Friend curates Quaker Salter Centenary exhibition
Exhibition celebrates the anniversary of 1922 when Ada became the first female mayor in London and Alfred was elected MP.
A South London Friend has curated an exhibition to celebrate Quakers Ada (1866-1942) and Alfred Salter (1873-1945).
‘The Spirit of the Salters Lives On’ exhibition at the Lake Gallery in Southwark Park Galleries shows how the couple transformed the area of Bermondsey through social reform, improvement of health and housing, and a ‘beautification’ programme in the first half of the twentieth century. The exhibition is part of the year-long Salter Centenary project, which celebrates the anniversary of 1922 when Ada became the first female mayor in London and Alfred was elected MP.
Sheila Taylor, coordinator of the Salter Centenary, who curated the exhibition, told the Friend that she found ‘two more amazing artists to contribute. One – Nigel Moyce – has painted portraits of the Salters based on old photos, and the other – Eugene Ankomah – has done installation and sculpture work with young people from a youth centre.’
The latter, Eugene Ankomah, has posted videos of the exhibition on his Facebook page. The event opened in September but has been extended to 9 October.
According to Sheila Taylor, Eugene Ankomah told the Salters’ story to the young people at the Salmon Youth Centre, ‘in particular the loss of [their daughter] Joyce, dying from scarlet fever, and the young people all came up with ideas of what the story made them think of. One of the things he put in the installation was a little children’s medical kit. The young people thought that if Joyce had not died she might have become a doctor too.’
Sheila added: ‘Judi Dench, who is patron of the event, wrote a supportive letter to Eugene, which he took into the youth centre to show the kids.’
More details of the Salter centenary can be found on its website. Sheila said: ‘We’re hoping to set up something in November, as that was the month that Ada and Albert were actually elected, when she was the first woman mayor in London, and she announced the results of her own husband becoming MP. John Wheelan at the People’s Company has received funding to put on an Ada Salter Festival and is writing a play which will be performed at the Southwark Playhouse.’
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