Monica Fernandez, Now Then, Video, Gaol Street Mural Project, Official Unveiling, Co-operative Wall, Oakham

Monica Fernandez, Now Then, Video, Gaol Street Mural Project, Official Unveiling,  Co-operative Wall, Oakham





Now Then - The Gaol Street Mural Project

Saturday 22nd November at 11.00am the Gaol Street Mural was officially unveiled in Gaol Street, Oakham

Local artist Monica Ferandez has been working with the local community over the last 6 months to create the mural.

Over 180 participants of all ages took part in a programme of events held at the Victoria Hall, at the monthly Farmer's Market, Catmose, Buttercross House and at Jules Youth Club.

The £10,000 project has over 100 photographs digitally printed onto ceramic tiles  mounted on the side of the Co-op Funeral Care building.

Funding for the project came from the Arts Council, Oakham Town Council, Rutland County Council, Oakham Town Partnership, Travis Perkins, Tim Norton Motor Services, Rutland Plastics, and Hambleton Farms Ltd.

Monica Fernandez said
"These murals are about the memories, stories and history of local industries. I feel honoured to share ownership with all the residents from Oakham and Rutland who have taken part sharing their photos, time and belongings".

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Monica Fernandez, Now Then - The Gaol Street Mural Project, Official Unveiling on Co-operative Wall, Photographs

Monica Fernandez Now Then - The Gaol Street Mural Project, Official Unveiling on Co-operative Wall, Photographs

Video to follow



Present: Monica Fernandez Artist to the right of Oakham Mayor
Jayne Woodcock then Peter Lawson, Miles Williamson-Noble, current High Sheriff of Rutland


In the crowd former Tory County Councillor Peter Jones Art4Rutland

Roger Begy OBE Leader of Rutland County Council Tory, Arts Council East Midlands

Sir Cliver Loader Tory Police and Crime Commissioner of Leicestershire Police
passing on his way to his normal weekly shop at Tesco with his good wife,

Oakham Town Councillors, Lowe, Stubbs, Lucas, Dewis, Nowell and Guthrie

Town and County Councillor and Photographer Walters

County Councillor Mark Woodcock

The Co-operative Funeral Staff.

Mural Project, Now Then, A Town With A View, Oakham 2014

Mural Project, Now Then, A Town With A View, Oakham 2014

This morning I attended the launch of this project in Victoria Hall Oakham.

I am pleased I did as I now have a better understanding of the concept and
the anticipated end result.

I was asked if I was going to contribute a photograph the answer is no.

To many times Oakham Town Council has asked for my photographs only
to have their use blocked by nasty old farts on the council.

There won't be a shortage of contributions.



The Artist Monica Fernandez has set up a Facebook Group which is now open
to all.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/524177541025359/

The cost of the project in my view is disgusting but then show me a Arts Council
and Council funded Art project that is not. Public money easy come easy go.


Some people came in to give photographs and other historic documents, others
to complain about the name given to the project Now Then, refering to Jimmy Saville.
Personally I was more interested in the "A Town With A View" because apart from
Brook Hill there is no views and as for the town politics and planning for the future
there is no vision. The artist said she hoped to encourage people to have a view or
opinion about Oakham's Past, Present and Future, I wished her luck as most people
with any opinion in this town are normally silenced.

Looking at an old documen,  Peter Lawson joked nothing much has changed since the 1800's
they held the same sort of events in Victoria Hall which were organised by the same people, committee people. I could not agree more. Although there is evidence that real lords and ladies once attended these
small functions.






Some images brought in this morning the original small Boots

The Petrol Station selling both Shell and BP
I am told the building on the corner is one of Oakham's Gaols
This is the location in Gaol Street which is home to the
Co-op building on which the mural will be fixed.



Whittle & Son Family Grocers & Provision Merchants

I like the short easy to remember telephone number Oakham 26
My families first number was 4980



Hambleton Food was donated by a sponsor

Now Then, Artist Monica Fernandez, Gaol Street Mural, Arts Council, Central England Co-operative, Oakham Town Council & Partnership, Oakham School, Arts4Rutland, Hambletons, Tim Norton Ford, Rutland Plastics, Travis Perkins

Now Then Gaol Street Mural Project.

Oakham Town Council have successfully gained funding from Arts Council England, to develop an
public art project on Gaol Street.

The project, in the form of a tiled mural, will celebrate the industrial heritage of the town, as well as reflecting the present and future. It will be interesting to see if the town council get the correct history. Oakham does not have much industrial heritage. plenty of farming history, Is clock making industrial? it has a heritage of clothing and rope making and many work houses.

The project organisers are calling on local residents to contribute their creative ideas, via a series of workshops, drop in sessions and online platforms.

The site of the artwork, at Central England Co-operative Funeralcare, was previously home to a mural, and public opinion and consultation has confirmed that local audiences want to see something creative happen in the space again.

The project, led by Oakham based artist Monica Fernandez, is titled Now Then.


Organisers are inviting local residents to a series of workshops to be held in the town centre, where they will be supported to bring and develop creative ideas in the form photographs, memories, and letters. Social media will also be used for sharing ideas and developing the content of the mural.

Monica, who has led many high profile public art projects to date, says “This will be a great opportunity for residents of all ages to take part in the creative process, and share a sense of ownership. Working together we will create a mural that Oakham can be proud of for many years to come”.

The finished artwork will be installed in September this year.

The main funders of the project are Arts Council England, Oakham Town Council, Rutland County Council and The Midlands Co-operative. Main partners of this project are Arts for Rutland, Oakham Town Partnership and Oakham School. Local sponsorship includes



Hambletons Food





Rutland Plastic Limited




Tim Norton (Ford Dealership)




Travis Perkins. (Oakham)

“The support from the local sponsors is fantastic, the enthusiasm and drive from all those involved is indicative of the fact that Oakham is rightly so one of the best places to live as was recently reported in the national press.

I am looking forward to the completed Mural, I believe the fun part is the creative bit though and I would ask that the people of Oakham take advantage of and engage with the workshops with Monica”. - Oakham Mayor, Adam Lowe.

The first public envent will be the launch event and will be held in Victoria Hall on Saturday May 11th
form 11.00am until 3.00pm residents of Oakham are encouraged to do the leg work for the artist by taking along photographs, etc that may be incorporated into the final design.

Restricing this to Oakham only residents is foolish. I know people who worked in Oakham's past industrial times came from out of town and have many photographs of former companies.

Like many Rutland Projects it has a facebook page advertised, unfortunatley like the organisors Oakham Town Council its happy to take and spend vast somes of public money and then restrict public access by making the page a closed group. That could explain the reason the group currently has one member the Artist  who will receive thousands of pounds (12.04.14)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/524177541025359/

Looking forward to seeing the completed project, although I do not believe the price tag placed by the artist is justified.

It is also a shame the Co-op went public with their original plans to fully pay for the work, to be created
by Oakham Primary School Children.


Photographs of the old murial now land filled.

Friday, July 02, 2010

Oakham Town Partnership Murals Gaol Street Oakham