Viva Lewes Issue #144 September 2018

ART
in the UK, the curatorial team felt it was ‘a
once in a lifetime opportunity’ to bring over
a strongly representative selection of work.
Kent’s signature pieces are her
screenprinted assemblages of found image
and text. She brings together messages from
advertising and the news with lines from
poetry or the Bible to speak out against
poverty, racism and war. The resulting
compositions are as bright and urgent as
any made in recent years, perhaps even
more so.
It’s all very current, you might say, and still
wonder what the connection is with the
Ditchling artists. “There’s a fundamental
link which is to do with the heartfelt desire
for a better and more humanitarian world,”
explains Fuller. “In Ditchling, this led to the
foundation of the Guild by Eric Gill, Hilary
Pepler and Desmond Chute and the work
of Saint Dominic’s Press”.
The Ditchling community would also
have been aware of Kent’s work within
the Immaculate Heart, and vice versa,
through the Catholic Art Association. The
association was established in 1937 for
those making work within the Catholic
tradition that was radically different from
the conventional religious art of the time,
and historically.
One of the most memorable works on show
is the quadriptych Power Up. The piece was
made to hang above the altar for Mary’s
Day in 1965, a traditional event that Kent
transformed into a celebratory platform to
raise awareness of global issues. “Power Up
is an incredibly strong piece,” says Fuller.
“Every time I come out of my office into
the museum I see it, and it gives me a real
emotional boost.” Chloë King
Corita Kent: Get With the Action is on show
until 14th October.
ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk
‘the juiciest tomato of all’ (1964)
Immaculate Heart College Art Department (c1955)
‘everything coming up daisies’ (1968)
Photograph by Fred Swartz
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