Hannah Munby: Reflection of Fen Ditton Gallery's 2nd Anniversary
I am very excited that Fen Ditton Gallery is celebrating its 2nd Anniversary, although not quite the celebration we hoped for, for obvious reasons. However, having the time to reflect on the past two years and make plans for the future has been invaluable to us in establishing our next steps during this strange time.
Gallery manager, Hannah Munby, during Birds exhibition, June 2019. Bronze crow sculpture by Belinda RushJansen. Image credit: Ian Olsson for Indie Cambridge
Although I have been involved with some aspects of gallery since the beginning, it was in June 2019 that I made the decision with my partner Matt to relocate back to Cambridge and take up the position of Gallery Manager. Don’t be fooled by the title, you will often find me making coffee, hanging exhibitions, posting on Instagram, interacting with artists or simply being secretary to Lotte (who, in case you didn’t know is my mum!)
Prior to the ‘big move’, I was living in Brixton and working at Wimbledon Art Studios in South West London, an exciting complex of over 270 artists studios. During my time there, I met and worked with a huge number of the artists and makers at the studios and was constantly amazed by their creativity and drive to do something they love, whether that was the established artists and their full-time commitment to their art, or those who came to the studios at night after a full day of work to fund their creative passions. Twice a year we held an open studios weekend and the artists invited the general public into their often private working spaces. Seeing the reaction of the visitors to the community I was a part of made me feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by this everyday. Having graduating from photography at the Arts University Bournemouth, I was also able to bring my own creativity and photography skills to the table, which biannually ended up in the form of billboards and posters across London!
Install image from Modern Art for Modern Living. Screenprints by Nigel Hall RA, painting by Katharine Le Hardy, etching by Roger Law.
It was a very special time for me and it’s been wonderful to bring some of those artists to the gallery, including Katharine Le Hardy (Modern Art for Modern Living, September 2019) whose paintings I simply fell in love with at first sight and actually have in my own collection too! Modern Art for Modern Living was the first exhibition that Mum and I curated together and I was thrilled by the response. I also gave my first (nerve-wracking) talk at the gallery during this exhibition, titled The Importance of Art in Modern Life, which I feel is as relevant in our days of lockdown as it ever has been.
When I joined the gallery full time, I was lucky to muscle in on the fantastic standing that Mum and Amanda had established for the gallery in the first year of its existence. The work that had been carried out on the building was outstanding (props to Luke Munby – it truly is a family affair!) and the variety and collection of artists that we had been privileged to show was vast. Fen Ditton Gallery, if you haven’t yet visited, is a truly special place. A far cry from the white wall galleries, it is homely and inviting, and does, in fact, merge seamlessly to Mum’s own home.
We have been incredibly fortunate to have the experience of independent curator Amanda Game on our side throughout our two years. Amanda has bought to the gallery a roster of artists and industry knowledge that I continue to learn from and has been an integral part of gallery life since the off. The three of us bring different backgrounds and experiences to the table, which gives way to a varied and exciting programme of exhibitions and events, but our shared outlook on topical conversations, such as the natural world and the environment has been established as a hugely important part the gallery.
Mother and daughter team Hannah and Lotte run Fen Ditton Gallery. Image credit: Ian Olsson for Indie Cambridge
On final reflection, it’s been a wonderful journey to be involved in Fen Ditton Gallery over the last two years. If you had told 18 year old me, who couldn’t wait to set off into the wide world, that I would be back in Cambridge working with my mum a decade later, I certainly wouldn’t have believed you, but I’m very glad this is where I am!
Thank you to all the artists that have shown with us and to all the visitors and clients who have supported us. We look forward to opening our doors and welcoming you back to the gallery again soon.