It may surprise many of you to know that I live in an historic and beautiful part of Southampton. It is known as the Bevois Mount Estate, and in 1723 it belonged to the third Earl of Peterborough. Nowadays the beauty is a little bit hidden at times by green bins, old settees and abandoned pushchairs. Consequently about August last year the Bevois Mount History Group decided they wanted to create something to improve our present environment and remind us of our past; but what could it be? After a lot of discussion my dear friend Ally Hayes suggested a mural could be painted. It was agreed that this was a great idea with just a few minor difficulties - we didn't have a wall, we didn't have a design and we didn't have an artist. Perhaps a larger difficulty was that we didn't have any money. However, Ally is a very versatile lady, and she immediately found a wall, and produced an artist from up her sleeve.
On the left we have the Alma Road wall as it looked on September 28th 2015, and on the right is Ally with street artist Slam Daniels. So some of the ingredients were starting to be put in place. However, a project like this necessitates a great deal of planning, arguing, and consultation. A major requirement was to obtain the permission of the owner of the wall. Cometh the hour cometh the man as they say and at this point I would like to introduce the Commander, John Hayward, a man who knows how to get things done.
John is the man just coming round the corner in the picture on the left. The picture on the right shows consultation in action. The lady in the middle is Fiona, and she is a researcher and fact finder extraordinaire.
John was very efficient in gaining the permission of the wall's owner and discussing the project with the residents' association. Slam produced a design which was pored over, pulled to pieces, and many conflicting suggestions added. He bore all this interference with great good humour and equanimity and the final blueprint was very impressive
John was very efficient in gaining the permission of the wall's owner and discussing the project with the residents' association. Slam produced a design which was pored over, pulled to pieces, and many conflicting suggestions added. He bore all this interference with great good humour and equanimity and the final blueprint was very impressive
Now all we needed to do was raise a few thousand pounds to pay for it.
Raising money can seem a very daunting task, so the best thing to do is to break it down into very small parts with a reward at the end. We found that a highly successful method was to walk into local shops and businesses, show them a picture of the proposed mural and then stand around looking hopeful. We received many contributions using this technique and then rewarded ourselves with a trip to the pub. The contributors will be acknowledged on a Board of Honour.
There were a number of community fundraising events including a pub quiz and a spring fayre, but probably the most picturesque was the Art Exhibition held at the Blue Door Estate Agents in Lodge Road. There are some very talented artists living in the Bevois Mount area, and many of them donated a piece of work to be sold to raise money.
Raising money can seem a very daunting task, so the best thing to do is to break it down into very small parts with a reward at the end. We found that a highly successful method was to walk into local shops and businesses, show them a picture of the proposed mural and then stand around looking hopeful. We received many contributions using this technique and then rewarded ourselves with a trip to the pub. The contributors will be acknowledged on a Board of Honour.
There were a number of community fundraising events including a pub quiz and a spring fayre, but probably the most picturesque was the Art Exhibition held at the Blue Door Estate Agents in Lodge Road. There are some very talented artists living in the Bevois Mount area, and many of them donated a piece of work to be sold to raise money.
Lots of individuals also contributed cash and by May of this year we thought we were ready to go; but then a setback occurred. Wayne - expert on exterior decoration - visited the wall and said it was in no fit state to have a work of art created on its surface, and the really annoying thing was that he was right. There is always some jeopardy in projects such as this isn't there?
So we did another few rounds of local businesses, went to the pub again, and raised some more money to have the wall prepared. By 20th June it looked like this:
So we did another few rounds of local businesses, went to the pub again, and raised some more money to have the wall prepared. By 20th June it looked like this:
Finally, on 5th July 2016, the great day had arrived when work could begin on the Bevois Mount History Mural. We had to wait for scaffolding to arrive and then the very first brushstroke was applied.
Next time I'll tell you how the mural was painted