The A Graceful Death exhibition, by Antonia Rolls, is about love, life and dying.  

 

In 2007 Antonia's partner Steve died. In order to try to understand this terrible thing that was happening to them both, Antonia painted his last weeks and last days of life, and also the day of his death.  In 2009, the first A Graceful Death exhibition was tentitively held, unsure of what the public would make of such a subject.  The response was extraordinary.  It seems that we are all going to die.  It seems that we have had experiences of people we know and love dying, and it seems that we carry a huge weight of fear, loss and silence around the subject of death.  

 

People began to ask Antonia if they could be painted for the exhibition too, and share their experiences, and the exhibition has grown to include paintings of, interviews with, and insights from and filmed conversations with those who are facing death.  It tours the country, and promotes much needed conversations and discussions on just what it means to face this most important part of our lives,  at the end.

 

The Soul Midwifery Movement was founded by Felicity Warner.  

 

In Felicity's words, "Soul Midwives are non-medical, holistic companions who guide and support the dying in order to facilitate a gentle and tranquil death...

 A good death is an extraordinary, moving and sacred experience. It can also have a healing quality, not only for the person who is involved but their families, friends and the wider community.

 

Felicity teaches from her School of Soul Midwifery here in Devon, and has inspired and trained hundreds of new Soul Midwives from all over the world, and is responsible for a new impetus to help the dying die well.

 

Felicity's books "Gentle Dying" and "Soul Midwives Handbook" will be on sale throughout the exhibition.