking at the paintings was that though she had not experienced loss of someone close to her, and had had no real experience of grief and bereavement, she still cried because something about the A Graceful Death exhibition resonated with feelings of huge change and loss of other things in her life.  It was not a feeling of hopelessness - A Graceful Death should never affect people in that way - it was an empathy with the passing of things.  The passing of time, opportunities, relationships etc.

The exhibition is open now.  Please go and see it - call Rachel to make an appointment to be taken around.  The church is open generally between 12 - 1pm and 7-8pm, all other times call Rachel on 0161 432 7009.
And see you all there for the Closing Night party on Friday 25 February from 7-9pm .  I am not supposed to say anything, but it is also Rachel's birthday that day.  So we will have a double celebration!

Wednesday 16 February 2011

 BBC Radio Manchester Interview About The A Graceful Death Exhibition Friday

www.antoniarolls.co.uk for my website
www.jesusonthetube.co.uk for the Jesus on the Tube image story and image
www.antoniarolls.blogspot.com for an account of an Artist and Mother in Bognor Regis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl44L6Izrd0 for a short film from the first weeks of creating the A Graceful Death exhibition by Bertram Somme
 

You are warmly invited to the A Graceful Death exhibition -

 ***********************************************************************************
St Nicholas Church, 408 Kingsway, Burnage, Manchester M19 1PL

From Saturday 19 February to Friday 25 February
In the Church

Opening Times

Sunday to Friday open from 12 - 1 pm and from 7 - 8pm
All other viewings happily supplied via appointment through Rachel on 0161 432 7009 

OPENING NIGHT SAT 19 FEB FROM 6PM - 9PM

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY FROM 7PM - 9PM

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 If you have a moment, listen to Heather Stott on BBC Radio Manchester this Friday 18 February between 10 and 10.30 am.  She will be asking me about the A Graceful Death exhibition and will be talking about what it all means.

Then you can hot foot it to the Opening Night, details above, from 6-9pm.

A new addition, "Joyce Bedford Waiting With Friends At ACelestial Bustop."  Joyce is second from the left. Acrylic on Wood.
I am packing up the car now, and travelling up tomorrow.  The A Graceful Death Team will be arriving at Rachel Mann's to set it all up, on Thursday and Friday.  They are Rachel herself, Me, and members of Rachel's congregation.  Then the photographer Eileen Rafferty will arrive with her camera, the film crew Neill Blume and his camera man Graham, Alan who is coming for moral support, and my son Costya who will help in his own thoughtful ways.

I hope you will come too.

Sunday 13 February 2011

Rev Rachel Mann Is Getting Ready For A Graceful Death Exhibition In Her Church

www.antoniarolls.co.uk for my website
www.jesusonthetube.co.uk for the Jesus on the Tube image story and image
www.antoniarolls.blogspot.com for an account of an Artist and Mother in Bognor Regis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl44L6Izrd0 for a short film from the first weeks of creating the A Graceful Death exhibition by Bertram Somme


Rachel Mann, Music Lover, Poet, Maverick, Priest And Writer, Is Preparing Her Church For The 
 A Graceful Death Exhbition Next Week.

Alone.  A small painting of how I felt watching Steve slowly fade.  Acrylic on wood, approx 6"x 9"


You are all warmly invited to the exhibition.  It would be lovely to meet you, come along to the Opening Night on Saturday 19 Feb, 6-9pm.

Rev Rachel Mann has made her church ready for the paintings to be presented.

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St Nicholas Church, 408 Kingsway, Burnage, Manchester M19 1PL

From Saturday 19 February to Friday 25 February
In the Church

Opening Times

Sunday to Friday open from 12 - 1 pm and from 7 - 8pm
All other viewings happily supplied via appointment through Rachel on 0161 432 7009 

OPENING NIGHT SAT 19 FEB FROM 6PM - 9PM

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY FROM 7PM - 9PM

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Rev Rachel Mann is a passionate person.  She is a deep thinker, she is not afraid of the world, and has not only a calling to the Priesthood, but a powerful urge to live life. She is a wonderful writer, thinker and poet.  She has unusual musical tastes for a Vicar in that she loves and reviews Heavy Metal.  In fact, Rachel plays in her own Metal Band called Kingdom of the Blind and I have seen her - she is awesome! 

Despite ill health, Rachel's passion and love of Life gives me hope.  I take life for granted.  Rachel doesn't.  So when Rachel suggested the A Graceful Death exhibition be shown in her church, I knew that it would be good.  As a priest, she deals with the dying and the dead.  She counsels the bereaved, she sees how death affects her parishioners and she does not take such a subject lightly.  Rachel is an Artist too. She uses words and music as her medium and understands the importance of the power of creativity.  So I cannot turn up at her church with substandard paintings and substandard thinking.  She wouldn't stand for it.

I am looking forward to opening the exhibition next Saturday and I am so happy to have Rachel's support and help.  I look forward to meeting you all next week. 

Steve as Christ Head.  Oil on wood 24" x 24"

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Filming of A Graceful Death Starts Today (And Other News)

www.antoniarolls.co.uk for my website
www.jesusonthetube.co.uk for the Jesus on the Tube image story and image
www.antoniarolls.blogspot.com for an account of an Artist and Mother in Bognor Regis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl44L6Izrd0 for a short film from the first weeks of creating the A Graceful Death exhibition by Bertram Somme


Filming Starts Today And Other News

Preparations for the Manchester A Graceful Death exhibition are moving along. The  exhibition details are below -
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St Nicholas Church, 408 Kingsway, Burnage, Manchester M19 1PL

From Saturday 19 February to Friday 25 February
In the Church

Opening Times

Sunday to Friday open from 12 - 1 pm and from 7 - 8pm
All other viewings happily supplied via appointment through Rachel on 0161 432 7009 

OPENING NIGHT SAT 19 FEB FROM 6PM - 9PM

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY FROM 7PM - 9PM

************************************************************************************

Today, Neill Blume comes with his camera and we start.  We have decided to make a film with two story arcs.  

The first will be the creation of A Graceful Death - the story of how it began, and how it is still being created.  We will show how I manage the exhibition, how I take it to new venues, who I speak to, the nitty gritty of transporting the paintings and poetry, setting it all up and the process of inviting the public - or if it a private exhibition, inviting from a specially selected list.  All the publicity and the networking and the nuts and bolts behind the scenes will be charted.  Plus of course, Neill will interview members of the public who come and see the paintings.  He will talk to the families of those who have been painted for the exhibition, and what it means to take the decision to have a member of the family painted at the end of life.  There will undoubtedly be those who find the whole idea of A Graceful Death very difficult, and that will be important to chart.  Also taking part will be those who have helped in the making of the exhibition and who have hosted it.  What do they think of the exhibition now, after having agreed to host it?  

The second story arc will be the filming of those who are being painted for the exhibition.  Both those at the end of their lives, and those who I call Survivors.  Those of us who are left behind and somehow survive the grieving process.  We are very important people.  Life is still there for us, we have no choice but to go on living.  Before making a painting of someone for the exhibition, I go and meet them.  If possible we talk about what I am doing and what they want from it.  To spend time with the dying is sobering and humbling.  I cannot ever get used to it.  But I am compelled to honour this part of their lives, if I can.  And what they say can be so important.  When I went to speak to Peter Snell in his hospice, he was too ill to speak, and so his wife Anne spoke for me.  Peter didn't live to see the painting, but when he asked to be painted he was clear that he wanted his death to help others.  

Peter Snell and his wife Anne.  Oil on wood 24"x 24"

So today, we start the ball rolling.

Other News

The paintings are being delivered to Manchester to Rev Rachel Mann by the weekend.  They are coming from Dublin and are being couriered over by the kindness of an Irish business man who has put himself out to help.  I am going up this weekend to check them and to see if they have survived the journey. 

In the Spring, I am hoping to paint the portrait of an inspirational young man in his 40s, who is dying of MND.  He is a fabulous artist, a family man, and an all round normal human being.  He has agreed to a portrait, so Neill and I will go and meet him in April, and I look forward it.  I haven't met him, but from what little I know of him, he is witty and articulate.  Wonder if I will paint a wheel chair?  I have never painted a wheel chair before.  Got to understand how it works before I can paint it.  Another little job to do.  Once the meeting is finalised and I have his permission to publicise the painting, I will name him and introduce him to you.  He doesn't really need introducing - he is far more active than I am, he publicises MND and it's 
campaign for a cure.

 Back to the A Graceful Death in Manchester.  A painting of my darling partner as he waited in the hospice to die.  This is powerful and beautiful and terrible all at once.  This is the image that began the whole A Graceful Death exhibition.  It went to be part of an exhibition in Glasgow Cathedral a few weeks after Steve died, and the man who was curating in the Cathedral said of it,  "Ah.  A graceful death." which was how the exhibition I am now producing got it's title.  A big thank you to that inspired curator.


A Graceful Dying.  Waiting in the hospice, a few days to go.  Oil on wood, about 12" x 9"


Opening Night is on Saturday 19 February, at the church, from 6pm to 9pm.  See you all there.