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Friday 10 January 2020

Journeys in Hope




the exhibition catalogue, featuring the painting Unsafe Passage by John Woodhouse
© Teresa Newham


On Monday night I took a trip to London to the Mount Street Jesuit Centre for the opening evening of the Journeys in Hope exhibition.  As one of the exhibiting artists, I was able to take a quick look round before the crowds arrived - and there were crowds!


before the crowds arrived - the exhibition at Mount Street Jesuit Centre in Mayfair
© Teresa Newham


Journeys in Hope is the brainchild of John Woodhouse, a retired librarian, organist and choirmaster who is a keen painter. The ordeal of refugee children fleeing Syria moved him to create works such as Unsafe Passage. A chance encounter on the Westminster pilgrimage to Lourdes led to the idea of an art exhibition and auction on the theme of pilgrimage and the plight of refugees.


the exhibition shows work by a variety of artists
© Teresa Newham


The artists who have donated work to Journeys in Hope are Pauline Barley, Alex RochNorah McKeoghMike Quirke,  Andrew White, John Woodhouse and me.  The auction of paintings on Thursday 30th January will include the chance to have a portrait painted by Nelson Ferreira. The proceeds will go to three nominated charities: the Westminster Lourdes Pilgrimage, Aid to the Church in Need and Safe Passage.


three charities will benefit from the proceeds of the auction
© Teresa Newham


All three charities had a display at the opening night. The team from Aid to the Church in Need had brought along drawings made by Syrian refugee children which had been shown at an earlier exhibition. Some were about the trauma they had endured, while others spoke touchingly about peace and reconciliation.


artwork by Syrian refugee children, courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need
© Teresa Newham


I've donated two paintings: Skellig Morning and Into the Light, which reference actual and interior journeys respectively., and was somewhat bemused to find myself being interviewed during the evening for the Jesuits in Britain website and twitter feed (see links below).  All in all it was a great evening, which generated a lot of interest in the forthcoming auction - I'm looking forward to it!


my work in the exhibition
© Teresa Newham


For more information about the Journeys in Hope charity art auction, including the online catalogue, take a look here.   See the Jesuits in Britain write up of the exhibition here and a painting a day from the exhibition on their twitter feed.





1 comment:

  1. Absolutely brilliant show and three very worthy causes!

    ReplyDelete