Author: Extramural Activity

Vindicated/Ceartaıthe

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An Feachtas Um Cheartas Dhomhnach Na Fola/The Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign was founded in 1992 to press for a repudiation of the original (Widgery) Bloody Sunday inquiry and the reopening of the case (Museum Of Free Derry). That second (a.k.a. Saville) inquiry published its findings in June 2010, concluding that those killed and injured were innocent protesters, which led then-UK Prime Minister David Cameron to say that the deaths were “unjustified and unjustifiable” (Museum Of Free Derry).

A march in search of justice for the Bloody Sunday victims has been held annually since 1973, taking the same route as in 1972 from from Creggan shops to Free Derry Corner; the annual march has continued.

The rear of Free Derry corner has its own Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Changing Faces

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“The Changing Faces artwork is a project that has been undertaken by a group of young people from Impact Training. They looked to their surrounding area where they explored and documented how it appears in 2010. What is the Shankill? What does it look like and what does it mean to youth culture now? Murals have been something that has been prevalent in the community for many years. Times change, opinions soften and people can begin to build a changing face.” On the left is a selection of details from murals with familiar subjects: King Billy, hooded gunmen, the red hand of Ulster, Carson, the Queen Mother; on the right are four panels on the theme of the red hand of Ulster in youth culture (clockwise from left): with wild-style writing from the Cupar Way “peace” line and soccer, with pop music, with It’s All Good by Dublin artist Maser, and with a (two-handed) warrior. “Don’t push away our culture … learn it and embrace it.”

For more on the attempt to put community art on the Cupar Way “peace” line, see Visual History 10.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Peace By Piece

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In 2010, south London writers Stylo, Mear, and SoloOne – members of the Vopstars krew – were among the artists invited to Belfast for the 2010 Meeting Of Styles, to paint – for the first time – pieces that were the full height of the concrete portion of the wall. Shown above is a somewhat vandalised image of the “Peace By Piece” work by Stylo and Mear – Stylo’s sig has been painted over by local artist NOTA of the TMN krew. Along the top it reads, “The real high score – 2010 – .. visions of peace .. – .. for the pieceful helpers: Ricky, Pickle, ?Curty?, Jonny, Brandon, Dylan, G???, Demi, Lee, Shayanne, Rosy, Katy”.

The wild-style writing on Cupar Way is next to several piece of state-sponsored ‘community’ art. In addition, both types of art must contend with the tours that encourage tourists to leave a (patronising) message on the wall in black marker, thus reducing everything on the wall to disposable and temporary art. For more on the art on Cupar Way, see the Visual History page about the fate of State-Sponsored Art On Cupar Way.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Charge From Thiepval Wood

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The mural replaces one to the UVF’s Platoon 5 , A Co., and the memorial stone is dedicated to it (and not to the WWI soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division who died in the charge from Thiepval Wood, July 1st, 1916): “This stone is dedicated to the memory of the fallen volunteers of No. 5 platoon A company 1st Belfast battalion Ulster Volunteer Force. ‘As poppy petals gently fall/Remember us who gave our all/Not in the mud of foreign lands/Nor buried in the desert sands//In Ulster field and farm and town/Fermanagh’s lanes and Drumlin’d Down/We died that violent death should cease/And Ulstermen might live in peace’ Lest we forget.” For the side walls, see Thiepval St.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us

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“The title of this artwork reflects a slogan used internationally, where social and political change has been paramount. It is understood that such change emerges only through true and thorough consultation with the community and that is the wish of residents of Lower Shankill – the affect [sic] social change move forward through collaboration with decision makers and government at every level. This digital installation has been created by artist Lesley Cherry who has worked intensively with the Lower Shankill Community Association and members of the community to produce hundreds of positive images which reflect the need for change and consultation within that process, the ensure a better future for all. As part of the Re-Imaging Communities Programme, led by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, this artwork replaces previous murals of The Malvern Street Arch, [and before that] The Queen Mother [probably intended is the QEII golden jubilee mural] and [before that] The Scottish Brigade [this mural was three walls to the right; prior to the QEII mural was a UFF mural].” Hopewell Crescent.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag

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The new mural to UDA assassin Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag is at last completed. It was seen in progress in January (from D collection), July and August of 2010 and it replaces a version that itself might never have been completed, from 2009. The mural has been repainted many times, in quick succession, perhaps an indication of dissatisfaction with it or with the plaster. See also 2008 and 2007.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Only A Fool Would Fight

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On May 5th, 1914, Edward Carson declared in a speech that “Only a fool would fight if there is a hope of accommodation” referring to the tensions between Unionists and the British parliament’s Home Rule bill (and not to any of the divided territories mentioned along the top – Israel Palestine, Shankill Falls, Nicosia, Baghdad, Berlin – or the dichotomies along the bottom: Security separation, perception reality, fear trust, belief.

The work is by John Johnston and Dee Craig and is one of the three 2009 pieces added by the Greater Shankill Partnership and Reimaging Communities programme on the Cupar Way “peace” line.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Mussen Cortège

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“Richard Mussen joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (27th foot) at the age of 15. At the outbreak of the Zulu wars he volunteered for active service and was transferred to the Second Battalion The South Wales Borderers (24th foot). At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the 9th Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles and with him went his 4 sons and 2 sons-in-law. His son Richard (junior) was killed at the Somme on Thursday 21st March, 1918 and is remembered at Pozieres Memorial. Richard Mussen was buried from 22 Dundee Street [which was just above Agnes Street] on 29/12/1936 and was accorded full Military Honours. He was laid to rest in Belfast City Cemetery.”

Here is a short NVTv documentary about Mussen, including (at 12m25s) the image on which the mural shown here is based. The mural was done with spray paint by artist Sam Bates a.k.a. SMUG. It was officially unveiled on June 24th, 2011 but painted much earlier.

Shankill Road (at the old Beresford St), Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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