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Carlisle School hauls art from the waves
Added: (Mon Jan 24 2005)
Press release from:
St Aidan’s County High School
Lismore Place
Carlisle
CA1 1LY
01228 607587
Filthy water flooded in, did its dirty work, and left, leaving a perfect wave. Loss adjusters, contractors, architects all said “Rip it up and lay a new one”
St Aidan’s school, however, decided that its beautiful wooden sports hall floor could do one more job before it was consigned to the scrap heap. It could become a work of art, and raise money for flood victims at home and across the world.
St Aidan’s school, however, decided that its beautiful wooden sports hall floor could do one more job before it was consigned to the scrap heap. It could become a work of art, and raise money for flood victims at home and across the world.
Like several schools and hundreds of homes in Carlisle, St Aidan’s was damaged by the floods that devastated the city two weeks ago. People in Carlisle like to make the best of things and salvage what they can from the wreckage, as do their even more unfortunate cousins on the other side of the world.
Inside the sports hall, all is tranquil: a piece of installation art is in the process of creation. A gigantic map of the world has been painted across the damaged floor. The floorboards rise in a strangely beautiful wave, which runs through the area so recently devastated by the Tsunami. Pupils and staff are painting their images of flooding, tongues out, absorbed. Each individual's contribution builds into a mosaic which represents the sea in all its states. Everyone who adds their painting to the map, contributes to St Aidan’s flood relief fund. The money raised will be split between local and Asian relief appeals.
Involving the local community
Head of Art, Malcolm Gibson, is organising the huge task of getting every student in school to contribute to the painting. He is also keeping a record in the shape of still photos and video. The school hopes to record flood stories from local people too. As the floor itself cannot be kept, this visual record will be edited and put on tape or disc.
Members of the local community are asked to come in and add their pictures and icons too - listen out for details on local radio and watch the press...
How meaning can be salvaged from calamity
Assistant Head Gerard Kelly, who is co-ordinating the whole project, is passionate about what this means:
“The perfect wave in the floor can be looked at, not just as evidence of destruction, but as a symbol of hope, renewal, and the connection between people. For us it represents the ways in which all people suffer, and struggle to rebuild their lives when disaster strikes.
“People in Carlisle have suffered enormously, but, rather than making them look inward, it has given them a fellow feeling for those who suffered even greater losses in the Asian Tsunami. It was extraordinary to see that while businesses in Carlisle were struggling to keep open, and to cope with stock losses, they continued to collect for victims of the Asian floods.
“It's currently hoped that we can salvage some elements of the finished painting to form part of the final installation exhibition. This exhibition will find a venue where all local people can see it.
“This work of art will celebrate that spirit of generosity that those of us who work at St Aidan’s so admire in the people of our city.”
Contact Details:
Assistant Head, Gerard Kelly: 01228 63323
Head teacher, Martin Murphy: 01228 607587