Sad to report the recent death of Martin, a good friend and a learned man. Martin had been brought-up in Oxford, had a private education and studied for his degree at Oxford University. Although reluctant to detach himself from working for Oxford Parks Dept., he did spend his working life as a teacher of English, being very widely read but expressing a particular admiration for the novels of George Eliot. As a young teacher he displayed socialist tendencies and went to teach in a West Midlands secondary modern. In 1980s (?) he came to work in Hull, first at Sidney Smith School (upper school, Leicestershire system) and later at Newland High School. Buffeted by systems changes and challenging students his socialism waned and for the last few years of his life was a UKIP supporter. Martin was an active supporter of Barton Civic Soc. and the Barton and District History Group, his energies for the former often focussing around small local areas of landscaping (as with Oxford Parks Dept.). He was fond of fine art. Martin died alone in his own house in Goxhill and left instructions that his funeral should take the form of the order of service as per the Book of Common Prayer, and no more. The funeral takes place at 9-30am on October 20th at Haltemprice Crematorium.
One of the two volunteering sessions for an arts installation that I recorded yesterday was in the central well of Princes Quay shopping precinct (see above). The outline of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling signified the ‘elephant in the room’, that is the ecological impact of the consumerism evidenced on the three floors of the surrounding shop units. The outline was created by pieces of paper hanging from thread-like strings, the lack of bold definition signifying the opaque appreciation of the message. An additional image hanging from the whale was that of an elephant, but to a much smaller scale. Very clever, but how many shoppers got it?
Artists can be influential in effecting social/environmental awareness and change, but the question ‘How impacting is your work?’ may be relevant.
Incidentally the works of the short listed candidates for this year’s Turner Prize are on display at Ferens Art Gallery, central Hull.