An exhibition of work by artists
affected by or reflecting upon stroke
Click Here for Exhibition Catalogue (Note: 7 MB File)
Exhibition Concept
My name is Lil Sullivan, I am a professional artist and also a stroke survivor. This exhibition has been put together in collaboration with The Stroke Association and the London Stroke Action Council (of which I am a member). Out of the Blue / Art of the Stroke highlights the contribution survivors of stroke make to society and will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Stroke Association itself.
A stroke comes out of the blue. One day you're going about your business and the next your life has changed beyond recognition, you're 'disabled', mis-understood and frustrated beyond belief. You comprehend that you're not the person you were, which throws up other feelings and doubts.
Out of the Blue also refers to the way that people emerge out of the blue horizon of doubt. The stroke nearly killed me, so it heightened my sense of my own vulnerability and the vulnerability of life. This made me see the urgency of contacting - out of the blue - artists who are old friends that I haven't contacted for a long time. Sadly some are now dead.
That's my Out of the Blue, but other artists may have another take.
The Art of the Stroke has resonance in art as well. A stroke of the brush or hand is the first and last action of the artist in response to a stroke of genius.
The Exhibition
The exhibition will be curated by Lil Sullivan and Hilary Baxter (Head of Costumer Design, Wimbledon School of Art) will be contributing to the design and layout of the exhibition and Paul Atkinson from Camberwell School of Art will be designing a limited edition poster for the exhibition..
A garden of remembrance will be created by Catherine Coakley McCarthy and Anna O’Connor with their fantastic photographs. It will culminate in an installation by Lil Sullivan which will incorporate the work of other artists. Remembrance will be for those artists who are no longer with us, including Jo Allen (Irish-American painter), Tony O'Malley (Irish painter who lived and worked in St Ives), Roger Hannam (sculptor and lecturer at Crawford) and Deirdre Meaney (batik artist), and also my father, who for me was an unsung artist and who died of stroke-related illnesses.
A stroke comes out of the blue. One day you're going about your business and the next your life has changed beyond recognition, you're 'disabled', mis-understood and frustrated beyond belief. You comprehend that you're not the person you were, which throws up other feelings and doubts.
Out of the Blue also refers to the way that people emerge out of the blue horizon of doubt. The stroke nearly killed me, so it heightened my sense of my own vulnerability and the vulnerability of life. This made me see the urgency of contacting - out of the blue - artists who are old friends that I haven't contacted for a long time. Sadly some are now dead.
That's my Out of the Blue, but other artists may have another take.
The Art of the Stroke has resonance in art as well. A stroke of the brush or hand is the first and last action of the artist in response to a stroke of genius.
The Exhibition
The exhibition will be curated by Lil Sullivan and Hilary Baxter (Head of Costumer Design, Wimbledon School of Art) will be contributing to the design and layout of the exhibition and Paul Atkinson from Camberwell School of Art will be designing a limited edition poster for the exhibition..
A garden of remembrance will be created by Catherine Coakley McCarthy and Anna O’Connor with their fantastic photographs. It will culminate in an installation by Lil Sullivan which will incorporate the work of other artists. Remembrance will be for those artists who are no longer with us, including Jo Allen (Irish-American painter), Tony O'Malley (Irish painter who lived and worked in St Ives), Roger Hannam (sculptor and lecturer at Crawford) and Deirdre Meaney (batik artist), and also my father, who for me was an unsung artist and who died of stroke-related illnesses.