Gallery to re-open on August 2
The transformed and extended William Morris Gallery will re-open its doors to the public on Thursday, August 2, it was announced this week.
The Friends of the William Morris Gallery will get a taste of what it now looks like on Monday, July 2. That is when project manager and member of the group, Lorna Lee, presents an illustrated talk at our AGM at Leytonstone Social Club, 603 High Road, Leytonstone, E11 4PA, at 7.30pm.
The remodelling has added three new exhibition galleries, including one for temporary exhibitions, as well as a library, a research and education centre, and a tearoom overlooking Lloyd Park. The building is now fully accessible with a lift to all floors.
The Friends, who have raised more than £1 million for the work from their own fund-raising activities and by sourcing grants from a variety of corporate and charitable donors, are delighted that the first exhibition in the temporary gallery will be mounted by Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry.
Mr Perry, who as his alter-ego Claire delivered a hugely successful William Morris Birthday lecture for us in the Gallery in 2010 (below, pictured by Katherine Green), said: “I admire Morris for the range and depth of activity he was able to explore and the lasting influence he has had.
“I love ornate pattern and this is where Morris excels. His work has a joyous sense of design that provides visual delight and is immediately accessible to everyone. I always hope to achieve similar aims through my work which means I am extremely delighted that my Walthamstow Tapestry is the first temporary exhibition in the transformed William Morris Gallery.
“Morris typifies what makes places like Walthamstow special. A place that most people think is just an ordinary part of London is actually rich with interesting people, histories and social and political activity.
“My studio is in Walthamstow and that is where I designed the Walthamstow Tapestry. The most famous textile artwork for most Britons is the Bayeux Tapestry so I wanted to echo that. But I wanted the title to reflect it is about all our lives and Walthamstow exemplifies the idea that behind the facade of the average is there so much more.”
June 1, 2012 | Category: News | no responses
