'Bardfield Murals' and 'Finding a Home' Exhibitions Curator Tour & Talk
'Bardfield Murals' and 'Finding a Home' Exhibitions Curator Tour & Talk
Friday 27 June 2025
Start time/finish time: 11am/1pm
Place: Fry Art Gallery, 19A Castle Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1BD
An opportunity to see the exhibition of murals by Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden, Kenneth Rowntree and Michael Rothenstein, as represented in their sketches and studies for works from 1930 to the 1970s. This unusual exhibition focuses on an often-overlooked aspect of the work of these artists who lived and worked in Great Bardfield, Essex and received interesting and important commissions for schools, colleges, ocean liners, company boardrooms and the Festival of Britain. They brought a special quality of lightness and humour into the solemn world of mural painting at a time of general enthusiasm for this interchange between art and architecture.
Alan Powers will give a detailed description of the works gathered together in the exhibition he has curated with Neil Jennings, and also talk about the accompanying exhibition, ‘Finding a Home at the Fry’, curated by Ella Ravilous, focused on decoration and collecting by artists represented at the gallery.
Meet at the Fry Gallery at 11am, with talk at 11.30am.
The nearest railway station is Audley End, and there is a public bus service to the town. The nearest public car park is at Swan Meadow, a five-minute walk from the gallery. Pay and Display, card payments only. Blue Badge holders may use the Residents’ Parking spaces in Castle Street.
C20 Members only: £15
(The price includes a contribution to the casework and campaigning activities of the Society)
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.
Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244
Above: Edward Bawden, Study for mural at the Lion and Unicorn Pavilion, Festival of Britain, 1951 (private collection) .