Artist Ann Varlow writes about making work for ‘Thresholds’ at St Georges.
Impalpable, thought provoking, eternally peaceful – these are the words that describe the experience of working as an artist in the heart of the space that is St Georges Church.
It was a voyage of discovery as the research revealed a history with some unexpected stories. From the rioting Thomas Pelham, soon to become Prime Minister, who had to make quick his escape across the rooftops of London, to the very sad story of the much loved Princess Charlotte who died in childbirth – stories from the past that may have been printed in our newspapers today.
Every contemplative minute spent inside the building evokes a different sensation as the light changes and the sun illuminates a different casement window or highlights a corner of the installation shrouding. The wind blows gently through the open doorway, the shrouds billow as you glimpse the atmospheric drawings while the sound of the pendulum pulls you toward the video installations.
If you are ever invited to work in a church I would encourage you to do it and would totally recommend the experience – you may find yourself working on quite a different plane altogether, I know I did.
