In the 1960s this late Pre-Raphaelite mural was painted over in white due to damp problems, the difficulties posed by restoration, and the fashion in church decoration at the time. A successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid by the Hoylandswaine Arts Group means that the original mural can now be restored. At the launch event for this project held on 29th October 2011 the art historian and writer Simon Poe gave an overview of the artist and the significance of this particular work. This event was followed by a study day. Please follow the link for details of the study day.

Rafal Betlejewski, "I Miss You, Jew!" Re-writing Polish Identity: Including Jedwabne into the Collective Narrative

Heather Kemarre Shearer, Troubled Traces: Painting and Displaying Intercultural Traumas of Aboriginality

MK Calling (28 June – 8 September) is the Gallery’s summer programme of exhibitions and performances, featuring 100 artists, musicians and performers from Milton Keynes. This dynamic season of painting, video, dance, music, poetry and much, much more will showcase MK’s finest emerging and established talent.

An interview with artist Guido van der Werve (b.1973, Netherlands) on the occasion of his exhibition ‘Minor Pieces’, at Site Gallery, Sheffield, 21 March – 30 May 2009.

Guido van der Werve constructs possible scenarios and imaginary realities where various geographies collide in order to generate momentary sensations of unusual, dream-like intensity. Trained as a pianist, the artist aims to create a visual and conceptual language that manifests a similar directness to the one that is typical in music.

Find out more about the exhibition ‘Minor Pieces’ at Site Gallery

Sol LeWitt (1928-2007, USA) produced more than 1,200 wall drawings, executed by himself and other artists. This time-lapse video shows the gallery wall drawing in progress, with two artists following LeWitt’s original rules. The execution of this wall drawing formed part of the exhibition ‘Sol LeWitt: Artists’ Books’. Find out more about the exhibition, ‘Sol LeWitt Artists’ Books’ at Site Gallery 8-29 May 2010 at http://www.sitegallery.org/archives/595.

On 21st and 22nd May the Department of Art History and Department of Geography (Leon Wainwright and Clare Melhuish) hosted the international meeting ‘Caribbean Urban Aesthetics’, at The Open University’s Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes. This was a preliminary workshop to bring together scholars and professionals from various disciplines and institutions, sharing a mutual interest in this field of studies both within and beyond the Caribbean itself, and to explore the possibilities for future collaborative research.