Everything is Connected

The Yorkshire West Methodist District of the Methodist Church is bringing an exhibition, Everything is Connected, drawn from the Methodist Modern Art Collection to Bradford this autumn, 5 September – 12 October. The artworks will be displayed as part of the City of Culture celebrations across five venues in Bradford city centre, Ben Rhydding, Thornton and Apperley Bridge. Bars and cafes along North Parade in Bradford will also be displaying reproductions of the artworks.

A total of 23 original works from the Methodist Modern Art Collection (MMAC) will be exhibited, including two brand new acquisitions to the Collection, stained-glass artwork Preaching by George Walsh and abstract oil painting, Love Triumphant by John Reilly; both on display for the very first time. Themes explored through the artworks at the respective venues include “peril” - in relation to faith, the environment, climate change and the impact of conflict around the world; women artists from the Collection and Biblical women figures; and “what hope means” to a school community with an international student population.

The venues and the District as a whole hope to connect visitors with the artworks in innovative ways through the re-interpreting of the works, telling new stories and inspiring creativity. Works across venues have been carefully selected through co-curation, to explore a variety of themes from Peril and Hope in the challenging and changing world today, to Faith and Creativity, Positive Action and Spiritual Journeys.

Verity Smith, Faith and Arts Development Lead for the Yorkshire West District and manager of the project explains, “MMAC Bradford 2025 is enabling opportunities for a variety of creative activity, and we are thrilled to be able to collaborate with Imogen Joyce, Artist in Residence, and Becky Cherriman, Creative Writer in Residence, with funding from the Gibbs Trust. We are very grateful to the Gibbs family for their enthusiasm and encouragement in this project. If you have never visited the city of Bradford and the venues that will be displaying artworks, this is the year to do so. You will be very warmly welcomed!”

A full programme of events accompanies the exhibition and will be announced shortly.

“We are hugely excited to be part of Bradford 2025”, said Professor Ann Sumner, Chair of the Methodist Modern Art Collection Management Committee. “Connecting themes thread through the exhibitions and displays and will be explored by our artists in residence through workshops and events, while local creatives have responded to selected works, as well as creative groups and schools. Connectivity has fostered new ways of seeing and interpreting the works on display through the eyes of local communities.”

The five main venues are Bradford Cathedral, Ben Rhydding Methodist Church, South Square Centre in Thornton, St James’ Church in Thornton and Woodhouse Grove School Chapel. An Art Trail leaflet will provide more information for visitors on each venue, the exhibition of works and the associated programme of events. This will be published and distributed in the coming weeks.

The District and MMAC Management Committee are also working with volunteers, who will be kindly giving their time to steward at venues, to promote the exhibition and facilitate creative activity over the coming months. If you would like more information on how to get involved, and the programme of activities, please visit https://ywmethodist.org.uk/bradford2025/ or www.itsoninbradford.co.uk

Notes

The Methodist Modern Art Collection

The Methodist Modern Art Collection - The Methodist Church

The Methodist Modern Art Collection is one of the Methodist Church’s greatest treasures. It is an outstanding collection of 20th and 21st Century religious art, founded in 1962 by Dr John Morel Gibbs during the post-war revival in British religious painting. Since then, it has grown to comprise more than 60 paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures including examples of British 20th Century paintings by Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink and Maggi Hambling, as well as examples by South Asian artists F N Souza and Jyoti Sahi. The Collection has enhanced worship, opened faith conversations, amazed visitors, and inspired different art forms including poetry and dance.

Venues

Bradford Cathedral

1 Stott Hill, Bradford BD1 4EH

Ben Rhydding Methodist Church

Ben Rhydding Drive, Ilkley LS29 8AY

South Square Centre

South Square, Thornton, Bradford BD13 3LD

St James, Thornton

Thornton Road, Thornton, Bradford BD13 3AB

Woodhouse Grove School

Apperley Bridge, Calverley, Bradford BD10 0NR

END OF PRESS RELEASE

Image Cain and Abel, 1958

John Reilly (1928-2010)

Oil on canvas, laid down on board, 92 x 124 cm. Methodist Modern Art Collection, MCMAC: 035

Image Copyright © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. The Methodist Church Registered Charity no. 1132208