The Art Exhibitionists Newsletter No 11 – September 2026
A Fabulous Christmas Treat Awaits This October - November
The Art Exhibitionists bring art, craft and plenty of festive cheer to Sydenham from 30 October-1 November 2026
Christmas is coming early to Sydenham this year, as The Art Exhibitionists transform Sydenham Church, The Old School Room and the surrounding spaces into a festive celebration of creativity, community and Christmas spirit from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
Visitors will be welcomed into a magical space packed with opportunities to find truly individual Christmas presents - the sort of gifts you won’t find on the high street - while enjoying a wonderfully relaxed and festive atmosphere.
There will be original art, handmade crafts, live music, artist demonstrations and creative drop-in activities, giving visitors the chance to have a go at something new. And, of course, there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy cakes, minced pies, mulled wine, tea, coffee and maybe some pies along the way.
The Art Exhibitionists’ aim is simple: to wrap visitors up in a creative hug, kick-start the festive spirit and make Christmas shopping an enjoyable treat.
With Christmas presents bought early, you can head into November and December knowing that the shopping is done - leaving more time to relax, celebrate and enjoy time with friends and family.
Get your tickets early by visiting our website and enter our prize draw to win a free 2 hour art lesson.
Stuff We Did
- Stewart is doing the 5 km challenge for prostate cancer; that’s 5 km a day, everyday in October. He’s spent the whole of September carefully limbering up for this rather ambitious undertaking, so we’re hoping all that preparation pays off and he makes it through the month with his knees, hips and dignity intact!
- Lucy battled her way back into the chaos of the school term - and somehow found time to celebrate turning 45! We have to admit, this came as quite a shock to the rest of us, as we all thought she was 35, fresh faced and gorgeous. At least we were right on two counts!
- Stewy is currently training hard for Warrior Day - six boxing sessions back-to-back at ‘Punch Hub’ in October, followed by his traditional rewards of a curry and a well-earned beer. We’re slightly concerned, however, that all this time in the ring may awaken something in him. Let’s just hope he doesn’t decide that the life of a warrior is preferable to the life of an Exhibitionist and desert us all for the draw of the boxing ring!
- Liz dropped Tommy back at Sheffield University for the start of his third year. She was absolutely bereft - although the jury is out on how Tommy is feeling!
- Lou went along to Musical Mayhem with her grandson, expecting a lovely little outing together. What she hadn’t anticipated was quite how enthusiastically she would get involved! Before long, Lou was singing and dancing with great gusto, while her grandson sat quietly watching in a state of serious shock- and possibly a little horror- There was music but Lou provided the Mayhem!
Fun but Utterly Pointless Art Fact
Vincent van Gogh once painted a picture… of his own room — three times.
His famous The Bedroom shows the room he rented in the Yellow House in Arles. But rather than simply painting it once and moving on with his life, Van Gogh created three versions of the same scene between 1888 and 1889.
Why? Because the first version was damaged, he painted another — and then created a smaller copy for his family.
So, if you ever find yourself taking three nearly identical photographs of your living room because you can't decide which one is best, remember:
Van Gogh did it first.
A Little Game of Spot the difference
Bedroom in Arles (October 1888). Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
This is the second version of the three oil paintings van Gogh did on this subject, created in Saint-Rémy, in early September, 1889.
Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
English Bedroom in Arles (final version, end September 1889). Oil on canvas, 57.5 x 74 cm. Musée d'Orsay, Paris
Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The three versions are currently in Amsterdam, Chicago and Paris, meaning Van Gogh's bedroom has managed to become considerably more well-travelled than most people's.
TTFN - love the Art Exhibitionists Team