Temporal | Spatial | Spiritual

Artist in Residence Exhibition

St Julian’s Church

For January, Artist-in-Residence Debra Shipley has made a very special bowl to celebrate the wonderful team of volunteers which keep the Julian Shrine running.

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On display now in St Julian’s is her 'Volunteer Bowl' which is part of her large 'Bowls in a Fragile World' project. Without the dedicated team of volunteers across the Shrine, at the church, visitor centre, garden and guesthouse, we would be unable to offer a welcome to the visitors who come from far and wide.

 

Thinking about the work that volunteers do, the artist commented:

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'I have met many volunteers since I became artist in residence and I have been struck by how much they give to all who come to visit. Everyone makes every effort to make visitors very welcome whether they are pilgrims, worshippers, academics, tourists or local people. Those who visit the centre are offered a cup of tea or coffee, so I decided to use this act of welcome to symbolise all the work of the volunteer team. I asked volunteers to save the used tea leaves and coffee grounds which I then incorporated into the structure of my “Volunteer Bowl", turning it a richly-textured brown colour. Like all my bowls, this one is also polluted with specks of plastic and residual chemicals which are a message about climate change and pollution affecting the poorest around the globe the most.'

Do come and see Debra’s 'Volunteer Bowl’, together with more of her art which is on display in the visitor centre.

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