Displayed in churches across the marsh, Art In Romney Marsh (AiRM) has brought together the work of artists that have made outstanding contributions to British contemporary art history.
‘Breathing Out’ is an exhibition posthumously celebrating the work of an eclectic group of artists, each with their own unique approach to photography and portraiture, displayed on large scale billboard installations set up in the churchyards.
At the heart of AiRM is the desire to help visitors enjoy the marsh and its medieval churches through an imaginative artist-led exploration. The marsh has a long history of being a place of inspiration, attracting artists, writers and composers over many decades. A registered charity, AiRM works to provide creative opportunities, initiate artists residencies and build community educational programmes.
St. Clement’s church in Old Romney featured the work of Fay Goodwin. Renowned for her black and white landscape photography and her passion for campaigning for public access to the countryside, her intimate portrait of Derek Jarman in a beekeepers suit was taken in his garden at Prospect Cottage, Dungeness.
Her photographic documentation of the British landscape has been published in many books including Romney Marsh and the Royal Military Canal (1980) and The Saxon Shore Way – From Gravesend to Rye (1983).
St. George’s church at Ivychurch, celebrates the work of Rotimi Fani-Kayode who came to the UK to escape the Nigerian civil war, and Gambian photographer Khadija Saye. Both artists have made their mark exploring photographic interpretations of race, identity, gender, and beliefs.
An introduction to the exhibition sums up both the artistic works and Romney Marsh well – ‘It is a place where there is a sense of freedom, holding a creative history and a feeling of openness and acceptance. A place to breath out.’
For more information visit www.artinromneymarsh.org
Image Credits: Art in Romney Marsh , Chris Lawson .