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Painting the civic centre
Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date online: 21 December 2009
A TALENTED artist is to record Oldham’s giant “poppy tower” tribute.
In November the Civic Centre tower had images of poppies projected up its entire 200ft height and now Matthew Cook, the official war artist for the Times newspaper, has been commissioned by Oldham Council to create an original painting of the wall-projection.
The original, striking image was created by six projectors, four on the roof of the Three Crowns pub in Manchester Street and two on the roof of Henshaw House. The display cost £25,000 and was said to be visible from as far as Merseyside and Cheshire. It also featured on TV in America and Italy leading up to Armistice Day.
Matthew, from London, paints in water-based inks, and will base his new painting on photographs of the event.
He said: “Unfortunately I will have to work from pictures as I was unable to get up to Oldham, but the idea of the poppies projected on to the building was great.”
Matthew was appointed war artist for the Times in 2003. Equipped with a laptop computer, scanner and satellite telephone, he drove alone into Iraq in the wake of the coalition forces. Cook then went to Afghanistan in 2006.
Comments
Why an artist from the War Office that will most probably
charge an arm and a leg,as im sure they do? Im there are many
budding young artist in Oldham that could do the painting,
its not exactly the "Cistene Chapel" is it? why not a competition for local artist with a decent first prize,it would be a hell of a lot cheaper,and by a local artist
prefrably a student,why import someone??
Davos
Have Your Say
Is there no end to the pretentious arrogance of this council? Having wasted £25K of our TAX on the original stunt, which benefitted no-one, the council of no talents now wish to squander yet more of our TAX they haven't got, to commission a 'talented' artist to record their 'triumph'. Why? Who wants a picture of the ugliest building ever foisted on this town? Employ an untalented artist, it would be cheaper & they may manage to make the thing look attractive. HOW MUCH IS THIS COSTING US?
By Ruffyed @ 21/12/2009 21:56:04