Introduction

This exhibition will commemorate 100 years since the beginning of the First World War. Joanne Dennis has created 200 hand woven poppies that will be installed in the gallery. The show will also include original unseen drawings by a soilder/artist William Liley during the First World War which include portraits of fellow soilders, horses, artillery and landscape. A sound piece by Nicola Hutchison will be available to experience through wireless headphones as you walk around the space.

Joanne Dennis / Woven Poppies

Joanne Dennis is a conceptual maker who uses natural materials to create sculpture using techniques of weaving and manipulation. For this exhibition she has created 200 hand woven poppies.

 William Liley / Drawings

William Liley (1895 - 1958) was bought up in a poor district of
Sunderland. He showed an early talent in drawing. He attended the local art school, winning a Board of Education Medal for designs for collour prints in 1913. His early paintings were carried out on scraps of sail cloth from his fathers' sea chest. Sufficiently gifted, he was awarded a scholarship at the Royal College of Art.

Before he could take his place there, however, the First World War intervened. He volunteered for the army and was posted to France in the Artillery. He survived extended action at Ypress, the first battle of the Somme and also Vimy Ridge, and made a number of drawings, often under difficult conditions, of the battery at the front.

His wartime sketchbooks, containing pencil portraits of many men in the 142nd (Durham) Heavy Battery are now on show for the first time.

After demobilization, he joined the Royal College of Art at last, a contemporary of CF Tunnicliffe, Henry Moore and others of note.

Nicola Hutchison / sound piece

Open Day Events

Saturday 20th September - 10am - 4pm

10.30 - 1pm 

Make a paper poppy workshop for all the family with artists Joanne Dennis and Noriko Matsubara. A simple design for children with hair grip attatchment and a more delicate poppy for adults using techniques of manipulation. 

'Symbolism of Flowers' workshop with Terri Potter

Throughout history flowers have been used to convey feelings of joy; sentiment and pride; it has been said that ‘one bloom says a thousand words’. Come along to this special workshop to discover more about the symbolism of flowers and to have a chance to create a simple design of your own to take home.

1pm - 2pm

Announcement and readings of our poetry competition winners.

2pm - 3pm

Poetry group from Harlow U3A. The Great War poets were all serving soldiers with few exceptions. Instead of revising these poems the group have decided to read poems by women writing during the First World War. They hope that this will broaden peoples views of the war and those writing about it.

3pm - 4pm 

Local established writing group the Inn Scribers will recite a mix of poetry from the First World War poets as well as poetry of their own.

No need to book. All donations on the day will be given to The Royal British Legion and Harlow Art Trust.