After a year-long, £5 million renovation, the William Morris Gallery has finally re-opened. The gallery is housed in one of William Morris’ homes known as “Water House”. The house is located in Lloyd Park in Walthamstow in northeast London. The building which houses the gallery dates back to 1744, and was William Morris’ family home during his teenage years.
To celebrate their reopening, the William Morris Gallery will be hosting an exhibit of Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry’s Walthamstow Tapestry. This colourful tapestry (which is huge – 3 x 15 metres), examines “man’s passage from birth to death ‘via the shops.’”
It’s a wild and fascinating work and definitely worth getting a closer look at! And definitely a good choice for the re-opening of the gallery (I’m sure Morris would appreciate both the medium of tapestry and the consumerism-questioning message behind it).
If you are lucky enough to be in London for the 2012 Olympic Games, this would be a great opportunity to take a side trip to see the museum as well. For more information, visit the William Morris’ Gallery’s new website.
I would love to see this tapestry! Grayson Perry ‘s work is fascinating.