The TOMA 2022/24 cohort and TOMA Associates, are taking over Chalkwell Hall for a weekend exhibition, and run of events and workshops.
‘I will not be dragooned…’ aka ‘I will not be frightened out’.
The family motto of the original owner of Chalkwell Hall, as discovered by Rachel Lichtenstein, author and archivist. In 2008, Rachel was invited for a residency to help Metal uncover the history of Chalkwell Hall. The motto has been reinstated in the foyer of the building, providing inspiration and encouragement for those who use the space today.
TOMA artists were enticed by this motto and felt it pertinent to their current practices and the ‘dreaming’ ways of TOMA. I will not be dragooned… presents a collection of works that hold a sense of strength, history and belonging. From looking at this motto through a lens of perspectives and diverse creative practices, TOMA artists have found insightful ways to express their own wills to not be dragooned.
Whether it be looking into the intricate and multifaceted nature of the internet, slowing down, taking haste, engaging in child play, sitting under trees, seeking contemplation, growing the capacity of our gardens, reflecting on our public spaces or encouraging people to simply (yet profoundly) ‘get around to it’, we invite you to embrace our individual creative processes and perhaps discover your own response to this motto. This exhibition shows how we benefit from coming together in collaboration to embolden each other’s fascinations.
TOMA current cohort artists
Neeral Bhatt
Graham Burnett
Erene Dellaporta
James Forward
Gülşen Güler
Joanna Hartle
Edi McGurk
Eva Sbaraini
Kate Sullivan
Fredrix Vermin
Fern Worsley
TOMAssociates
Fiona Bennett
Peter Haugh
Blandine Martin
Emma Mills
Paige Ockendon
Grace Price
Jonathan Rust
Jessica Scott
Gemma Shaw
Victoria Sills
The Other MA (TOMA) is an artist-run education model and exhibition space based in Southend on Sea which supports artists who have faced barriers accessing art education and the ‘art world’. Thank you to Metal Southend for supporting us with the space.
METAL In Southend-on-Sea, Metal are based in Chalkwell Hall, a white Georgian house sitting within the much loved grounds of Chalkwell Park, overlooking the Thames Estuary across to Kent. Since renovating the listed building in 2007, we have hosted hundreds of artists-in-residence, public events, workshops, classes and creative community socials and programmes. A key part of our activity is encouraging conversations with the wider communities of South Essex.