Helston to Honour Pamela Colman Smith with Week of Art and Events

Helston is preparing to celebrate one of its most fascinating former residents this September, with a week-long programme of art, tarot, and rare historical works dedicated to Pamela Colman Smith, the creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck.

Pamela, who lived on The Lizard Peninsula for around 30 years until her death in 1951, is being honoured in the area where she spent the longest period of her creative life.

Major Contemporary Art Exhibition

The centrepiece of the celebrations is Resonances of Being, a two-day exhibition at Helston Old Chapel on 27th and 28th September, curated by Cassinelli Mills.

The show features six nationally acclaimed artists, including Turner Prize nominee Ingrid Pollard. Alongside Ingrid, the exhibition includes work by Sarah-Joy Ford, Ashanti Hare, Alexis Soul-Gray, Monica-Shanta, and Coral Woodbury with Lally MacBeth. Each has created new work inspired by Pamela’s interests in folklore, cultural tradition, and archival research.

This exhibition and its events are part of a longer research project devised by Vashti Cassinelli and Dr Ella S Mills, who share updates on their work via Instagram.

The newly transformed Helston Old Chapel is itself part of the story. Once derelict with boarded windows and a leaking roof, the building was taken on by Trevow Helston CIC just over a year ago. A £101,208 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allowed it to be restored, and it has since hosted over 100 events.

The weekend will also include a live performance by Monica-Shanta at 10am on Saturday 27th September, followed by a special presentation from acclaimed author Lally MacBeth at 10.30am on Sunday.

Meet a Turner Prize Nominee

The programme begins with an intimate evening at CAST on Thursday 25th September at 6pm, where Ingrid Pollard will appear in conversation with Ashanti Hare. Tickets cost £15 and include supper. Booking is available at castcornwall.art.

Rare Artworks on Display

Original illustrations from Pamela’s Widdicombe Fair will be shown at Emporium on Church Street across two weekends, 19th-20th and 26th-27th September.

Printed in 1899 with only 500 copies ever made, these works are usually housed in collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Library of Congress. Their appearance in Cornwall offers a rare chance to see museum-quality pieces in an intimate local setting.

Exploring Tarot’s Artistic Heritage

On Monday 22nd September, Helston Library will host a free session exploring tarot as an art form. Led by practitioner Stef, who has worked with tarot for 20 years, the event will examine the cultural and artistic significance of Pamela’s deck. Participants are encouraged to bring their own cards.

An Evening of Tarot

The celebration continues on Friday 26th September at 42 The Living Room on Coinagehall Street. Running from 6-8pm, the interactive evening includes a Triptych of Tarot workshop, short readings using the Rider-Waite deck, and themed cocktails. More details are available at 42 The Living Room.

A Town-Wide Celebration

Curators Vashti Cassinelli and Ella S Mills said:

“Extraordinary Colman Smith was in so many ways: she was an illustrator, writer, occultist, and theatre and costume designer. We hope this exhibition and associated events draw out more of her archive and creativity beyond her tarot illustrations, much loved as they are. We have designed this exhibition by inviting contemporary artists to engage with themes of Colman Smith’s work in the hope to generate some new and expanded conversations around her art and life. We are so pleased to bring these events to Cornwall.”

Guy Watson from Trevow Helston added:

“It’s wonderful to see Helston celebrating someone who chose to call this area home for such a significant part of her life. This programme brings together established and new venues across the town, demonstrating how our cultural quarter continues to grow and surprise.”

What’s On in Helston

• 27th-28th Sept: Major Contemporary Art Exhibition + Live Events | Helston Old Chapel | FREE

• Thursday 25th Sept: Ingrid Pollard in conversation with Ashanti Hare | CAST | 6pm | £15 | castcornwall.art

• 19th-20th & 26th-27th Sept: Original Pamela Colman Smith Illustrations | Emporium, Church Street | 10am-4pm | FREE

• Monday 22nd Sept: Tarot as Art – cultural exploration | Helston Library | 10am-12pm | FREE

• Friday 26th Sept: An Evening of Tarot | 42 The Living Room | 6-8pm | 42 The Living Room