Internationally-acclaimed artist donates signed print for SPARC (Stratton paly area regeneration committee

Earlier this year a small committee formed in Stratton, North Cornwall,

with the aim of replacing equipment in the Howells Rd play park which sadly,

due to lack of County Council funds, had been left to fall into a dreadful

state of degradation making it dangerous and practically unusable for the

village children. The committee, knowing that money from Truro to actually

replace the equipment and surfaces was not there, decided to raise the money

themselves and thus, in March SPARC was born (Stratton Play Area Regeneration

Committee).

The group initially set up a Facebook page and member Felicity James

invited her best friend, Pam Glew, from Stratton Primary School to follow the

page and keep updated with SPARCs progress. Mrs James said: "She contacted

me immediately with an offer we couldnt refuse.

Pam, who went on to study at Budehaven Community School and Falmouth

College of Arts (Now University College Falmouth) ia noe a contemporary artist

best known for her unique leaching technique on national flags. She is heavily

inspired by film; her strong cinematic paintings often reference contemporary

culture with images of models, actresses and musicians. By using national

flags, the artist plays with the notions od icons, patriotism and the culture

of heritage.

Mrs James explains: Pam's work has been exhibited globally. She has

recently finished two exhibitions in London, and has previously exhibited

alongside such artistic royalty as Damien Hirst, Banksy and Peter Blake. MTV

asked her to donate a piece of her artwork recently to raise money for their

Staying Alive Foundation. Pam's piece raised $20,000 (US) at the auction. She

has also had work commissioned by the likes of Ralph Lauren, Armani and Red

Bull.

Ms Glew recently returned to Stratton to visit her Mother and went down

to have a look at the once beautiful play park. She says:" I used to love

playing in the park after school and I remember many times playing on the

swings and slide and little merry go round with my friend or brother."

Sadly not even the swings remain as they were removed after 40 years good

service for health and safety reasons but not replaced. Pam goes on to

say:"It was such an idyllic area, with a beautiful walk along the river

Strat. Recently myself, husband and newborn baby returned to Stratton...and was

horrified at the state of the park. It looked so incredibly, sad, unloved and

forgotten. So being far away in Brighton, the only thing I thought I culd offer

was an artwork to auction. I work as a full-time artist. This is edition is an

Artist proof which is number one, so in theory rather collectable,"

Pam only made 5 copies of her print entitled "Out of the

Water" and the other four have all sold. She will auction the print, which

measures 17 by 27.5 cm on ebay from Friday 9th November - it will run for ten

days. The artwork shows the artist having emerged from water set against the

back drop of the Union Flag. In this Olympic and Jubilee year in particular we

are hoping that the print will attract widespread attention, not least because

of the calibre of the artist. All proceeds will go to SPARC to help rebuild

Stratton's play park. And how lovely if a Cornish Buyer were to have the

winning bid - it would be nice to see an example of outstanding work by a

Cornish Artist coming home. Please visit ebay and make your bid!

 

Written by Felicity James, SPARC Committee member.