Hats off to Hull and congratulations to all the people who fought so hard to win the bid for city of culture – Its a fantastic achievement and great news for the city.
A few years ago I was commissioned by the larkin 25 Festival to produce a monograph based on Larkin’s poem ‘Here’ which is about Hull and the East Riding in it I sought to create images that matched, mirrored and commented on Larkin’s poem. You can see the exhibition online here
I was commissioned by Artlink in Hull to carry out this work a large scale public drawing event. Based on Peters Map – this is what happened ……
The earth is round. The challenge of any world map is to represent a round earth on a flat surface. Peters Map tries to redress this issue – by showing us an area accurate map of the world – of course in Peters Map Europe is still in the middle at the top – a legacy of the Eurocentric view of the world dominated by western culture and thinking. These were just some of the issues that came up for discussion – with participants in this map drawing event – my friend the illustrator and educator Gareth Sleightholme suggested that if you placed the Pacific ocean in the middle you would have a more representative and less hierarchical map – which I tend to agree with.
So lots of people joined in the map making process – here are some pictures of the days events – here are some images from the event
The growing season is a little late this year and there has been a lot of rain so there are many fine blooms and lush gardens to see – a real treat for the eye – I managed to take a tea and cakes brake and support Amnesty International – but didn’t quite have time for a curry. Many Thanks to artis Jackie Ward Lomax who lent me her trusty bike and treated me to fresh coffee at the end of the event – here is alink to the photo gallery so you can share some of the magic of the Hull Avenues Open Gardens one of the largest and most diverse open gardens events in the country.I was asked to photograph the Hull Avenues Open Gardens last Sunday the 1st of July they were fantastic –
https://quentinbudworth.com/photographer/hull-avenues-open-gardens-2012/
A lot of people have asked me if I do prints – yes of course and if they can license the images – yes of course! Just give me a call on 07877434739 or email quentinbudworth@btinternet.com.
http://avenuesopengardens.com/
In brief:
When: Sunday 1st and 8th July 1pm – 5pm 2012
Where: The Avenues – Victoria, Park, Westbourne and Marlborough Avenue
with gardens also opening on
Ella Street, Blenheim Street and Farnley Square, off Ella Street
HU5 postcode
Hull’s Avenues Open Gardens is possibly the biggest open garden event nationally, attracting around 2500 visitors over the two weekends the gardens are open.
£3 per adult gives admission to all gardens for both weekends and accompanied children are free. There is a free ‘Hail and Ride’ minibus making the event very accessible to all. Entrance to gardens is by a programme and programmes can be bought from gardens that are open on the day. Gardens that are open display a big green poster in their front windows visble from the street.
The Avenues gardens show a real diversity of gardening styles complimented with interesting and unique local architecture. Most of the gardens are huge, some going back 150 feet with original features from the times they were built, from the 1870’s until around WWI, such as old stables and out houses. Gardens are not inspected – the rules are ‘there are no rules’ – as a result the gardens that open are individual and distinctive. This gives the event a genuine feel of a celebration of the domestic gardens in our city’s conservation, urban environment. Some gardens offer refreshments, teas, cakes, art, music and other community activities.
For more information find our Facebook Group ‘Avenues Open Gardens’ or @AvenuesOpenGdns #avenuesopengardens on twitter to keep up to date with the event.
‘I love drawing and co-authored artworks ‘Big Drawing’ is a logical development of these two passions- I really enjoy the challenge of devising and facilitating ‘Big Drawing’ projects they are a great way to promote drawing as an activity, encourage co-operation, have fun, participate in an arts activity, and with a little thought they can help develop and encourage a community to work think, talk and reflect together’.
Quentin Budworth – Champion for Drawing
Early in September 2011 I was asked to create a Big Drawing at Artlink in Hull to launch their ‘ Making Marks Exhibition. I asked the public to create a drawing of Hull’s best bits the most beautiful, quirky, naughty, nice and memorable parts of the city.
The finished drawing was a very human map of Hull and people’s feelings about their City – contributors used chalks and charcoal to make a large scale drawing on a wall in the gallery so there was no need to feel nervous about drawing directly onto the wall as they could rub out and re-draw any bits they were unhappy with. Participants were also are invited to add to the drawing throughout the course of the exhibition through the local press and radio.
What was really surprising and delightful was the enthusiasm of the participants, the excitement and creativity in the room – everyone looked at the Making Marks exhibition and contributed to the Map of Hull.
In September 2011, Artlink did a call out for an artist to use a wall within the gallery to begin a drawing relating to the theme of the ’Making Marks’ exhibition which visitors would be encouraged to continue. Quentin took up this task and developed a project to encourage the public to assist in a drawing of Hull’s best bits; creating a human map of Hull, using chalk and charcoal. The response to this project has been fantastic, and as such the wall used was completely filled with individual drawings from people aged 3 – 80. Artlink would definitely support Quentin if he were to propose a similar project, as his enthusiasm and encouragement on the preview night was highly commendable.
Emma Dolman – Gallery Development Worker – Artlink, Hull
Quentin Budworth 