A photographic observation of the Talitha Arts Garden at St Margarets House over twelve months by Virginia Orr.
The garden reconciles human art and wild nature, hard work and deep pleasure, spiritual practice and the material world. It is a magical place because it is not divided." —Thomas Moore
Gardens mean many things to many people. A space of tranquillity, rest, reflection and rejuvenation, creativity, achievement, purpose, a place of life, beauty and wonder, a source of food, a social space, a learning space and many other things.
This exhibition is a personal an enquiry, an opportunity to explore the garden through the lens of a camera and record what was revealed. There is an interesting relationship between the process of seeing and looking. We cast our eyes somewhere and we have an immediate view, we see what’s in front of us. If we rest a while and empty our head of what we think should see, we start to see so much more. But it’s always a personal view, give a camera to ten people, ask them to photograph a plant and you’ll get ten very different images.
Virginia says ‘The process of taking the images on show was fairly loose. Turn up, breathe and rest in the space, walk around and see what caught my eye. Take a few frames and explore the difference between what was in my eye and what was in the lens. I decided not to review any of the images outside of the visits until the project was finished. I wanted not to be influenced by what had gone before and just respond to each visit as it was’
"I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking."
— Christopher Isherwood
St Margaret's House & Talitha Arts share a partnership based on the ethos of the creative arts being a tool for social change and better mental wellbeing, so it is fitting that the 'Talitha Arts Garden' has a permanent home at St Margaret's House, where it can be enjoyed by the whole community and form a setting for arts and wellbeing activities.
Virginia Orr is an artist using photography as her medium. She’s come late to her creative practice, only really getting to grips with a lifelong desire to express herself as she turned 60. She is also Exhibition Co-Ordinator at St Margarets House and coaches’ creatives.
Venue: The Gallery Café, St. Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PL
Dates: Tuesday 10th September – Monday 14th October
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday — 8:30 am – 6.00 pm
Free entry
Access: If you have any access needs of which we should be aware, please let us know.
Step-free entry to The Gallery Cafe is at the rear, through the garden. It is accessible through the gate located two doors to the left of the cafe’s main entrance. If you need access to an accessible toilet, please let us know so we can arrange that.