“We are our own promised land, is an affirmation, reminding us of our own capacity and agency. It’s also a statement that references landscapes – a paradise perhaps – where salvation and liberation are possible. The work concerns itself with the representation of an internal and external landscape at Woodend. A total work completed in the imagination but drawn from life, being influenced by Scarborough and its surroundings.”
– Kate Genever, 2023.
We are our own promised land is an exhibition by artist Kate Genever who has transformed the main gallery space at Woodend into a ‘stained glass’ installation.
Using the windows in the gallery, the installation represents a bee orchid, a wildflower most commonly found in the southern parts of the British Isles. The number of bee orchids have been dwindling over recent years and are scarcer in the northern regions – as of 1985, the wildflower was declared Protected in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife Order.
The artwork can be viewed both inside and outside of the space. During the daytime, viewed from the inside, the window installation is illuminated with natural lighting, and at night the artwork can be seen from the outside and brought to life by the gallery lights.
With special thanks to Woodend Galleries and Studios, Tim Knight, Jamie Burns, Helen Donelly and the art and design students at Scarborough Sixth Form College.
This project was created by Kate Genever and delivered by Crescent Arts.
Kindly supported by Scarborough Museums and Galleries, Arts Council England and Scarbororough Borough Council.
