A Poem by our Writer in Residence, David Gilbert
Kestrel The sky is cobalt before rain.No, this time why not try properly to explainhow mental illness took my life, and thought’sstorms drove through me? Or how way back the mindremoved itself, a grin melding my jaw tightlyin all weathers. Yet a frail kestrel too is heldabove the purple heather and the bare winter treesees […]
Place of Safety artwork commission
Drawing by Sarah Carpenter The Maudsley Place of Safety is a purpose-built central building for young people and adults who are detained temporarily under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. A single stay can last for up to 72 hours until the person is assessed and a decision on their care needs is made. […]
A Poem by our Writer in Residence, David Gilbert
Mantra Drawing down the mountaingathering in the flockthe sound of distant bellsand soft rain. The town settling at duskpeople coming home from worka river runningunder the bridgeand through the quiet town. Then at the far end of the streetlights turning onin a small houseonce and now of belonging. © 2023 David Gilbert David Gilbert is Writer […]
Open Call artwork display
A selection of the works on display. As part of the Art Strategy for New Douglas Bennett House and the Pears Maudsley Centre, Bethlem Gallery hosted an Open Call in Summer 2022. The Open Call invited artists with lived experience of mental health conditions, or who live in Croydon, Lewisham, Southwark or Lambeth to submit […]
A Poem by our Writer in Residence, David Gilbert
Man Walking He’s not the sort of man who can easilyfix what he’s done. The air smells thickly of pine.He wants to learn to be ordinary.To blend. But he sees things at an angle. Just as a child lends too much of himselfto those around him and thus accelerateshis own dying, he walks slowly nowunused […]
Bethlem Art Fair 2023: Call out for artwork
Bethlem Art Fair 2022 Bethlem Gallery invites artists, patients, service users, carers and loved ones, staff and volunteers connected to the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to contribute up to 3 artworks to the Bethlem Art Fair 2023 that will be open from 25th November 2023 – 20th January 2024. Download the submission […]