Artistic and Cultural Expression in Bury St. Edmunds
I grew up near Bury St. Edmunds, a picturesque town in the heart of Suffolk, England. Bury St. Edmunds has something for everyone. I remember spending hours in the Abbey Gardens play area or walking around the beautiful flowers with my grandparents. Later I completed my Art Foundation Year at West Suffolk College. I even appeared on the front cover of the Bury Free Press with the rocking horse I made for my A level project!
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Moyse’s Hall Museum - Moments Art Exhibition
Moyse’s Hall Museum - Moments Art Exhibition
Whilst I don’t live near Bury St. Edmunds anymore, my parents do and when they suggested we visit the Moments Exhibition, I jumped at the chance. The Moments Contemporary Art Exhibition is running at Moyse’s Hall Museum in association with Brandler Galleries from 23rd June to 30th September 2021. Due to Covid you have to book an allocated time slot.
The exhibition showcases some of the world’s best-known artists, including: Banksy, Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst, The Connor Brothers, Blek Le Rat, Pure Evil, My Dog Sighs and Kaws.
There is also a range of workshops, live art demonstrations, talks and other events all themed around the concept of ‘moments’.
Tickets prices are £6 (Adult) or £4 (Concessions)
We absolutely loved our visit. It was my first time seeing a Banksy in the flesh, which was a real treat. We all loved the Pure Evil pieces and my eldest daughter’s favourites were the mesmerising eyes in some of the My Dog Sighs paintings. We would highly recommend a visit.
Pure Evil
Banksy
My Dog Sighs
![My Dog Sighs Suffolk eye [162].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60da2a060458516d04fb196a/1626467874518-4GYZG52X9YU5BAUOKD31/My+Dog+Sighs+Suffolk+eye+%5B162%5D.jpg)
The Bury St. Edmunds Art Trail
I also had the opportunity to follow parts of the Bury St. Edmunds Art Trail. The Trail is part of the ‘Art Around Town’ project that is taking place in the town between 1st July 2021 to 30th September 2021 and is being run in association with the Moments Art Exhibition at Moyse’s Hall Museum.
Around 300 local artists have come together to create an art encounter on the streets of Bury St Edmunds. The artwork has been produced to ask the question 'What makes Bury St. Edmunds tick?' and is displayed on 10-inch pizza boxes around the town. You can find the boxes in the windows of shops and public buildings in the town centre, and even in some unexpected locations such as the aviaries in the Abbey Gardens.
The artists have created artworks based on a wide variety of aspects of Bury St. Edmunds, including some of its best kept secrets.
This project has a been a concerted community effort that has been brought about as a collective coming together to express Bury St. Edmunds’ recovery following the global pandemic that has impacted all of our lives.
You can expect to see a variety of visual delights from metal structures, melted plastic dolls, printmaking to paintings. More information can be found at the Art Around Town Instagram page @artaroundtownbury.
I passionately feel that the expression of art and culture comes in many different forms, everyone should feel welcome to contribute and it should be accessible for all. The Bury St. Edmunds Art Trail achieves this and makes for a more vibrant and interactive streetscene.
The Abbey Gardens
The Abbey Gardens are in the heart of Bury St. Edmunds on Angel Hill. The Gardens are on the site of the former Benedictine Abbey, once one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England. It was a place of historic pilgrimage for medieval tourists who wanted to visit the Shrine of St. Edmund, the original Patron Saint of England (as known as King Edmund of East Anglia, who died in 869).
With over 50,000 plants, more recently Abbey Gardens is renowned for its colourful and attractive floral displays, set within the backdrop of the abbey wall, that run through from Spring to Autumn.
The Abbey Gardens includes many spaces within it. There is the Pilgrim's Herb and Appleby Rose Gardens. The Sensory Garden is of particular importance as it was designed to provide interest for the visually impaired through scented plants and herbs. The Garden of Reflection is an area within the park to commemorate an act of genocide that took place in the town in 1190. The Abbey Gardens also contains The Aviary, which has a variety of birds include canaries, budgies, teal ducks, Bengalis and Zebra finches and diamond doves.
Of course, all good parks and gardens need a children's play area, and the Abbey Gardens is no different. The play area is well equipped and includes a treehouse nestled within a willow maze.
I have visited the Abbey Gardens my entire life. It reminds me of my beloved grandmother who absolutely adored the abundance of flowers. We would sit on one of the benches chatting for hours, with the beautiful circular flowerbeds stretched out before us. I have so many fond memories of playing in the play area and ruins when I was really small or wandering around the aviary with an ice-cream. It is free to enter and is an enjoyable spot for people of all ages.
Art Education - West Suffolk College
When I was an ‘A’ Level Design student at Stowupland High School, I was thrilled when my design project was featured on the front page of Bury St. Edmunds’ local newspaper, the Bury Free Press. I had made a rocking horse that I adapted to provide additional support for children with special needs. It was at this time that I decided to pursue an Art Foundation Year at West Suffolk College. I have really fond memories of my time at college, including an Art education visit to Barcelona to see the wonders of Gaudí and La Sagrada Familia.
I developed a broad range of creative, technical and professional skills and a portfolio whilst at West Suffolk College that enabled me to gain a place at Leeds Metropolitan University on the BA(hons) Graphic Arts & Design course. I am pleased that the Art & Design Foundation course is still being taught at West Suffolk College today.
Hunter Gallery
Whilst visiting Bury St Edmunds, a trip to Hunter Gallery would be well worth a visit. The galley is located at 31 Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, between The Abbey Gardens and St. Edmundsbury Cathedral. The gallery contains exhibits from many well known local artists across East Anglia and eastern counties. The gallery specialises in art for the home in a wide variety of styles.
Guildhall Studio
Guildhall Studio is another that is well worth visiting whilst in Bury St Edmunds and is located at 7 Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds. Guildhall Studio was founded by John Martyn, a photographer, to display the photographs he has taken over the years of local areas and those further afield. The studio also shows the work of many local artists and crafts people.
