The 120th anniversary of the birth of an inspirational Bury St Edmunds artist will be celebrated this week by school pupils, heritage staff and members of her family.
Sybil Andrews, was born on April 19, 1898, and specialised in printmaking. She found success as an artist in the 1930s after a chance meeting with fellow artist Cyril Powers in the streets of Bury St Edmunds. The two collaborated for a number of years under the pseudonym of Andrew Powers.
To mark her anniversary, Moyse’s Hall Museum is hosting a Sybil Andrews exhibition which started on Saturday, March 24, and ends on Friday, April 27. They will be joined on Thursday, the day of her birthday, by members of Sybil Andrews’ family who will present an old exhibition poster to students and staff from the Sybil Andrews Academy, in Bury St Edmunds.
Eddie Crichton, from Lacy Scott and Knight, a co-sponsor of the project, will give a free valuation of the poster while Canon Precentor, Philip Banks of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, will attend having administered the loan of its Sybil Andrews Edmund Tapestry to the exhibition
Councillor Joanna Rayner, cabinet member for Leisure and Culture at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “Much of the work of Sybil Andrews was passed onto the council’s heritage service after she died in 1992. Sybil Andrews was an important and inspirational artist and her life and her work is part of our town’s wonderful history. We are proud to be able to showcase her work including items from the family of Sybil Andrews who we look forward to welcoming to the exhibition next week.”
Councillor Trevor Beckwith has also offered Suffolk County Council locality funding to help transport Sybil Andrews Academy students to attend the exhibition between now and Friday.
He said: “The new Sybil Andrews Academy has got off to a very positive start and this event should further enlighten not only the students at the school but also the local community of the important contribution made by Sybil Andrews, not just locally, but nationally as well. I am very happy to be able to help.”
A Sybil Andrews evening lecture will also be hosted at Moyse’s Hall Museum next month.
Dr Hana Leaper is senior lecturer and development manager at Liverpool’s John Moores University and has produced two books on Sybil Andrews’ works. She will give a talk on May 11, starting at 7pm. Booking is essential and more details can be found at https://www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk/whats-on/event/4130/movement-at-its-core;-sybil-andrews-and-bury-st-edmunds
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