Since July 2020, during Covid lockdown, the Royal Society of Sculptors have held bi-weekly online meetings to support each other, sharing ideas and successes as well as discussing obstacles like self-doubt and anxieties, which naturally occurred during this extremely challenging time.
These meetings inspired new ways of working together in collaboration during the pandemic. They helped harness the inner strength necessary to create works of art that reflect this important episode in our history. The digital zoom connection resulted in real life connectedness. And became the catalyst for a major exhibition of work by 26 RSS sculptors at Chichester Cathedral this summer.
The RSS is based in London, however this group of RSS members is based in South West UK and many of the artists exhibit internationally.
Visual arts advisor Jacquiline Creswell, who has been curating exhibitions at Chichester Cathedral for 6 years and prior to that at Salisbury Cathedral for 12 years, has helped bring this exhibition to the Cathedral. She says,
“Together We Rise is a counterpoint to the challenges of the last two years and an expression of the artists’ perseverance, by coming together through virtual means to overcome isolation, fear and doubt. The result is a flourishing of creativity, demonstrating the power of shared adversity overcome by shared endeavour. “
The Dean of Chichester, The Very Reverend Stephen Waine, says,
“The pandemic has both made us aware of our vulnerability and illuminated our humanity. The artworks created for this exhibition are inspired by hope and resilience, qualities that we wish to feed back to those who visit them here. We truly believe that places of worship play an important part in aiding our recovery as we emerge from the pandemic – unifying and healing us.
The work of these artists encourages us to understand that, out of some of our darkest experiences, we can rise together – as one community.”
The exhibition will open at Chichester Cathedral on 27 June, and runs until 6 September.
At Tremenheere, we’re delighted to be welcoming the Royal Society of Sculptors to Tremenheere Gallery in July 2023.
