The church of St Michael & All Angels, Berwick village, East Sussex. THE 20TH CENTURY BLOOMSBURY MURALS: The church is of national, and arguably international, artistic and cultural significance on account of the extensive 20th Century Bloomsbury murals. These were commissioned by Bishop Bell of Chichester in 1941. They were executed by the Bloomsbury artists Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell and Quentin Bell who lived nearby at Charleston Farmhouse. The murals adorn the nave walls, the Chancel Screen, the pulpit and both sides of the Chancel Arch. The Altar frontal was also designed by Duncan Grant and worked by his mother.
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arkangel
says:I don't think this is technically public art - are you involved with the church, perhaps you have their permission to publish photos of the art inside that wonderful, tranquil building?
Cantab79
says:Perhaps the BIG Art Mob can clarify this - for me, when I travel to Florence or Rome, to see Michelangelo in the churches and duomos, or Giotto or Raphael for that matter, I presume I am looking at 'public art' in what are in some sense 'public' buildings. I also presume this principle applies to English churches that possess some of the finest works by modern British artists. I have recently visited a church with a wonderful Graham Sutherland stained glass window. It has a stream of visitors year-on-year, many who would not otherwise enter a church. Of course, none of these works, in the churches, in Italy or England, are publically owned. If public ownership is the criterion for adding photos on this site, it may need to be clarified (but it would also then have to be clarified how we might know this, and such a policy would mean that photos of public art on privately owned buildings could not be published. Even 'The Gerkin', on this site, is privately owned. ).
As for permission, I also presume that the church will value the presence of people in the church and perhaps the income that results from the extra visitors generated. I'm afraid that a range of works displayed on The Big Art Mob are subject to the problem of private ownership.
I'd be interested to know what people think. I'm happy to delete this entry if it is felt to be inapprorpiate.
arkangel
says:The legal definition of public art is linked to from the introductory text on the Home screen of Big Art Mob. Different rules apply to sculpture versus graphical art like paintings. It would be good if you could get permission from an authority at St Michael's. I'm sure you're right about the value of attracting new visitors through your posting.
Cantab79
says:The church has offered permission for use of images from the church.
arkangel
says:That's excellent. I visited the church last summer after a visit to Charleston farmhouse - I remember it as a very tranquil place. One of the images that sticks with me is of the young servicemen - I'm a bit of a sucker for wartime Neo-Romanticism. Have you photographed that mural?
