So many of us will remember exactly where we were lunch time on 11th September 2021. I was on the road home from Enniskillen having interviewed Joan Wilson, wife of Gordon and mother of Marie. It was an emotional morning but thanks to Joan’s kindness I left with a lightness in my heart. On the way home however, I reverted back to the main emotion at the time, my late brother had just been diagnosed with cancer. I seem to recall a signpost to Lisnaskea off my route to Belfast, that’s when the news came on the wireless about the first plane ramming the north tower of the Twin Towers in New York. Then came the shouting that the south tower had been hit by another plane. The shock was enormous, could it be true? I was almost on autopilot following the news and concentrating to keep my eyes on the road. Then my phone rang. I pulled in and answered it. It was Michael to tell me he was on his way to our parents to tell them of his diagnosis and would I go there to be with them as they digested his awful news. He had told me the night before so we were both highly emotional but I said of course I would but I’d be well over an hour. That was all right, he’d go and see them and then he felt he’d have to leave to deal with his own emotions but didn’t want to leave them alone, typical of his caring nature.
The drive to Belfast was something I’ll not forget. Half of me was incredulous listening to the American disaster unfold, the other half fearful of how my parents would react and what I could do or say to ease their grief and mine. When I got there the story from New York was basically over, the Twin Towers had collapsed , Flight 93 had crash landed in a field in Shanksville Pensilvania, the Pentagon had been targeted and there was little more news at the time. When I arrived with my parents the television was on and the coverage was beginning to bring more details and the pictures were gruesome. My Mum was crying and my Dad sat stoney faced. What struck me was they literally didn’t know which way to turn, we cried over our own personal tragedy but our eyes kept turning to the television. I think the terrible news reports were a diversion and slowly my brother’s situation was sinking in. It gathered momentum very quickly and 9/11 took a minor place. I can’t believe that day was 20 years ago. The memory is so fresh, I play it back and see every second of it in my minds eye. Like the families of those almost 3000 poor people who died that day, our lives changed too and the harrowing pain of terminal illness took root. I watched the commemoration yesterday all afternoon and heard the details again, 40 passengers and crew members on flight 93 overpowering hijackers and loosing their lives as the plane crashed, 184 killed at the Pentagon, almost 3000 people from 90 different countries loosing their lives in New York and the 2600 or so who have died since, their deaths linked with the 9/11 attack. I guess those of us who were around on that fateful day will remember just where we were when we heard the news and how it impacted on our lives and our own sadnesses.
Two fine young women
WHERE HAVE ALL THE AWNINGS GONE
So many of the old photos of Belfast show rows of shops with awnings at full stretch. I presume this was to protect the goods in the windows from strong sunlight. I remember shop keepers out early in the mornings with a long pole with a hook on the end pulling the canopies out and the noise as it unwound and clanked to rest. Perhaps we have non-reflecting glass these days or maybe weaker sunshine!
Thanks to Images and Memories of Northern Ireland web page.
A FASCINATING PART OF LOCAL HISTORY
Every time I hear the words Lateral Flow Test I seem to convert them into Crawford Howard’s brilliant poem Digital Stream Trap.
Now they built a big ship down in Harland’s
She was made for to sell to the Turks –
And they called on the Yard’s chief designer
To design all the engines and works.
Now finally the engines was ready
And they screwed in the very last part
An’ yer man says ‘Let’s see how she runs, lads!
An’ bejasus! the thing wouldn’t start!
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ANNE ROBINSON’S PICTURE ISN’T AVAILABLE ‘ON SECURITY GROUNDS’!
Happened on the television programme Countdown the other afternoon with host Anne Robinson. Not my favourite programme but I do know there have been very attractive and witty hosts in the past but what have the powers that be done this time. Robinson was hunched over the desk her little head poking out of a buttoned up jacket her hair combed down over her forehead so there were just big round specs on show. She looked to me that she was conscious she is 76 years old and didn’t want to show her age. On top of which I suspect she was wearing new teeth as her speech was strange but not as strange as her interviewing skills which were snide and rude towards the contestants and guests. I’m not surprised there is disquiet amongst viewers and thoughts of replacing her in the coming months. She was never a person I favoured but on Countdown, at least the one I saw, she was most unpleasant.
She simply didn’t seem the slightest bit interested in the show. Her college at the numbers board, Rachel Riley, has gone on record as saying Anne Robinson has even been complaining about her studio chair.
ART FOR ARTS SAKE – A TREASURE TROVE IN ROSEMARY STREET
I had the pleasure of spending time with Mr. President last week. By appointment I turned up at his office, a bright airy room in the city centre. The wealth of this office was displayed on the walls, art works dating back to 1856, the top names in portraiture and landscape, mixed media, stone and wood, wire and fabric, oils, water colour, crayon and acrylic. This is the majestic Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Diploma Collection, where every item is held in trust never to be sold, perhaps on loan for special occasions.
Work dates back to Sir John Lavery – whose triptych Madonna of the Lakes can be seen in St. Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street where he had been baptised – and members have to go through a selection process, be a prize winner and exhibit for several years in a row, This is indeed a wide ranging, historic and prestigious collection including Conor, Luke, Praeger, Piper and Barry Orr side by side.
And the man responsible for this collection and the RUA in general is artist Dan Dowling. He took on the mantle of president in June of this year taking over from Betty Brown, working with a board of directors and committees, dealing with finance and funding, exhibitions and educational projects. But Dan’s the man for this. “I have the best of both worlds, the art world and the commercial side of life.” He explained that after school he studied pure physics and maths at Queen’s University but painting was much more interesting to the young student. “My parents wanted me to be a physicist full time with art as a hobby!
But It Wasn’t To Be.
“After QUB I achieved A Level art at Rupert Stanley and was considering going on the art college; I talked to Neil Shawcross who reckoned I had developed a certain style and as a result I just kept going on my own.”
As luck would have it about that time he and his friend decided to take time out to visit New York, however, no bank would help them with funds. They didn’t think the boys were a good bet with Irish accents, in their wisdom bank managers thought they wouldn’t get work, would have no wage, so no way of paying their dues.
“My last visit was to the Ulster Bank who were more generous and I ended up working for them.” He rose to the dizzy heights of assistant manager in the regional office in Belfast town centre but he wasn’t happy. “I was sent on a decision making course where early retirement was one of the topics discussed; I was too young to consider this but the idea of freedom was very attractive so when I got back to the office my boss wanted an opinion on the course, he looked at me and questioned ‘Well?’ Decision made, I told him I was leaving with immediate effect – one of the best days of my life.”
Since then the young man has grown into one of our most respected artists taking inspiration from his visits round the world and his love of walking and his exhibitions reflect these travels. When the Arts Council gave him an award he went to live in Spain and Barcelona became his home for some months. He regularly spends weeks walking the Camino de Santiago, the Spanish pilgrimage route which offered great inspiration but Belfast is where his heart is and his work depict every day life in a most unique way. Many of his city scapes feature big beautiful red buses much more interesting to Dan than the purple monster that prowls our streets these days.
He spent time with me walking the walls of the Diploma Collection at the RUA home at 3 Rosemary Street in Belfast, here are examples of the best of the best, a private historical collection open to the public weekdays 10 am. until 3 pm by appointment.
October Exhibition
When we were joined by vice president artist Simon McWilliams, the talk turned to an important event next month, the 140th annual RUA exhibition which opens to the public on Friday 29th October 2021 in the Ulster Museum. 1557 pieces were submitted by artists from Ireland, the UK even some from Europe and these were whittled down by the selection committee to 200, all for sale during the exhibition. This year they were scrutinised on line and each artist was limited to one work, very different to past years when judges were able to view multiple applications physically. Despite this being the biggest platform for visual artists and their works, sadly Covid still makes its presents felt however it is hoped the exhibition won’t be effected, the Diploma Collection will also remain open but it’s important to book ahead for this and to keep up to date with arrangements for both.
To make an online booking to view the Diploma Collection Phone (028) 9032 0819. For details of the Museum exhibition www.royalulsteracademy.org
