Introduction
Interior of the church with exhibition banners and video
This was a visit which was a little bit different to the usual type of art exhibition. It is a free exhibition dedicated to Hull's rich fishing heritage held at St John the Baptist (The Fisherman's Church), St George's Road, Hull. The church was at the heart of Hull's fishing community, being the local church for weddings, baptisms and funerals. The nearby Hessle Road was where many of the trawler men and their families lived. It was a bustling, thriving community with its own unique identity. The exhibition celebrated that tradition.
Banner, with trawlermen in their typical best outfits
Overview
The Church was set out with large banners depicting scenes and people from Hull's fishing heyday, and near the altar there was a large video screen with a series of contemporary films of life at sea and home comings. It also featured photographs and tributes to the many lost at sea, either in fishing disasters or swept overboard in heavy seas. It was very moving and I could not help but notice some of the ages of those lost - one being an assistant cook, just 15 years of age. There were also displays of fishing memorabilia interspersed between the art exhibits.
Fishing memorabilia
The Art Works
The works included paintings, prints and sculptures. They were all connected with the theme of Hull's fishing heritage. Displays were centred around the names of the streets off Hessle Road where the fishing community lived.
Models and images of trawlermen were set alongside paintings of fishing vessels, prints of working practices and sculptures of a wide variety. The works had mainly been done by local people. I had entered the exhibition and had a piece accepted. I set out below photographs of some of the wide range of works exhibited. My work was a screen print, "Rope", in the Rugby Street section which illustrated working practices - see below.
Folk Lore
Lillian Bilocca "Big Lil"
"Big Lil" was a fisheries worker who campaigned for improved safety in the fishing fleet as the leader of the "headscarf revolutionaries" spurred into action by Hull's triple trawler tragedy of 1968 which claimed 58 lives.
Screen prints
Glen Dickson
Jean Edwards
I was particularly interested in some screen prints. The first, by Glen Dickson, was of three trawlers with a multi-coloured and dynamic background. The second was a set of three screen prints, by Jean Edwards. These prints were an excellent example of the good use of restrained colour and the combination of techniques. The effect was one of intrigue and mystery and a feeling of time passing by.
Summary and Conclusion
It was a good idea to enter my work into the exhibition as it gave me the opportunity to show my work in a completely different kind of venue and setting. The whole exhibition was held together by its central theme of Hull's fishing heritage, which was the key to the success of the event.
I will follow up my research into the techniques and colour palette of the screen prints above, as I think that I can learn from them.
No comments:
Post a Comment