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In celebration of the Caribbean community in south London

A photo-story by Jim Grover

This September, Windrush: Portrait of a Generation, a major exhibition documenting the lives and traditions of the ‘Windrushers’ who settled in South London, will play an important part in the programme of launch events taking place at Fairfield Halls, Croydon’s newly-refurbished state of the art cultural complex.

The stunning photo-story, which received widespread acclaim when it was first exhibited for a limited time at the Oxo Gallery on the South Bank last year, will be showcased in the heart of Fairfield Halls in the new Arnhem Foyer for four months from 19 September 2019 to January 2020.

Photographed by award-winning social documentary photographer Jim Grover, the exhibition comprises some 60 predominantly black and white photographs and accompanying narratives from many of the individuals featured.

The photographs are themed into groups of photo-stories that, together, encompass the daily lives of the Windrush generation including; community clubs; customs, dancing; faith; family gatherings; the Jamaican home; service to the mother country; funerals; and ‘Nine Night’ (a tradition which marks the passing of a loved one). Extended photo-stories running as slide shows, bring to life a typical Jamaican funeral and the playing of dominoes.

The exhibition leads with an opening portrait and personal story from Alford Gardner, now aged 93 and one of the few surviving passengers from the original Empire Windrush voyage. To co-incide with Black History Month this October, Gardner will be making a personal appearance at the Fairfield Halls exhibition to meet and talk with visitors.

Neil Chandler, Venue and Artistic Director of Fairfield Halls comments: “I am thrilled that this very moving and sensitively photographed exhibition will be showcased as part of Fairfield Halls opening programme of events to mark our grand launch. I first came across it last year and was struck not only by the stunning images but by the powerful and emotional connection it had on the many who saw it. It’s fitting that this exhibition documenting a highly significant episode in British history will have a four-month residency here among Croydon’s richly diverse community and in particular its Caribbean community; this photo story is also their story and it is truly inspiring.” 

The exhibition will also be accompanied by a book of the same name, which will be on sale at the venue and available on Amazon.

Background:

June 22^nd, 2018 marked the 70^th anniversary of the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury docks in 1948. The ageing merchant ship brought 802 young hopefuls, some two-thirds of whom were Jamaican, to help rebuild Britain in the aftermath of the war. This was a truly momentous moment in the evolution of Britain’s cultural life: the arrival of those first passengers and ensuing steady flow of migrants from the Caribbean, often referred to as the ‘Windrush generation’, was a major step in the creation of a multi-cultural Britain.

Windrush: Portrait of a Generation is the latest photo-story by award-winning social documentary photographer Jim Grover and was first exhibited at the gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf on London’s South Bank from 24th May until 10th June 2018.  It attracted 13,000 visitors and extensive media coverage, both national and regional:

‘...poignant and intimate...moving and often beautiful...’  The Observer

‘...one of 2018’s must see shows...’  Londonist

‘...do not miss...’ ES Magazine

ENDS

Listings info:

Dates: 19 Sept 2019 to Jan 2020
Title: Windrush: Portrait of a Generation
Fairfield Halls
Arnhem Foyer
Park Lane, Croydon. 

CR9 1DG

https://www.fairfield.co.uk/whats-on/windrush-portrait-of-a-generation/

Admission is free.

Monday-Sunday, opens 10am – 11pm

Tel: 0203 292 0001

More information about the exhibition and Jim Grover can be found at: www.windrushportraitofageneration.com

For more information, please contact: Diana Whitehead; Fourth Wall PR at diana@fourthwallpr.co.uk; 07939 149887

Posted by Tim on Tuesday 20 August 2019