Thursday 5th November 2026 at 2pm, Penwith Gallery, St Ives
Glacial Erosion: In the Footsteps of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
An illustrated talk by artist Jonathan Parnham
Through discussing how and why artists have chosen to visually describe the transfixing Lower and Upper Glaciers in Switzerland from 1642 to the present day, Jonathan will provide an engaging illustrated presentation at Penwith Gallery, St Ives. Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, who in 1949, experienced the captivating glacial environments in person, continued for over forty years to create responses within her paintings and printmaking. These experiences helped broaden her artistic repertoire, into a passion for areas of cubism and abstraction.
The gradual erosion and retreat of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier has also been keenly observed and rendered through painting and print by artists that include: Casper Wolf, Ferdinand Hodler, Thomas Freany, and in the 20th Century, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham.
Jonathan will also present a selection of his recent plein air paintings and sketchbooks, focusing on the Swiss Alpine Grindelwald, Eismeer and Alesch Glaciers for viewing during the event, to further highlight the first-hand experience of recording these beguiling and rapidly retreating glacial terrains.
– Jonathan Parnham
