Globally celebrated photographic exhibition We Feed the World comes to Frome

A GLOBAL photographic exhibition featuring the smallholder farmers and fisherfolk who feed the world will be opening its doors across two Frome arts venues on 2nd July. 

We Feed the World will go on display in a brand-new multi-functional art space, the Gallery at The Station, alongside the well- known Whittox Gallery. The exhibition marks the first public display since visitors on London’s Southbank enjoyed a ten-day exhibition in Autumn 2018. 

The organisers report, “We Feed the World was coordinated by UK based charity The Gaia Foundation to challenge the myth that we need industrial agriculture and quick-fix technologies to feed the world, and to share the moving stories of the small-scale farmers who produce over 70% of the world’s food whilst improving soil fertility and working with, not against nature. 

“Over three years, from 2015 to 2018, 47 award winning photographers from around the world gave their time to document the lives of 50 farming communities across six continents. World-renowned photographers including Graciella Iturbide, Nick Ballon, Rankin, Rena Effendi, Tina Hillier and Omar Victor Diop are included in the works, which includes over 300 images, together with their inspirational stories.” 

We Feed the World will be the inaugural exhibition for the Gallery at The Station, the shared gallery and events-space of Frome-based photographer Tom Hull, designers Lisa and Phil Millard, Neil Southwell and illustrator, Ben O’Brien, soon to be opened behind Frome’s latest dining destination including Rye Bakery and Hesperian fish restaurant. 

Tom said, “We’re incredibly excited to be one of the first spaces outside London to show We Feed the World. Opening a gallery that will be committed to showcasing world-class photography, it seems only fitting to launch with an exhibition that features the work of some of the biggest names in the industry, many of whom I have personally much admired. 

“Working with The Gaia Foundation to curate the We Feed the World selection especially for Frome has been a complete honour, as it’s such an enormous body of work with some incredible stories to share. By carefully distilling down a selection of the images for this multi-venue trail, we hope to open the myriad conversations and discussions around sustainable farming and the empowerment of small- holder farmers the world over. What better place to have those discussions than in Frome?”. 

The Whittox Gallery are equally delighted to be opening their doors to showcase their first photographic show and first collaboration with the Gallery at The Station. Located in the heights of RISE, a community culture and lifestyle venue in a former church, the Whittox Gallery is curated by Sarah Robson and owned by Ed Roberts and Io Fox. Sarah said, “We were thrilled when asked to jointly exhibit this amazing body of work by The Gaia Foundation. We Feed the World will be our first exhibition since 2019 and is a chance to celebrate our re-opening with an issue that is very close to people’s hearts here in Frome, and increasingly across the world. The pandemic has revived appreciation for sustainably sourced local food and local producers, and with the Rye Bakery in residence with us here at RISE, it feels a perfect collaborative exhibition to celebrate new beginnings and community.” 

Rowan Phillimore, Deputy Director of The Gaia Foundation and fellow Frome resident added, “We’re thrilled that We Feed the World is coming to the south-west and that these moving portraits and stories will be seen outside London. The issues that the exhibition casts light on are some of the most critical issues of this time – how do we feed the world and nurture the planet? Regenerative farming practices cool the planet, increase soil fertility and hold community at their heart. We’ll be collaborating with local growers, authors and activists including Vallis Veg farmer and author Chris Smaje, to bring these issues to life through a series of events in the exhibition spaces.” 

We Feed the World will open at the Gallery at The Station and the Whittox Gallery on 2nd July to the end of August. The We Feed the World book, published by family-run South west publishers Little Toller at the end of 2020 will be available for sale at both venues, as well as Hunting Raven books on Frome’s well-loved Cheap Street.