The House of St Barnabas
Vital Arts was invited to present an exhibition of our limited editions at The House of St Barnabas, the Homeless Charity and members’ club in the heart of Soho. The show included works by Hurvin Anderson, Lothar Goetz, Catherine Yass, Bob and Roberta Smith and others. Installed in the Garden Room of the HoSB’s stunning Georgian building, the artworks were sold to raise funds for our Patient Participation Programme and a range of health-related charities chosen by each artist, as well as HoSB itself.
During the run of the exhibition, Vital Arts organised a sell out talk between Peter Liversidge and Iwona Balzwick, Director of the Whitechapel Gallery. The conversation ranged over the topics of collaboration, archives, music and Liversidge’s practice, which centres on the writing of Proposals for potential artworks. Also in discussion was his commission for Vital Arts, and his time as Artist-in-Residence at the Royal London Hospital, when he delved into the history of the hospital and the Whitechapel area.
The highlight of the evening was a surprise raffle. Guests won artworks by Peter, VIP concert tickets to see the band Low at the Roundhouse, a range of signed, limited edition books, as well as newly-released CDs and record LPs.
The event was introduced by Vital Arts Director, Catsou Roberts, and began with a re-staging of Peter’s infamous Gin Performance. Gin & tonics (supported by Sipsmith) were served in limited edition glasses by the artist, and intended for guests to keep as a memento of the evening. The edition numbers etched into each guest’s glass served as a secret “raffle ticket”.
After an insightful and humorous exchange between Iwona and the artist, Peter signed books and spinned some vinyl (simultaneously!), and a great time was had by all in the atmospheric Drawing Room at the House of St Barnabas.
