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Ancestors - New Hanbury Project Art Exhibition (September 2011)
Works by artists from Shoreditch homelessness project to show at Oxford House
Art students from the New Hanbury Project – a personal development and training centre operated by the Spitalfields Crypt Trust that provides hands-on, practical training to people recovering from homelessness, addiction, mental health problems, learning difficulties, and long-term unemployment – will present an exhibition of their work entitled "Ancestors" at Oxford House in Bethnal Green, London. The exhibition will open to the public on Tuesday 6 September and continue through the 26 September. A private viewing for invited guests will be held on Monday 5 September from 6 to 9pm. This will be a unique opportunity for members of the community and Greater London to see the work of these talented and inspirational artists.
For the art students at the New Hanbury Project, learning to express themselves creatively is an important part of their recovery process. This exhibition, in particular, has a great deal of meaning for the artists and challenged them to explore their history and the lives of their ancestors.
Inspired by the lifestyle of their ancestors, the students have used this exhibition to explore how their ancestors may have lived in the middle of the 19th century. After frequent research trips to local libraries, the students poured through books and engaged with each other in discussion to develop their ideas. As it was not always possible for the artists to locate the exact details of their ancestors, the final works are the result of that research mixed with the imaginations of each artist. Combining imagination with fact, the artists have created strong, moving works in watercolour, acrylic and mixed media on various scales. The result is a selection of colourful paintings showing various aspects of life around the year 1850.
For many of the students at the New Hanbury Project, having the opportunity to display their work is an important and liberating experience. In the words of one of the art students, “I used to think pleasure was found in a bottle. I have discovered it can be found in a pen or pencil – thank you, Hanbury.”
All paintings in the exhibition are for sale, with prices ranging from £30-£100 each (80 per cent of proceeds go directly to the artist with 20 per cent going toward the continuation of the art course at the New Hanbury Project).
"Ancestors" will be exhibited from 6-26 September 2011 at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG. Oxford House is open weekdays from 9am-9pm.
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