Temporal | Spatial | Spiritual

Artist in Residence Exhibition

St Julian’s Church

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This month's 'Plague Bowl' is the latest paper bowl made by our Artist in Residence, Debra Shipley, on display now at St Julian's. Inspired by the life experienced by Julian of Norwich when the Great Plague swept through the city, 'Plague Bowl' is intentionally dark and slightly foreboding as it is designed to bring to mind the thousands of people who died from the plague. It also contains remnants from the votive tea-lights lit by recent visitors to the Shrine. Part of Debra’s ongoing national project 'Bowls in a Fragile World', 'Plague Bowl' is made from junk mail and packaging, it is polluted with residual chemicals and unwanted tiny fragments of plastic. Collectively her work is a comment on climate change and pollution affecting the poorest around the globe the most. 

Also on display in St Julian’s is a small display of sketches positioned in front of the Julian cell’s stained glass window. Debra created this temporary installation to showcase work created during her 'Sketch with the Artist' workshop which was held earlier in the summer. Participants were asked to each make a 60 second sketch responding to the Julian Shrine garden. Small offcuts of scrap card were provided for the exercise to highlight how art can be created by anyone using freely available unwanted material. Debra then utilised a piece of broken furniture destined for the tip to make a display plinth. The result is a thoughtful visual commentary on how many different responses there are to our small but lovely garden.

Do come and see Debra’s work before it’s gone!

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To get in touch with Debra or find out more about her projects, you can find her on Instagram, just search for @debra.artist.