© James Bloomfield
Steps To The Sea: James Bloomfield
St Mary in the Castle is excited that James Bloomfield, a local documentary photographer, will be having an exhibition of new photographs in the Crypt Gallery. The free exhibition ‘Steps to the Sea’ will be on show in the Crypt Gallery from 22 September until 23 October.
James commented: “I’m excited to be exhibiting at St Mary in the Castle as it’s a bit of a spiritual arts home for me. I’ve been involved with the building and team since 2016 and I’m happy to finally have produced some work to go in such a distinctive and unique space. It’s a fantastic home for art between the Old Town and new town in Hastings and I think that reflects the tone of my work here too.”
© James Bloomfield
“We’re thrilled that James will be exhibiting his beautiful photographs in our Crypt Gallery,” Lead Curator, Thom Kofoed says. “He’s been an incredible supporter of St Mary in the Castle these last few years and it feels fitting that we celebrate his work in our gallery.”
James’s project ‘Steps to the Sea’ was undertaken in January 2017 over two days, involving the photographic documentation of every single step and stair leading from the promenade to the seafront between Hastings’ Old Town and Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion.
James Bloomfield
James said: “Concentrating on architectural repetitions and significance of structure in our shared experience of the seaside, the piece is a long form tribute to the unsung infrastructure which links pebble to pavement. The shots are arranged in similar fashion using the same format of 35mm digital photographs of each step from the same 4 angles.”
James’s exhibition will include a free photographer’s talk open to the public on Thursday, 26 September in the Crypt Gallery where he will discuss his work as a documentary photographer and filmmaker, his process and this project ‘Steps to the Sea’.
© James Bloomfield
James has also been working on a series of photographs documenting St Mary in the Castle. These photographs will go on display in 2020.
Crypt Gallery: Past the restaurant lies the enigmatic and atmospheric Crypt Gallery, now used as one of the most interesting and unusual exhibitions spaces in East Sussex. In April Crypt Gallery relaunched as an exhibition space for local, national and international artists. Entry to the exhibition is free. For more information follow @stmaryinthecastle on Instagram and visit www.stmaryinthecastle.co.uk
James Bloomfield: a documentary photographer and film director based in East Sussex. He currently works producing documentaries and short films for charities and social enterprises in Hastings and around East Sussex and Kent.
St Mary in the Castle: a grade II* listed former Church built in the Neo-Classical style. It was converted into an arts centre is 1998 after substantial refurbishment by Hastings Borough Council and English Heritage.
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