Sunday 25 October, 10.30am–12.30pm
Post-Frieze, your body may still be in a state of high alert: adrenaline and cortisol still running the show. When the pace finally slows, it does not necessarily know how to follow. The Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA) invites you to a Sunday brunch at Town Hall by Bottaccio, exploring how we can move from high alert into the parasympathetic state responsible for rest, repair, recovery – and that delicious feeling of being at ease.
Journalist Kate Spicer will lead a conversation with functional medicine practitioner and nutritionist Rose Ferguson and integrative somatic breathwork practitioner Rebecca Dennis, exploring light, perception and consciousness, including altered and psychedelic states, and the potential of art to support restoration. The conversation will be followed by a practical nervous-system reboot protocol focused on the vagus nerve and the body’s recovery response.
The event takes place within The Light Eaters, curated by Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst and Virginia Damtsa, and featuring artists including James Turrell, Carsten Höller, Loie Hollowell and Leo Villareal. The morning will include an introduction to the exhibition by Mollie and Virginia.
Doors and refreshments from 10.30am, with the conversation from 11am. Rose and Rebecca will sign copies of their books from 12pm.
Philip Vermeulen, Chasing the Dot. Photo: Lotte Stekelenburg
Philip Vermeulen, Chasing the Dot. Photo: Lotte Stekelenburg
Rose Ferguson
Rebecca Dennis
Rose Ferguson
Functional medicine practitioner and nutritionist
Rose Ferguson is a nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner whose career began as a leading model in the 1990s, working with Miu Miu and Prada and walking for John Galliano, Versace, Chanel and Alexander McQueen. After 15 years in fashion, Rose trained in Nutrition and Naturopathy at the College of Naturopathic Medicine and Functional Medicine at the Institute for Functional Medicine, before completing an MSc in Advanced Nutrition Research and Practice. She now runs a clinical practice in London and is the founder of R Health Club, an online wellness community focused on making healthy living practical and attainable. Rose is a regular health and wellness contributor to British Vogue and Global Wellness Expert for Dior Beauty.
Rebecca Dennis
Somatic breathwork therapist and author of Let It Go
Rebecca Dennis is an international author, coach and workshop leader, and the founder of Breathing Tree. She leads workshops, retreats and events focused on using conscious breathwork to support physical and mental wellbeing. Rebecca has practised holistic and alternative therapies for over 15 years, training with leading breathwork practitioners including Judith Kravitz, Dan Brulé, Donna Farhi and Max Strom. Her wider training spans coaching, anatomy and physiology, bodywork, reiki and healing traditions. Through her teaching and public speaking, Rebecca aims to make the transformative benefits of conscious breathing accessible and practical for everyday life.
Kate Spicer
Journalist
Kate Spicer is a lifestyle journalist who has written for the Sunday Times, The Times, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Vogue, Elle, Red and Noble Rot magazines. She has appeared on television in everything from MasterChef to Newsnight. She has made three acclaimed documentaries in the last ten years, all of which still air internationally, including most recently Mission to Lars, described as ‘beautiful’ by the New York Times. Lost Dog: A Love Story was a Sunday Times bestseller in 2019.
Rose’s and Rebecca’s books will be on sale on the day, with a signing after the conversation.
The Reset
by Rose Ferguson
The ultimate guide for anyone who’s hit that ‘ugh’ moment. When your body feels off, your energy’s tanked and nothing seems to work anymore. This book is your four-week roadmap to feeling like you again: energised, clear-headed and in control. Rose breaks down the science behind why your body’s been out of sync (spoiler: it’s not just ‘getting older’) and offers simple, realistic steps to turn things around. Think of it as pressing the reset button on your metabolism, hormones and overall well-being, without crash diets or joyless routines.
Let It Go: Breathe Yourself Calm
by Rebecca Dennis
This friendly support is an essential handbook to help tackle stress, anxiety, and to make everyday living easier for everyone. Breathwork is an ancient practice backed up by modern science. It is not just for the spiritually enlightened! It is a simple but powerful way for everyone to boost their health and happiness. Rebecca has helped hundreds of people for over a decade to overcome all kinds of common issues simply using breathing exercises.
Founded in 2016, the Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA) exists to make the art world a fairer place by investing in women’s professional and emotional skill sets and expanding their networks to empower them to thrive.
AWITA brings together inspirational women working across the arts ecology. Its members include gallerists, curators, art advisers and academics, as well as auction house, PR, museum and art fair professionals.
AWITA and Town Hall by Bottaccio share a commitment to amplifying women’s voices and creating a fairer art world. After The Light Eaters is part of the Town Hall by Bottaccio cultural programme.
Sunday 25 October: 10.30am–12.30pm
The Salon
Town Hall by Bottaccio, Bidborough Street, London WC1H 9AU
Places are limited.
Presented in partnership with AWITA.
