By Tim Harrold, Thurrock Arts & Thurrock Art Trail

Creativity has been built into every one of us: it is part of our design. Each of us lives less of the life God intended for us when we choose not to live out the creative gifts God gave us. J John

Screen shot 2014-04-09 at 1311One of my other community ‘hats’ is that of lead facilitator of this year’s Thurrock Art Trail – or ThAT for short. I’m involved in this because I am an artist (I have a studio at High House Production Park in Purfleet) and because I believe that art can be helpful in transforming a community and building community at a social level – obviously, we are all creations of the Creator, created in His image, to be creative! Remember, the first person in the Bible to be described as having been filled by the Holy Spirit was an artist – Bezalel, who worked on the Tabernacle.

 

ThAT takes place from 6 to 21 September 2014.

Four local churches are involved:

  • Grays Methodist Church 6-12 September – Art & Photography Show
  • St Mary’s, North Stifford 13 September – Art at St Mary’s
  • Gateway People’s Centre 18 & 20 September – GPC Arts & Crafts
  • St Stephen’s, Purfleet 20-21 September – Local Art & Photography

There are a whole host of Christians involved, obviously in the aforementioned venues, but also in others. These include:

  • Lisa Anderson (painting & proprietor) and Kwok Lee (natural sculpture) at Well House Gallery, Horndon on the Hill, 6-21 September
  • Dennis Brockhurst (photography), John Espin (multi-media) and me (assemblage) at High House Artists’ Studios, Purfleet 19-21 September

There are no doubt many others that I don’t know about!.

Please note that at the Showcase event on the evening of Friday 19 September, among the those performing are former worship leader at Grays Baptists, Gareth Marsh (aka Sensation Smith, band) and former Stanford Boiler Roomer Steve Lawton (contemporary spoke word). There is also a comedian and a local choir, Funky Voices, appearing.

To book, go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-backstage-centre -autumn-showcase-tickets-12014582941

Please find to the left of this article a link to a flyer for the Art Trail along with a map of venues with all the details of every venue including those mentioned above, and a poster. Feel free to print these out and put the poster in your window and in your church. Let’s get behind this – it’s an opportunity!

May our Creator create in us, his creations, a fresh creativity that brings Kingdom transformation to Thurrock and beyond!

The eye in the logo represents observation, imagination and creation.

The full list of ThAT’s venues, dates and times…

1. Well House Gallery

Saturday 6 to Sunday 21 Sept.
High Road
Horndon on the Hill
SS17 8LF
Monday to Friday 10am-4pm (closed 12-1pm)
Saturday 10am-5pm (closed 12-1pm)
Sunday 3-6pm
http://www.wellhousegallery.co.uk

2. Studio 19

Barry Andrews with Paul Harrison
Saturday 6 to Monday 8
Friday 12 & Saturday 13
Monday 15
Friday 19 to Sunday 21 Sept.
5 Ash Walk
South Ockendon
RM15 6TY
11am-4pm daily
http://www.barryandrews.co.uk/

3. Art & Photography Show

School Arts & photography by Rebecca Street
Saturday 6 to Friday 12 Sept.
Grays Methodist Church
Lodge Lane
Grays
RM17 5PU

4. Expressions of the Soul

The paintings of Christian Squibb, Itan Deterville & Rowena Wright
Saturday 6 to Friday 19 Sept. (except Sunday)
Thameside Complex foyer gallery
Orsett Road
Grays
RM17 5DX

5. Craft Candy Jewellery Show

Saturday 6 & Sunday 7
Tuesday 9 to Saturday 13 Sept.
148 London Road
Grays
RM17 5YD
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
then 10am-5pm daily
Yarn Bombing will be on display at High House Production Park, Purfleet, from the Monday 8 Sept.

6. Realist Urban Landscapes

Paul Harrison with Barry Andrews
Saturday 6 to Sunday 21 Sept.
19 Mayflower Close
South Ockendon
RM15 6HZ
10am to 6pm daily
Viewing by arrnagement – please see brochure
http://www.facebook.com/PSHFA

7. Swan Song

The Dacha Group at The Swan Gallery
Sunday 7 to Monday 22 Sept.
The Swan
High Road
Horndon on the Hill
SS17 8LD
Pub opening times

8. Art at St Mary’s

Saturday 13 Sept.
St Mary’s Church
High Road
North Stifford
RM16 5UE
10am-4pm

9. Mucking Marvels

Wildlife & Landscape paintings, Multimedia Timeline & Wildlife Photography
Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 Sept.
including Wildlife Photography workshop on 10am-1pm Saturday 20 September – Booking Essential (see brochure)
Essex Wildlife Trust
Thurrock Thameside Nature Park
Cory Environmental Trust Visitor Centre
Mucking Wharf Road
Mucking
Stanford-le-Hope
SS17 0RN
9am to 5pm daily

ThAT cover10. GPC Arts & Crafts

Thursday 18 & Saturday 20 Sept.
Gateway People’s Centre
2 High Street
Stanford le Hope
SS17 OEY
10am -2pm both days

11. High House Artists

ENAS Open Studios
Friday 19 to Sunday 21 Sept.
High House Artists’ Studios
off Purfleet Bypass
Purfleet
RM19 1AS
Friday 10am-5pm
Pop-Up Gallery at Backstage Centre 6-7.30pm
+ Open Vision Showcase 7.30pm
Saturday 11am-4pm
Sunday 11am-4pm

12. Purfleet Local Art & Photography

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 Sept.
St Stephen’s Church
London Road
Purfleet
RM19 1QD
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday 1-4pm

13. Ron Contemporary Gallery Projects

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 Sept.
95 Victoria Avenue
Grays
RM16 2RN
11am-6pm

See lots more information on all the above, groups and individual artists on http://www.thurrockarts.com

Please also see Tim’s collaborative piece with John Espin at http://timharrold.tumblr.com – called The Doors of Perception, this piece commisioned by ENAS (Essex Network of Artists’ Studios)  will be on display at an exhibition called Traces at Hadleigh Old Fire Station art studios and gallery (on the A13 giratory section, postcode SS7 2PA) 1-14 September 2014. See also http://essexstudios.org.uk/events-list.