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The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project – Extra Time
September ’17 – August ’18
The Whole Story:
Before & After……………
The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project – Second Half
June ’18
Hot on the heels of ‘Play The Game 3‘, another update. Wall 7 is finished and I’ve now started work on the final wall. It’s therefore hardly surprising that I’ve had a tune stuck in my head over the last few days. However, despite the fact that the ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ theme tune has been playing almost non-stop in the adjoining corridor it’s not that one, it’s one by Swedish rock legends Europe. It’s Day 56 and I’ve begun The Final Countdown
The Story So Far:
11.6.18 Day 56
The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project – Second Half
More Hands!!!!!
Another collection of tricky digits!
The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project – Second Half
May ’18
Tempus really fugits when you’re having fun, and suddenly it’s the end of another half term. The break has come at a good time. Despite having the huge benefit of a hydraulic powered platform and those lovely much needed revitalising cups of tea from Asma, I’m feeling very tired. However, with a couple of weeks off to recharge the batteries (I’m referring to mine, not the lift) I will return refreshed and with the energy to complete the final stages.
The painting has progressed well. With walls 5&6 finished and wall 7 close to completion I will soon begin work on the Peterborough themed composition on wall 8, which will be the final piece of the jigsaw. In a few more weeks the design I imagined last summer will actually become a reality.
The Story So Far:
23.5.18 Day 50
The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project – Second Half
Hands!!!!!
A bucketload of hands. An unexpected feature of the Fulbridge Sports Hall project. Didn’t really think about it when I was planning the design, but there are loads of them, and more to go yet! What a nightmare! Tricky things, hands.
The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project – Second Half
March ’18
Three weeks since my last post and now a well earned short break, so a short progress report. Colour is being applied to the walls. A muted palette though, my intention is to maintain the light atmosphere of the room and not to cause the walls to ‘close in’. In fact the tones used for the images are influenced by some images which Principal Ben Erskine produced for the school a couple of years ago. It feels quite a long time since he showed me how he had retouched some B&W photographs using the school colours, but the designs I produced for the appearance of these figures was a direct result of remembering that demonstration.
In contrast to the the ‘Invincible’ mural the walls I am currently painting are not portraits of anyone in particular, they are simply representations of Sporting Activities. Having said that, it was intentional that the Rugby player would bear a resemblance to Vice Principal Rhys Maddox.
The Story So Far:
23.3.18 Day 25
It’s been a particularly demanding project so far. There’s always a lot of mental activity with planning how to paint such large figures in order that they might become convincing, the need to adapt while working alongside the lessons taking place in the hall, as well as being faced with the wall of sound hitting the eardrums as enthusiastic voices encourage their team mates, but also the sheer physical effort required to tackle a project of this scale. My relationship with my very tall stepladder has been intimate indeed.
However when I return all will be different. Today I entered a Brave New World when I received delivery of a new hydraulic powered platform. This really was the day when Christmas arrived early!
The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project – Second Half
February ’18
Following my Half-Time sojourn with the ‘Simply The Best’ mural project at King’s Cliffe Endowed Primary School, I have returned to Fulbridge Academy to begin the Second Half of the Sports Hall mural. The First Half, at the smaller end, which I referred to in earlier blogs as ‘Invincible’, involved painting the portraits of a collection of sporting heroes. The emphasis for this larger end will be sporting activities, although one of the walls will have a theme of sporting personalities from Peterborough.
Since my last visit some alterations have been made to the hall and some design modifications requested. The large projection screen has been removed and replaced with two computer monitors and some additional names have been added to the list for the Peterborough wall. Also, the Looney Tune Land characters from the Warner Brothers film ‘Space Jam’, which were previously included to reflect the name of the room, are now not required. As a consequence three of my previous designs for the 4 walls needed to be updated.
New Designs for Main Hall:
Sporting Activities: Netball / Cricket / High Jump / Football / Swimming / Running / Javelin / Discus / Wheelchair athletics / Roller Blading / Hammer Throw / Archery / Long Jump / Tennis / Gymnastics / Field Hockey / Rugby / Basketball
Peterborough Wall Figures: Louis Smith Gymnastics / Walter Cornelius Strongman / David Bentley, Luke Steele Football / James Ferrara Ice Hockey / Geoff Capes Athletics / Paul Barber Field Hockey / Ajaz Akhtar Cricket / Brian Brinkley Swimming / James Fox Rowing
Peterborough Wall Logos: Peterborough Panthers Speedway / Peterborough United Football / Peterborough Phantoms Ice Hockey / City of Peterborough Hockey Club / Peterborough Town Cricket Club / Peterborough Lions RFC / Peterborough Rugby Union Football Club
As mentioned previously in my first ‘Invincible’ blog, it’s a big job, so I will not be presenting a detailed report, instead I will post an occasionally updated photo diary again – this one might take me a long time to complete. I just hope I have the ability to fulfil what I’ve set myself to achieve, as well as the stamina. Having said that, the cups of tea Asma delivers to me on a regular basis is definitely a terrific body booster!
The Story So Far:
26.2.18 Day 9
The Fulbridge Academy Sports Hall Project
September ’17
Soon after the start of the 2017/18 football season and I’m working at Fulbridge Academy again. I’m both honoured and excited to be given another opportunity to paint on a monumental scale and this time I’m in the Main Hall (now renamed as Looney Tune Land). This project will embrace the world of sport, its aim to encourage the children to become more involved with a variety of physical pursuits.
The brief presented to me by Principal Ben Erskine was to paint a mural on the walls of the Main Hall itself and the adjoining area at the back with a design divided into three sections. One would be seen as a ‘red carpet awards ceremony’, a celebration of international sporting achievement featuring sportsmen and women who have excelled and become an inspiration to others. The second, and largest area, needed to highlight particular sporting activities while the third should celebrate sport in Peterborough, identifying clubs and successful athletes who were born locally or have close links with the area.
Once again, it’s a big job, and like the affectionately titled ‘Sistine Chapel’ project painted in the Charles Swift Wing of the school in 2014/15, scaffolding is going to be needed again too. It’s going to be another demanding one, mentally and physically.
Following a couple of meetings with Ben, and receiving a list of sporting heroes from the PE department, I developed designs for the front and back areas of the hall and presented them at our next meeting. Given the thumbs up I made preparations to begin painting on 11th September.
Design for Back Walls (Version 1)
Figures requested for inclusion:
Athletics: Usain Bolt, Jesse Owens, Jessica Ennis-Hill / Basketball: Michael Jordan, LeBron James / Boxing: Muhammad Ali, Nicola Adams / Cricket: Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Basil D’Oliveira / Football: Pele, Bobby Moore, Cristiano Ronaldo / Gymnastics: Simone Biles, Nadia Comaneci / Rugby: Gareth Edwards, Richie McCaw / Sailing: Ellen MacArthur / Swimming: Michael Phelps, Ellie Simmonds / Tennis: Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rod Laver / Wheelchair athletics: Tanni Grey-Thompson
Design for Main Hall (Version 1)
Figures: Gymnastics: Louis Smith / Football: David Bentley, Luke Steele / Field Hockey: Paul Barber / Cricket: Ajaz Akhtar / Rowing: James Fox
Considering the scale and length of this project, I have decided that rather than present a detailed blog on its conclusion, instead I will post an occasionally updated photo diary. So watch this space…………
Colin Slater - artist 