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Poppy art first for Scunthorpe church

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7-20 November 2014

Thousands of poppies handmade by schools, community groups and museum visitors across the Humber region will be displayed in a special Remembrance Day art installation at St Lawrence’s Church in Scunthorpe from 7-20 November.

The poppies, which were made over the summer to commemorate the First World War, have been imaginatively transformed by Hull-based artist Martin Waters into a powerful 3-D reminder of the horrors of war, all the more poignant because every poppy is tagged with the name of a soldier from the region who died during the conflict. In a personal touch, visitors will also be able to add a poppy in remembrance of their own loved one.

Martin is fast becoming known as the Poppy Man for his thought-provoking poppy sculptures which not only help people understand the horror of war but are also visually stunning pieces of art in their own right - as he says: “It’s important that we remember and learn from the conflicts that have gone before and are still happening now – poppies strike an emotional chord with people, and the sculptures are designed so that people can get up close to them and discover the full meaning.”

The poppy installation at St Lawrence Church completes a set of five artworks by Martin across North Lincolnshire, the East Riding and Hull as part of the Joining Up The Humber Museums initiative. The venues are: Beverly Art Gallery (until 22 November), Beverley Minster (until 19 November), Ferens Art Gallery in Hull (until 23 November) and Holy Trinity Parish Church in Hull (until 28 November). Each of the installations follows a common theme of remembrance, but has been created specifically for each site. Entry to each is free.

The Reverend Moira Astin, vicar of St Lawrence’s Church says: “The people of St Lawrence's church are very much looking forward to having the poppy installation in the church for the Remembrance season.  The war memorial for Frodingham is inside the church, and is the focus for our thoughts on Remembrance Sunday.  The church is well used during the week and is open during daylight hours on weekdays, for people to come and pray and reflect.  The installation will add to this, providing a starting point for reflection.”

For more information on the art installations and World War I themed exhibitions across the Humber region, please visit www.joiningupthehumber.co.uk

The poppy installations form part of the work of the Joining Up The Humber Museums initiative, funded by Arts Council England, which has funded* a series of commemorative World War I-themed exhibitions at local authority museums and attractions throughout the Humber region. These include:

  • When War Hit Home at Ferens Art Gallery (until 4 January 2015), which explores the effects of the First World War on Hull and its people;

  • For King and Country at North Lincolnshire Museum (until 14 June 2015), which focuses on the experiences of local people both on the Front Line and back home in Britain;

  • *In Memoriam: Reflections on War at Beverley Art Gallery (until 22 November) , which explores the theme of memory and conflict featuring objects from the Museum collections;

  • Goole and the Great War at Goole Museum (until 25 November), which looks at the role of Goole as a port during the First World War and its effects on life in the town.

    For more information on the art installations and World War I themed exhibitions across the Humber region, please visit www.joiningupthehumber.co.uk

    *In Memoriam at Beverley Art Gallery is partially funded by Joining Up The Humber Museums and the rest by Beverley Art Gallery.

    ENDS

    For further media information or photographs, please contact:

    Jay Commins

    Pyper York Limited

    Tel:         01904 500698

    Email:    jay@pyperyork.co.uk

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