Bushey and Oxhey Methodist Church opened its doors to the first Oxhey ‘mini Arts Festival in 2010 between March 4th and March 17th. With its varied programme of locally focused events, the ‘mini’ Arts Festival certainly created much interest and showed the Church in use as a venue for exhibitions, talks, debates and concerts both for the community and beyond. The wide range of events covered politics, poetry, art appreciation and history, music and local nature and history. In particular, Colin Richards from St Matthews Parish Church gave a very absorbing talk on Church Art from Byzantine Art and icons through to ‘The Annuniciation’. This was also a timely talk to link in with an exhibition of Jeff Gibbons’ devotional artwork that followed the mini Arts Festival called ‘The Annunication: The Birth of Language’ at St Matthews Parish Church.
The artwork from the Oxhey Art Group was a real spectacle of local talent brought together by their tutor Barry Steel; as well as other striking art displays in various forms such as figurines, hand made jewellery and ceramics. The beautiful hand woven Afghan carpets were also enjoyed by many, especially once they had got over their inhibitions about treading on them! These carpets belonged to one of several businesses supported by Ashram International who run their registered charity from the church premises. So it was fitting that one of the Art Festival highlights was an Afghan evening to experience Afghan food, learn about Afghanistan and the impressive work of Afghan Action who run this small carpet factory and training school for young men and women in Kabul that also extends to literacy and numeracy classes as well as providing on-site healthcare and a nourishing mid-day meal.
It was impressive to see and hear the newly formed Rock Chorus, in full voice after only one term and supported by slightly more experienced choruses from Dunstable and Berkhamsted, The Festival was truly a celebration of creativity which has resulted in a clamour to make this more of a regular event.
Join us for Coffee and Conversation in the new Church foyer.