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This work illustrates artist Ian Potts' interest in the power of art and its capacity to engender emotion and challenge how we perceive our place within the world. Ian hopes the piece will promote a complexity of both thought and feeling. Click for Sunderland Echo copy
Paint a Poppies' oldest student, Virginia Acheson, born before the First World War began and pictured learning to paint for the first time at 101 years of age! She now lives at Glenholme carehome in Roker.
Ian Potts and residents painting poppies at Falstone Carehome, Roker and Cuthbertson Court in Seaburn, Sunderland.
Ian Potts helped pupils from St. Benet's Primary School in Fulwell, Sunderland chalk some poppies.Paint a Poppy students have ranged in age and abilities from serious club painters to those who had never picked up a paintbrush up before. The oldest participant is the inspirational Virginia Acheson from Glenhome Care Home at Roker who painted for the first time at 101 years of age (the only artist who was born before the outbreak of WWI.) Virginia’s great age got me thinking about who the youngest participant was. Seeing as I had been recently working in Mill Hill School, I asked Head Teacher Dean Marshall who the youngest pupil involved in the ‘Paint a Poppy’ workshop was. He told me it was four year-old Kai Cuthbertson. The name ‘Cuthbertson’ struck a chord with me, as it was the tragic death in Afghanistan of Nathan Cuthbertson, one of my former students, who started the whole process culminating in ‘Paint a Poppy'.
Kai and Virginia
Mill Hill Primary School
Artist Ian Potts helped pupils from Mill Hill Primary School at Doxford Park, Sunderland to print some poppies.
Whitburn Art Club
Chillingham HouseSome of the painters at Chillingham House, Monkwearmouth enjoying an early morning Eon-Arts painting session.
Back home, Ian Potts, recently visited the new Springtide Cove housing 21 developement on the site of Victor/Dock street, which is very close to where he was born. The old streets are long gone but Ian still has an affection for the area.
Vicky, Roger and Maria. three generations of painters.
Good Bye and God bless you all. From your son Sgt. B. Walker Till we meet again. I can say I fought for my country. Final Preparations
Ian Potts would like to thank Barbara Hughes and Bob Bell (pictured here adding their own finishing touches to the Paint a Poppy panels of poppies) for their time and help in creating the final installation. 11.11.2014 Paint a Poppy Service
Viginia tells her Paint a Poppy experience.
Boxing Day 2014, Installation and Workshop at the Park Keepers Lodge, Roker Park
Please click to view the 360 degrees photograph by Chris Foreman above.
Ian Potts during the Boxing Day 2014 workshop in the Park Keepers Lodge in Roker Park.
Spring Paint a Poppy Installation, the Briery Attic. Ashbrooke 2015.
The Poppy Installation is currently on display in The Briery Attic in St. Aidan’s School, where it has attracted musicians and poets who have contributed their own poignant reflections through words and music to the ever growing body of work.
Eon-Arts artist Ian Potts presents Paint a PoppyAs a tribute to the soldiers who suffered at the front, Eon-Arts artist Ian Potts has decided to continue working on his Paint a Poppy project until Armistice Day (11.00 hours on 11/11/2018, when the last poppy will be painted.) He hopes that more Sunderland families will bring copies of their own family photographs so they can pay their own personal tribute to the fallen through Paint a Poppy. To do this, Ian needs a studio to house the giant installation so that he and the people of Sunderland can continue to add tributes to their loved ones. If you think you can help Ian in anyway, particularly with premises, please contact him via e-mail on paintapoppy@outlook.com
A Pebble Poppy made at Roker
Redby Primary School
Redby Primary School Paint a Poppy display.
Stockton Rd, U R Church
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Joe and Grand-Dad George with their Paint a Poppies |
Paint a Poppy at the Sunderland Minstersupported by |
Related and useful links @eonpottsarts
The Idle and Dissolute by Phil Adams THE bravery of a ‘forgotten’ band of Wearside war heroes is to finally be remembered – 100 years after fighting for King and Country. The soldiers of the close-knit ‘Idle and Dissolute’ unit saw action across Europe in battle after bloody battle during the Great War – winning dozens of gallantry awards. But, a century after the 160th (Wearside) Brigade Royal Field Artillery was raised, the courageous deeds of its 2,500 troops have been largely forgotten – until now. click to see Sunderland Echo report |
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Brothers in arms was set up in 2009 by parents who had lost a child in the armed forces who wanted a memorial built in the City of Sunderland as there are only memorials in Staffordshire and Iraq for soldiers killed in service since WW2. Sunderland has the biggest service outside of London so it will be a fitting tribute to recognise the people of the North and for the sacrifices the armed forces are making for us. |
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