Private View / Opening Event this Sunday 2nd Feb 6-9pm (or later).
All Welcome! Bring along a musical instrument for a live jam session throughout the evening…
Wildlife is flourishing in the Bonnington Centre this month as “Bunny Love Deer, creator of art, lover of life, nature and words,” an advocate for animal rights, is our superb February artist.
Her quirky approach, expressed predominantly in fine pen and ink dot work, in A Cathartic Journey, Drawing Inner Peace from the Outer Chaos, revels in the beauty of nature; at the same time, it portrays her angst at the savage destruction to wildlife and its habitats wrought by careless or uncaring human beings.
Bunny Love Deer, “a hopeless romantic of Mexican heritage”, warmly invites you to explore her creations and “the knowledge she seeks and shares.”
A percentage from all sales of artwork will go to wildlife charities and the Bonnington Centre Community Association.
Composer Colum Findlay and writer/director Sarah Chew will be in residence at the Centre to write their new musical, Mysterious, a fantasy adventure about those who don’t fit in, those who can’t fit in, and those who choose to stand with them. During the week there will be a couple of pop up performances, and two workshops, which are free for Bonnington residents to attend. Sarah and Colum will also be offering open studio sessions where you can pop in to talk about their work, your work, or anything else you’d like a chat about!
Sunday 26th January, Workshops will take place at the Bonnington Centre :
2:15pm-5pm Fantasy character drawing session in the Top Room
Ever wanted to have a go at fantasy illustration? Ever wanted to explore how drawing can help with unlocking other creative activities? Join us – writer Sarah Chew and composer Colum Findlay – for a fun, creative session where we work from a clothed human model to create drawings of superhuman and magical characters, and look at how making drawings can help us make stories. We both use drawing in our creative practice, to unlock our ideas about characters and worldbuilding, and we are excited to share our ideas with you. You don’t need any existing drawing skills or experience to participate – just enthusiasm, and willingness to participate in some fun drawing exercises and games! We welcome all ages, but please ask that children attend with an adult. Paper, pencils and a limited number of other drawing materials will be provided. If possible please bring a drawing board, clipboard, a hardback book – anything you can lean on as you draw – as we can only provide a limited number of these. If you have art materials you enjoy using, feel free to bring them!
Please note: our apologies, this event is upstairs, there is no step free access. Please message us directly if you would like Zoom access to the session.
6pm-9pm Pop up choir in the Cafe
Ever wanted to be the first to sing material from a newly-written musical?
Writer Sarah Chew and composer Colum Findlay are artists in residence for a week at the Bonnington Centre, where they will be creating Mysterious, a new fantasy musical about those who don’t fit in, those who can’t fit in, and those who chose to stand with them. Join them for a fun, free session singing some brand new songs from the show. You do not need to have any experience of singing in a choir, and you don’t need to be able to read music – just turn up and have fun! You are also welcome to turn up just to listen. It may be possible to accommodate instrumentalists – please get in touch if you want to play an instrument and we can discuss.
Entry is free, you can reserve your place here https://www.outsavvy.com/event/24497/pop-up-choir-bonnington-cafe-vauxhall or turn up on the day. If you would like to make a donation, all proceeds will be gratefully split between the creative team and the Bonnington Centre – however, donations are anonymous and entirely optional!
This event has step free access. Please message directly if you have other access requirements, we will do our best to meet access needs. This event is for ages 14 and over.
These events are kindly supported by Arts Council England
Come along and see these stunning paintings until the 30th of January when the Bonnington Cafe is open.
Magdalena Del Mar, a London resident for the last 19 years, was born in Poland, where she first gained both experience and education in the practice of Art.
She exhibits regularly, her work being allied to her passionate interest in Art Therapy.
This she achieves through paintings that echo water-based scenery, in shades of green and blue: the softness of the varying hues and the depth of layers brings a serenity that joins sensory processing with Art.
Magdalena’s work is concerned with mindfulness and the positive impact of art on mental health.
Her other interests include Spanish culture and astrology.
Loomeweight is an interdisciplinary durational performance piece created by Patricia Auchterlonie and Hestor Dart. This project began with building an Iron Age style warp-weighted loom. Our loom is made from foraged materials and hung with hagstones (rocks with a single hole worn by the sea). The loom provides the framework for the creation of a tapestry is woven from ‘trash’ or rejected and broken items (e.g. plastic bags, rope, discarded clothing etc). While working, musical materials are passed between two voices, undergoing micro changes as the project unfolds. These improvised changes involve gradual shifts in rhythm, and melody, as well as experimental vocalisations and other non-sung materials.
Loomeweight is a long-form performance piece which slows down the making process utilising pre-industrial, slow techniques and focuses on micro-changes and irregularities. Through this gentle endurance, loomeweight critiques and questions mass production within late stage capitalism. It also references directly the historical gesture of singing and weaving as a paired pursuit and explores the close relationship between these practises and folk culture / ancient histories. The project highlights the failures inherent in a system which promotes marketability and consumption over the sustainable processes of creating and community building. There is also exploration of the omnipresent theme of ecological collapse through the re-use of thrown away objects.
Loomeweight I has made appearances at: Eavesdropping Festival at Cafe Oto, Starptelpa Festical in Riga, Nozstock Festival, hcmf//, the Bonnington Cafe and at the legendary Helgi’s Bar with experimental folk artists Milkweed. Keep an eye out for more loome(s) to come!
Come along and see these stunning paintings for the whole of January when the Bonnington Cafe is open. You are also invited to a PRIVATE VIEW with the Artist on Sunday 12th January 5-10pm. All paintings are for sale and 20% of profits will kindly be donated to the Bonnington Centre. For more information please contact the artist here.
Magdalena Del Mar, a London resident for the last 19 years, was born in Poland, where she first gained both experience and education in the practice of Art.
She exhibits regularly, her work being allied to her passionate interest in Art Therapy.
This she achieves through paintings that echo water-based scenery, in shades of green and blue: the softness of the varying hues and the depth of layers brings a serenity that joins sensory processing with Art.
Magdalena’s work is concerned with mindfulness and the positive impact of art on mental health.
Her other interests include Spanish culture and astrology.
Written by Jane Michelson Vuglar; Fourth World Arts Volunteer.
Venue: Bonnington Centre Community Association Location: 11 Vauxhall Grove, London SW8 1TD Dates: 3rd December 2024 until 20th December Opening Reception: Meet the Artist on 9th December 2024 5.30 pm till 9.30pm Admission: Free
Renowned British artist Michelle Baharier is set to present her powerful solo exhibition, A Splash of Colour, at the Bonnington Centre Community Association in Vauxhall, London. This exhibition showcases Baharier’s dynamic approach to contemporary art, blending expressive colours and textures that reflect her spirited interpretation of urban life, community, and mental health awareness.
Baharier, is celebrated for her powerful emotive works, which includes acrylic Portraits that break down barriers putting disabled people in the frame and architectural photographs, bringing a unique worldview. A Splash of Colour is an invitation to explore the intersections of mental-health and creativity, conveyed through vivid hues and spontaneous brushstrokes. The variety of inspiring works on show depict the breadth of influences from narratives on resilience, joy to the power of people, many unknown, who have shaped our society
The Bonnington Centre Community Association, located in the heart of Vauxhall, provides an inclusive community space providing a cafe, gallery and the local community. This exhibition underscores its mission to foster community through art, social events, and creativity.
Artist Bio: Michelle Baharier is an acclaimed artist and advocate whose work addresses social issues through a compassionate, community-oriented lens. Her exhibitions have inspired audiences across the UK and beyond, resonating with those who see art as a catalyst for social change. She is a n award wining graduate form the SLADE School of fine art, her work is in private and public collections. She is a member of ‘Invisible women’ an arts council funded group of disabled women artists, the Bethlem Collective, the Colour walk, Disability Arts on line. Michelle is currently commissioned to work with the London transport museum.
Exhibition Highlights:
A vibrant collection of paintings that evoke the energy of urban life and community spirit.
Join us for A Splash of Colour, an exhibition that captures the essence of community and the transformative power of art.
Contact Information: For press inquiries, interviews, and further information, please contact: Michelle Baharier 07952481566 mbfcsra@gmail.com
Social Media: Follow Michelle Baharier and the Bonnington Centre Community Association on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the exhibition. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bahariermichelle/
The Bonnington centre welcomes Dyana Zada, the London-based Syrian-British artist, for November’s exhibition, Vulnerability in Self-Expression.
The exhibition opens on Saturday the 9th November from 10am to 4pm, and on display until the 30th November (Bonnington Centre usual opening hours apply).
Featured in 2021 Boomer Magazine, under the theme of Identity, Dyana’s work focuses on our inner worlds.
Inspired by both figurative and expressionist styles, Dyana “reflects the intricate journey of self-discovery, capturing the psyche’s complexities through vivid and thought-provoking imagery.
Painting has been my refuge…through my art, I express emotions that are often difficult to put into words, depicting emotional states, longings and fantasies derived from my personal experience.”
Since her arrival here in 2014, she developed a passion for acrylics on canvas, finding this medium best conveys the sharp brightness of her vision.
“It’s fascinating how art holds different meanings for different people, making it a shared journey of discovery between the artist’s intent and the viewer’s perception.”
Visit our latest art exhibition and share the journey with Dyana!
An interactive exhibition by Somebody-Nobody has just opened for the month of October in the Bonnington Cafe. Come along and get creative, be inspired and watch this exhibition evolving while dining with us.
The Cafe is open Tuesday to Saturday 6-10.30pm and Sunday Brunch 11-3pm. Enjoy!
(Main photo: Pippa D in THE DRESS. Copyright Bari Goddard)
A unique raffle is running until March 28th 2024 with just one prize – being photographed in a stunning white dress by Bari Goddard, the avant-garde and wonderfully controversial Welsh singer-songwriter, artist, and photographer.
Bari’s latest show, THE DRESS, is also running throughout March at both the Bonnington Centre and the Bonnington Cafe in Vauxhall, SW8 1TD.
The show – several years in the making – features dozens of notable LGBTQ figures, including celebrities such as Holly Johnson – wearing the same beautiful white dress. Each wearer brings their own personality and emotions to their photoshoot – leading to a richly textured and emotional show.
Bari’s work as an artist encompasses film-making, painting, photography, and music. He has performed and recorded with Jimmy Somerville, Madonna, Cliff Richard, Banderas, Horse, Vinna Bee, Anarchistwood and Then Jerico.
Critic Andrija Seifried is full of praise for Bari’s new work: “Bari shows both a mischievous and sometimes grotesque sense of humour through placing before us a complex tableau of uniquely different scenarios and moods. What we wear is rarely who we are.
“You really have to know the artist to understand and journey through this bizarre carnival of characters which include Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Adele Anderson of Fascinating Aida, Charlotte Hunter of Harry Potter film fame and a myriad of other straight, gay and trans and non-binary subjects.”
Until March 28th, raffle tickets will also be on sale for £10 each featuring a remarkable prize – a photoshoot for the winner while wearing THE DRESS at a London location. The prize draw will be made at a special event at the Bonnington Centre shortly after the raffle closes, and the winner notified.
The raffle winner will be the last ever person to be photographed in THE DRESS before Bari himself dons it for the last time, and then sets it on fire!
Raffle tickets can be purchased for £10 each, and you can purchase as many as you’d like, using the QR code above. Please include in the Notes section your name, and THE DRESS RAFFLE. Bari has kindly decided that 50% of all proceeds from the raffle will go to the Bonnington Centre Community Association, a not for profit, community-led resource.
(Main picture: 21st Century Pieta, copyright Bari Goddard)
The Bonnington Centre is excited to announce that Bari Goddard, the brilliant avant-garde and wonderfully controversial Welsh singer-songwriter, artist and photographer is premiering his exhibition THE DRESS throughout March 2024 at both the Bonnington Centre and the Bonnington Cafe.
The show – several years in the making – features dozens of notable LGBTQ figures, including celebrities such as Holly Johnson, donning the same beautiful white dress. Each wearer brings their own personality and emotions to their photoshoot – leading to a richly textured and emotional show.
Bari’s work as an artist encompasses film-making, painting, photography, and music. He has performed and recorded with Jimmy Somerville, Madonna, Cliff Richard, Banderas, Horse, Vinna Bee, Anarchistwood and Then Jerico.
Critic Andrija Seifried is full of praise for Bari’s latest work: “Bari shows both a mischievous and sometimes grotesque sense of humour through placing before us a complex tableau of uniquely different scenarios and moods. What we wear is rarely who we are.
“You really have to know the artist to understand and journey through this bizarre carnival of characters which include Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Adele Anderson of Fascinating Aida, Charlotte Hunter of Harry Potter film fame and a myriad of other straight, gay and trans and non-binary subjects.”
Until Thursday March 28th, raffle tickets will also be on sale for £10 each – with no limit per person – featuring a remarkable prize: a photoshoot for the winner while wearing THE DRESS at a London location.
The raffle winner will be the last ever person to be photographed in THE DRESS before Bari himself dons it for the last time, and then sets it on fire! The raffle is now open, and tickets can be purchased for £10 each, via Paypal using the QR code below.
Bari has kindly decided that 50% of all proceeds from the raffle will go to the Bonnington Centre Community Association, a not for profit community led resource.
Pippa Davenport, one of the Trustees at the BCCA, who has herself also been photographed by Bari in THE DRESS, says she is delighted that the show will be in the heart of Vauxhall, which enjoys the second highest LGBTQ+ population in the UK.
“Like any member of the LGBT+ community, moving to a new area was a little daunting. But soon after arriving, I realised how special the Lambeth community is,” says Pippa. “That’s why, when I was asked to put myself forward as a trustee of the Bonnington Centre, I said I’d love to. Helping to reopen the Café – and helping to make the Centre a place where anyone can come and feel safe is even more important now.
“The artist Bari Goddard took this wonderful photo of me – which represents to myself the strong person I’ve become over the 29 years since my surgery. But also the vulnerable, unsure person that’s still inside.”
The wonderful Pippa Davenport, a BCCA trustee, in Siren of the Silent Age (copyright Bari Goddard)
