If you haven’t visited Coventry Cathedral during the Coronavirus epidemic, then there are some interesting exhibitions coming up that may encourage you to make a visit. Unfortunately the exhibition of the Lampedusa Cross was only here for the weekend of 22nd and 23rd of May, but there is much more to look forward to.
The Self-Portrait Prize Exhibition. Now – 28 June. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free.
“The selfie has given self-portraiture a bad name; this important prize aims to reclaim its status as a mainstay of art practice exemplified by Rembrandt’s powerful late self-portraits, to Frida Kahlo’s unforgettable images of herself lying prone and pain-ridden in bed.” (Will Gompertz, 2021 Prize Judge)
Visit Coventry Cathedral to see the Ruth Borchard Collection’s Self-Portrait Prize 2021. The Prize is the only art competition of its kinds to focus exclusively on self-portraiture. Previous winners have included Celia Paul (2011), Benjamin Ogbebor (2017) and David Dawson (2019).
The 2021 winner will receive the £10,000 Ruth Borchard Prize. Along with other distinguished entries, the winning work will be acquired for the Ruth Borchard Collection’s Next Generation Collection.
Concrete Collar by Tom Illsley. Now – Thursday 30th June 2021. Chapel of Industry.
Concrete Collar is an exhibition by Tom Illsley featuring photographs of the Coventry ring road. Made over a period of three years, the photographs exhibit a historically and culturally important part of Coventry’s urban landscape, as it exists within a rapidly changing environment. The images reflect how the city is regenerating and growing within the constraints of its post-war footprint.
Built for the growing demand of the motor vehicle following the Second World War, on the blank canvas of a flattened city centre, the primary aim of Coventry’s inner ring road was to relieve the centre of congestion and connect the city. The Coventry ring road is a 2.25 mile dual carriageway encircling Coventry City Centre. It was designed by Coventry City Council’s in-house City Engineers Department, under Donald Gibson, Coventry’s first appointed City Architect and Planning Officer. Officially the A4053, it took 14 years of construction and more than 25 years of planning before the road was completed in 1974.
There will be a photobook published with support from Secret Knock to accompany the exhibition.
Tom Illsley is a photographer from Coventry. His practice involves explorations of landscape rooted in historical and geographical themes. Illsley graduated from the Photography BA degree course at Nottingham Trent University in 2015. He was the winner of the Genesis Imaging Bursary Award which supported the production of his inaugural solo exhibition ‘Meridian’ one year after graduation. He is now engaged in professional development and personal projects.
‘Do the Little Things’ by Jake Lever: – Now – 28th June 2021
‘Do the Little Things’ is an installation made by artist Jake Lever for the Chapel of Gethsemane. It comprises of a multitude of tiny boats made of wire, tissue paper and gold leaf.
The title refers to the words of the Saint David who, in 589 AD, encouraged his followers to “be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things”. Throughout the pandemic Jake has been making these fragile boats, sending them by post to those he cares about. Others have joined in and similar vessels are being sent across the globe as tokens of love, solidarity and connection.
Click here to participate in this project.
Life on the Breadline: 3rd July 2021 – 28th July 2021 Chapel of Unity
Life on the Breadline is a challenging new exhibition being premiered in Coventry Cathedral this summer.
The exhibition arises from the Life on the Breadline project, which began in 2018, led by researchers from Coventry University, the University of Manchester, and the Queen’s Foundation. The exhibition features photographs from Life on the Breadline’s grassroots case studies in Birmingham, London, and Manchester which challenge the way we think about people’s experience of poverty in the UK and how Christians have responded to poverty during the ‘age of austerity’. The photographs have been taken by the research team and by local residents, volunteers, and staff at the six case study projects.
Click here for more information about the Life on the Breadline research.
All of these exhibitions are free, but you are required to book an ‘Entry and Exhibition’ ticket for your visit. The Cathedral is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and from 12noon to 3pm on Sundays. Please only visit with people from your household or support bubble (maximum group size six). All Visitors are required to wear face coverings apart from those who are exempt.