Someone to Watch Over Me - Public Art Project
A temporary Public Mural installation in South Normanton which tackles attitudes towards elderly people in the village.
Someone To Watch Over Me launch, 20th June, Frederick Gent School, South Normanton and Pinxton
“What’s with the large Grannies Miss?” remarked one student after viewing a new mural installation in the courtyard at Frederick Gent School, South Normanton and Pinxton. Entitled ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’, the installation presents three large portraits of older women from the community and aims to encourage debate and challenge issues around attitudes towards older people and how commonly held social perceptions of older women affect them and their relationships with young people in the locality. In partnership with Junction Arts and designed by Berlin-based artist Mat Hand, the installation of the portraits caused quite a stir around the school and the local community triggering debate and some interesting comments!
During his time as ‘artist in residence’ at Frederick Gent School and with the help of local historian Dennis Deneley, Mat Hand met, interviewed and photographed many older women in South Normanton and Pinxton and, after much deliberation, finally chose local residents Edna Iliffe, Jane Johnson and Helena Mary Andrews as the three portraits for the banners – all of whom appear to be enjoying their new found fame in the community! As part of the residency, Mat had been working with Year 10 art students on a series of interactive workshops based around the mural installation. In the week leading up to the official launch, students in Year 7 had been working in all subject areas on topics related to the themes of the installation and have compiled a special dossier of work.
The portraits were unveiled at a special event in the courtyard of Frederick Gent School where local elderly residents gathered together with students to mark the official opening of the installation. Earlier in the day, elderly residents from South Normanton and Pinxton were invited by the year 7 students to talk about their lives in the village, special memories from the past and hopes for the future. On arrival to the main courtyard of the school, invited guests were treated to a live performance of the George Gershwin classic ‘Someone to Watch Over Me‘ performed by a small choir accompanied by school musicians. Following several speeches, Mat Hand presented the elderly guests with a single red rose and souvenir picture card of the installation as a memento of the project.
The event concluded in spectacular fashion with afternoon tea and cake in the school canteen providing an opportunity for the new celebratory residents in South Normanton and Pinxton to meet with the students from the school and chat, challenge and debate opinions and feelings around the installation – definitely food for thought!
Pictured above from left to right top row – Simon Gray Head of Art Frederick Gent School, Tina Glover Junction Arts, Mike Ainsley Headteacher Frederick Gent School, (bottom row left to right) Mat Hand project artist, Chris Heighton Junction Arts. Photo credit – Roy Goddall