Open from 6th July - 3rd November 2024
Sudbury Town Council had the honour of visiting Gainsborough House and seeing their exciting new exhibit – Revealing Nature: Morris and Lett-Haines. Met by Charlie Dixon, the events & marketing manager, and one of their many amazing volunteers, Jane, we were given a guided tour of the new exhibit as well as Gainsborough’s old house.
Gainsborough’s House society was formed in 1958 to purchase Gainsborough’s house and re establish it as a centre for Thomas Gainsborough, which opened publicly in 1961, and has operated as an independent charitable trust. The redevelopment and refurbishment commenced in 2019 making it more accessible and expanding on the rich history of Sudbury and Gainsborough, reopening to the public 21 November 2022.
Currently Gainsborough House has around 200 volunteers hard at work in all different areas of the museum and all equally passionate about what they do. Whilst showing us around Jane showed immense knowledge in Cedric Morris’ work and you could tell by how she spoke it is something she is truly proud of.
We were taken to the top floor and shown by another volunteer, Tim, their Camera Obscura. A truly amazing experience of seeing Sudbury from one of only 74 Camera Obsrura’s in the world.
‘Gainsborough was clearly interested in experimenting with light— creating the Showbox (considered a ‘cousin’ to the camera obscura) which can now be seen at the V&A.’
Gainsborough House is looking at working with the local schools helping to promote arts and holds regular art classes and printing workshops.
With major loans from Tate and the National Portrait Gallery the exhibit is fulfilled with loans private lenders, descendants of pupils of the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing or friends of Morris and Lett. Showcasing over 90 works the new exhibit is spaced out throughout the museum giving all a chance to enjoy the other wonders the museum has to offer.
“As the new Director of Gainsborough’s House, I can think of very few exhibitions that give me greater pleasure in presenting than The Art of Cedric Morris and Lett-Haines. This is the first opportunity for many years to examine the oeuvre of two artists side by side and whose legacy lives through their life and art. The East Anglian School of Painting is an important chapter in the story of twentieth- century British art which deserves to be better known and understood.” - Calvin Winner, New executive director.
Going around the new exhibitions, the new layout and Gainsborough house you truly feel you are part of something much bigger, enjoying the secluded garden and café, volunteers describes the museum as their little piece of paradise.
Comments