The London Group is delighted to present ‘Now I make a leaf of Voices’ a free outdoor sculpture exhibition in St John’s Churchyard Gardens in partnership with St John’s Church and the Waterloo Festival 2026.
The theme originates from Walt Whitman’s roaring, elegant poem ‘Voices’ from his celebrated collection ‘Leaves of Grass’ published in 1855. It celebrates polyphony and plurality at the core of the creative expression. It takes the shape of personal and communal voices, expressing emotions, histories and opinions. Voices can soothe, entertain, anger or lead.
‘O what is it in me that makes me tremble so at voices?
Surely, whoever speaks to me in the right voice, him or her I shall follow,
As the water follows the moon, silently, with fluid steps, anywhere around the
globe.’
Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman
The London Group members and invited artists take inspiration from the theme, combine materials, words and sounds and use the churchyard gardens to raise their ‘sculptural voices’.
Barbara Beyer & Mark Sowden’s ‘The hatter singing as he stands’ inspired by working songs associated with trading and crafting, takes imprints on clay of the churchyard walls to capture the resonant spirit of the daily community life. In Paul Bonomini’s ‘The Singing Ringing Tree’, hundreds of tiny bells hang from the leaf stems, moving gently with the wind. They answer to one another in an ever-shifting chorus, transforming the tree to a living body of voices.
This exhibition carries particular resonance since the Festival of Britain took place 75 years ago, a post-war celebration of creativity and renewal. St John’s Waterloo was rebuilt as the Festival’s official church and the London Group organised two massive open submission exhibitions. Once again this summer, we will take the opportunity to unite our voices and celebrate. Alongside this powerful sculpture trail and during the Waterloo Festival (9-12th of July) there will be workshops, performances and a series of social events bringing our communities together.
The London Group Exhibiting Artists
Barbara Beyer, Paul Bonomini, Clive Burton, Paul and Laura Carey, Martin Darbyshire, Stathis Dimitriadis, Alexandra Harley, Aude Hérail Jäger, Annie Johns, Anne Leigniel, Jockel Liess (Partial Wave Child), Sumi Perera, Paul Tecklenberg, Marcia Teusink.
Invited Artists
Andrew Ash, Gillian Brent, Andy D’Cruz, Amanda Francis, Geoixos (Partial Wave Child), Andia Coral Newton, Jessica Palmer, Desa Philippi, Yuko Shiraishi, Mark Sowden, John Wigley, Shotaro Yoshino.
St John’s Churchyard
St John’s Waterloo
73 Waterloo Road
London, SE1 8TY
Monday 6th July – Saturday 6th Sep
Open: 9am – 8pm
Free entry
Nearest tube: Waterloo
