I've spent three weeks in July and August watching paint dry, and I can assure you it was extremely interesting. Once the background had been done a little night work had to begin. The images that Slam was going to paint had to be projected on the wall and marked up so that they were the correct size.
Seeing the picture projected on the wall was very exciting - it was almost as if the mural was complete. Then the very next day all we could see were a few red marks, which Slam proceeded to bring to life. The first panel was going to be a depiction of the Stag Gates and Bevois Mount House. The Stag Gates are an iconic Southampton image, but they aren't really stags. Also many people assured us that they could remember them even though they were removed in 1920. Bevois Mount House is where the famous third Earl of Peterborough lived, and you can read all about him on the Bevois Mount History website
Members of the back up team were there every day. We had a number of different roles - take photos, explain to passersby what we were doing, ask for money, and even do some painting supervised by the expert Slam. In order to carry out these duties we needed a base for our operations, so we set up camp on the other side of the road. This was also the area where rest and recuperation could take place
It is very important that such a talented artist as Slam gets his refreshment.
We soon had a daily routine, and as the weather was beautiful it was absolutely no hardship to sit chatting at the side of the road, taking the occasional photograph and watching other people work. We didn't want Slam to be on his own, although we needn't have worried as he seems to know nearly everyone in Southampton anyway.
We soon had a daily routine, and as the weather was beautiful it was absolutely no hardship to sit chatting at the side of the road, taking the occasional photograph and watching other people work. We didn't want Slam to be on his own, although we needn't have worried as he seems to know nearly everyone in Southampton anyway.
Soon it was time to put in another night shift
Fiona was an excellent health and safety representative, and we completed the entire project with no injuries or fatalities. The middle panel was to feature a portrait of Sir Bevois and a 1905 map of the Bevois Mount area; it was at about this point that we began to realise what a very big undertaking this was. However, there could be no going back, so Ally and Barbro pitched in as well.
As the days wore on we had a steady stream of onlookers. Some were regular visitors and some just stopped off on their way to the doctor's. It was a great opportunity for us to explain some local history and give out some calendars. We received a lot of donations and enormous amounts of goodwill. This came as a relief because on the very first day we had had to get a notice of non-disapproval from Balfour Beatty in order to use the scaffolding, after an anonymous complaint had been phoned in. Planning permission is not required for a mural - just the permission of the owner. The busiest day was when a group of Jehovah's Witnesses descended on the area and learnt something of Bevois Mount's history before they went knocking on doors
The most time consuming and painstaking part was the map. Slam is a perfectionist and we often said things like - "that's good enough" - or - "it looks straight to me" - but he was having none of it. Consequently we have a wonderful and accurate map including Clausentum Road, which had been inexplicably left out.
So, with the map complete and the third panel yet to do, the final instalment of the Making of the Mural will be coming soon.