A
Graceful Death" is showing at the Friends House in Priory
Park in Chichester on 6 to 12 December 2009. It shows the struggle
of the human form with the end stages of cancer, and the strength
of the force of life that keeps us breathing. I painted the last
few weeks of the life of my partner, Steve Shaw, and the day of
his death, as he changed from vigourous and healthy to a skeletal
jaundiced and confused man whose body did not give up, within just
weeks. I want to show the miracle of life and death, the power of
our spirit to keep going and the majesty and awe of death which
is beyond explanation. This exhibition will put us in touch with
our mortality. It is not intended to shock or dismay, it is a universal
experience and is painted with sharp honesty and compassion. I have
painted little images of how I felt emotionally too, and images
that are more light hearted of, for example, "Triptych of Glum Angels"
on the event of Steve's death.
The "A Graceful Death" is raising funds for St Barnabas
House Hospice in Worthing that looked after Steve as he died. I
am raising funds too for St Wilfrids Hospice in Chichester on the
night. To donate to St Barnabas House, please go to www.justgiving.com/agracefuldeath
I will be collecting for St Wilfrids during the exhibition and on
the opening night.
Opening Night is Monday 7 December from 6 - 8pm. Please come. It
is worth the experience.
The exhibition will be travelling to Birmingham to London and to
Germany next year. More details will follow.
Every
Day Angels
"Every Day Angels" is showing at the Oxmarket Gallery in Chichester from the 22 November to 5 December 2009. It comes down the day before A Graceful Death begins on the other side of the city. This is a light hearted exhibition of Angels doing everyday things. Like shopping, eating cream teas, and the picture I am painting right now is a Make Over Angel, a frumpy before and a glamorous after Angel. They are bright and colourful and witty and full of meaning for our every day lives."
