Heritage Quay unveils exhibition on local artist and activist Sally Jerome
Heritage Quay at the University of Huddersfield has unveiled a new exhibition, ‘Becoming Sally Jerome’, about the colourful life and times of the artist and activist who spent much of her life in the local area.
Sally Jerome (1905-2002) was a mainstay of Huddersfield’s art scene for more than 40 years, having gone to the Huddersfield College of Art later in life before taking up painting seriously after retiring.
This was merely the last part of a life that started in South Africa and took in Namibia, Germany, London and Liverpool. Visitors will see how Sally’s life experiences, from her upbringing to her involvement in work, protest and creativity, shaped her identity.
Highlights of the exhibition include material about her time in 1920s Berlin, her work during the Second World War and the life she made for herself in Huddersfield. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to her commitment to activism, including her membership of the Communist Party and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Her relationship with George Orwell, an arrest at a Korean War protest and her campaign for local office also feature.
The exhibition has been a passion project for curator Dave Smith, who says, “I’ve been fascinated with Sally’s story for many years, quietly researching her family history and the events of her life whenever I had a spare minute. Archives are full of the stories of extraordinary people who aren’t household names whose lives have a lot to tell us, and Sally is definitely one of those people.
“She had a deep and long-lasting sense of who she was and what she stood for. This distinct personality, combined with some beautiful artworks and the appearance of fascinating people and places, has been irresistible to me, and hopefully it will be for people who visit the exhibition.”
The exhibition is based on the Sally Jerome Archive which was gifted to Heritage Quay, the University archive, in 2017. Many of the items on display will have never been seen before.
University Archivist Dr Rebecca Bowd adds, “Sally Jerome’s archive is one of the most popular collections whenever we show people our art and textile collections. We are delighted to have this chance to display the collection for the first time and hope it inspires the next generation of artists across Kirklees."
Becoming Sally Jerome is on display at Heritage Quay until 18 May with free entry. Full information about opening times is available on the website. The Sally Jerome Archive can be found at www.heritagequay.org/archives/SJA