Our Look Group ( like a book group for art) met at St Ia Church in St Ives. A knowledgeable guide called Martha kindly showed us round.
It’s an old church with a medieval tower, a very ancient stone carved font and dark oak carved bench ends, best seen with a torch. The ceiling bosses are stunning, some painted in gold and bright colours.
There are remarkable carvings by two Victorian sisters, some under the altar cloth.
A lot of the works have no labels.
The Victorian stained glass repays detailed study. I particularly like the Jonah and the Whale in the Lady Chapel and a later Crowned Mary with Child, on the left of the entrance going in.
There is a Barbara Hepworth marble mother and child relief, a Bryan Pearce painting of the angel figures and a Margo Maeckelberghe drawing also of a mother and child.
The most recent was a temporary exhibition provocatively called ‘the f word’ with photographs of people affected by violent crime and the perpetrators, who had met and whose moving words considering the possibilities of forgiveness were printed there.
Normally the group meets monthly on a Friday afternoon at Tate St Ives and we all contribute to discussion of themes chosen together.
If you want to join please contact the Tate.
