In June 2013 an ‘Interested Parties’ email was sent out to various local artist groups/individuals asking for participation in the production of artworks for the new Clitheroe Hospital. I replied with a short CV and a link to my website. The response was very positive and I was asked to attend a meeting of local interested parties in August 2013. Unfortunately we were on holiday in Cotignac but I was assured of a second meeting in November where we would be taken on site to view possible areas for the displaying of artworks. Four people attended this meeting; two teachers from local schools, a member of a local embroidery group, and myself. A theme titled ‘Bringing the Outside In’ with a ‘WOW’ factor for impact was proposed and we were asked to prepare appropriate artworks incorporating a poem the architects had suggested running around three walls of the reception area.
My initial design was met with a positive WOW response and I was asked to develop the idea further and would I be interested in being part of the development team to workout the logistics of coordinating all the artworks. Of course I would; who wouldn’t?
Further meetings refined the display areas, and also a request to produce a slideshow of my photos from the local area, to be displayed on two 55” television screens installed in the reception area. I realised I didn’t have enough photographs for a 20 – 30 minute show covering all four seasons so I suggested involving my local camera club. The club responded with about 400 photos, enough to produce three slideshows lasting about thirty minutes each.
Two of the three local schools participating responded with themed works, but due to contamination restrictions in the displaying of artworks within a hospital environment, there was a possibility they couldn’t be hung. In order to have their work shown, I suggested photographing all the individual pieces and the students actually doing their work, for inclusion in their own slideshow. I got the go-ahead from the hospital management and schools involved and set about arranging a photography schedule. Two months later I had five slideshows of students at work on their nature projects.
Together, the finished mural and slideshows displayed in the reception area, provide a wonderful visual solution to the requested theme of ’Bringing the Outside In‘.
My wife Francine attended the opening of the Clitheroe Hospital on 9th June 2014 in my absence, as I was unable to attend due to a planned visit to Australia to visit family and friends.
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