June 2024

This curation is organised into five months, starting in June, where ten* paintings proceeded to be selected until October, alongside a public discussion programme.

Our discussion programme What Are Art Collections For? started by looking at what the original 19c purposes of public art collections were.

In her thesis Jane Nuttall (1990) explains how the 19c art collections founded across Kirklees were designed to provide something enriching for local people. So, we asked what do you think was meant by ‘enriching’?

Unfortunately several of the selected paintings are yet to be located in art.uk, so please bare with us while we finding them all. Thank you.

Replies include:

“During this period, I think we saw the use of collections as ‘tools’ to educate Victorian England - especially as part of the social/educational reform happening at the time. This idea of enhancing the everyday lives of the masses maybe?”

In reply to the overarching question; What are art collections for? Replies included:

“Civic pride”

“They are good mirrors for thinking about community”

“Always good for our health; Hand, Heart and Soul”

July 2024

The 10 July paintings were co-curated with Megan Hickes (Exhibitions Curator, Craven Museum & Gallery).

July's paintings were surrounded by a discussion about collections and health - 'How were 'the people' intended to benefit from early (19c) municipal art collections?

This question was explored 30yrs ago, in the exhibition 'Art for the People' (1994) at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The exhibition catalogue states that benefits of collections included access to beauty, enjoyment, moral guidance, and education. In agreement with Giles Waterfield (the editor) there are some distasteful and admirable aspects to this Victorian notion of a ‘philanthropic gallery’.

So, what’s changed today?

These paintings depicting local children helps us think about what the (social, health and educational) benefits of art could be.

This late 20c oil painting was commissioned by Wakefield Public Arts, which reveals a connection to another municipal collection in Yorkshire.

We liked how Prudhoe's painting depicts Batley and the intergenerational figures that make a community - in vibrant colour, against a backdrop of branding and a distinctly Batley townscape.

“It is really exciting to discover new connections between municipal collections based in Yorkshire Really Really love the Fabric of Batley piece - what a great snapshot of every day life!” (Megan Hickes)

This portrait of Harry Roebuck opens a story of Huddersfield-born collector and amateur artist Clement Roebuck who gifted this oil painting to Kirklees in 1977.

As well as commissioning works, C. Roebuck sat on the Huddersfield Art Gallery committee and often purchased the works he thought should have been acquisition to the collection.

In 1988 C. Roebuck bequeathed 145 pieces of his art collection ‘to the people of Skipton’, as he had lived nearby. To this day you will always find a portion of the Roebuck collection on display at Skipton Gallery.

Harry Roebuck went on to build The Roebuck Memorial Homes, in Huddersfield. In memory of his son and wife.

Union Men is very animated, with gestures and debate within blue-collar figures against the backdrop of industrial Kirklees. This was painted in the mid-70s at the height of union mobilisation.

Perhaps this work helps us reflect of what changes can be achieved, when people work together. This links to the ‘social’ aspect of wellbeing as outlined in the Creative Health Review: https://ncch.org.uk/creative-health-review.

By embodying social history, and ideas such as collectivism, this painting offers informed reflections on present times.

This work shows a bustling Huddersfield Piazza, depicting the civic architecture, including the Town Hall and entrance to Huddersfield Art Gallery and Library, which are currently undergoing transformation – as part of the 'Our Cultural Hear regeneration scheme.

There are several successful regeneration projects revolving around art collections across the North of England, including those in Wakefield, Hull, and Liverpool. Such projects have improved places ‘for the people’ who live there and attract others to visit and engage with art collections. Therefore, art can help bring about prosperity and the conditions that enable health and wellbeing to improve.

This is part of a series of oil paintings once commissioned by Huddersfield County Borough.

Although art funding systems have changed, in partnership with other organisations and programmes, (such as The Cultures of Programme at the University of Huddersfield), Huddersfield Art Gallery continues to support local contemporary artists – providing another benefit 'for the people.’

This oil painting by an unknown artist, reminds us of the importance of market culture in the region (past and present).

Significant investments are currently happening in Dewsbury and Huddersfield Markets, which again will improve conditions and boost health and wellbeing.

The next 3 paintings depict aspects of the textile’s legacy (mills, weaving & shoddy) across the Kirklees district. These lead us to other stories too, such as 'Dewsbury Landscape' a narrative about a successful career in art education nurtured in the region.

This figurative street scene (circa 1960) by Gerald Park has a beautiful colour palette, informed by an acute sense of perspective and form.

Park was born in Cleckheaton and studied at Batley, Liverpool, and The Slade (schools of art) in the 50s. Our records show he went on to become a visiting Professor at University of Wisconsin - Stout in the US.

This second painting depicting the townscape of Dewsbury is dominated by a large Shoddy Mill, which after redevelopment the building is now reused as flats.

This painting, speaks of a pre-industrial creative skill.

These three last paintings (in the July ten) are located in Dewsbury, and lead us to back to the current context of the town, where creative skills, education and regeneration are a continuum - all of which benefit the health and wellbeing of the people of that reside there.

August 2024

In August we asked Grant Scanlan (who knows the collections very well, having looked after them for over ten years) to share a selection of ten paintings and his thoughts on health.

1) Scarecrows' (1949) by Edward Burra for some unknown reason it is not found on Art UK (I'll look into it and edit accordingly - watch this space!).

2) Children and Chalked Wall, Scanlan explains, "Eardley regularly painted the children living in the tenements near her studio in the Townhead area of Glasgow. The work reminds me of my family connection to Glasgow."

3) Matthew Krishanu – ‘Boy in a Pool’ 2019 (also not found on Art UK, again I'll edit accordingly).

4) Edward Bawden – ‘Rookery I’ c.1954 (also not found).

Scanlan continues:

For my selection for #WhatRartcollections4 I’ve been thinking about the theme of health and how it relates to our collections. I was drawn to the relationship between visual art and mental health. Initially, I thought about how artists have explored the darker areas of their psyche in their practice (we have a number of artists in our collection who have experienced severe mental health issues) but I have instead opted for a more personal approach and have chosen artworks that have spoken to me, soothed me and at times have helped my wellbeing.

5) Alan Davie was a Scottish painter and a shaman. Inspired by jazz and American abstract expressionism this is a riotous uplifting work.

After working with the collection for over ten years they have become my friends – during the creation of 'Our Cultural Heart' the collection is in deep storage and like our visitors I miss seeing my absent friends.

Anyway, it’s by no means a definitive top ten (I could have filled a top 100), and it is a list that would change seasonally:

6) Green was a British figurative artist. I find this a haunting painting, who exactly is ‘Another’?

7) I wish we knew more about Hyndman; he was clearly an accomplished portrait artist. I could go on about the wonderful treatment of the costume and the furnishings, but this work is really all about Vulcan.

8) Anon – ‘Harehills Lane Prince’ c.1900 Behold the mighty Harehills Lane Prince. It’s just a simple painting of a dog but it always makes me smile. You can see him on display at Bagshaw Museum [Batley].

9) John Minton – ‘Boys in a Landscape’ 1941 Minton was an English painter, illustrator, stage designer and teacher. This is such a meditative and becalming painting despite the bleak apocalyptic landscape.

10) Wood was an English painter who sadly ended his life at the age of 29. Still lifes normally leave me cold but this one always held my attention with its wonderful brush strokes.

September 2024

The Creative Health Review (2023) concludes that art is good for our wellbeing.

To help us explore how the Kirklees art collections could be good for our health, PhD student, Dan Commons and BA Contemporary Art student, Issy Birchall from the School of Art and Humanities (The University of Huddersfield) kindly curated 5 paintings each, while thinking about art and health. Here are their selections for Sept: DC: 1) F. H. Auerbach, JYM Seated (1981) 2) F. Bacon, Figure Study II 1946 3) L. S. Lowry, Huddersfield 1965 4) M. Doig Seated Figure 1994 (Not found on Art UK) 5) M. Kidner Yellow and Grey 1962

IB: 6) Arturo di Stefano, Limner 2001 7) B. Khanna, A Different Ball Game (1991) 8) D. A. Bown, Fusion (1959) 9) D. Wood, To Get to the Other side III (circa 1980). 10) G. A Tibble, Woman Asleep 1938

1. Can art collections strengthen our relationships with other people, locations, and/or organisations? DC: I believe art has the power to unite Individuals' and communities through the act and exhibition of creative practices. IB: Yes, I believe art collections can strengthen relationships by encouraging shared experiences, sparking conversations and creating cultural connections.
2. Can art collections that depict local scenes and display works by local based artists contribute to a sense of meaning and belonging? DC: I was surprised when looking through the Kirklees collection how many 'big' names of art are associated with the local area and that definitely created a greater sense of connection. IB: Absolutely, art collections showcasin

October 2024

Here’s Octobers’ 10 paintings curated by Sally and Rob from HOOT Creative arts, an arts and mental health charity organisation based in Huddersfield, England. They offer a whole range of creative activities that run across Kirklees to support mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Here are Hoot's visual response to: How are art collections good for our health?

Read on (below):

HOOT:

When people view art collections, it allows their imagination to flourish and grow. Abstract pieces offer open interpretations, while simpler work embodies feelings of calmness or peace.

We’ve picked a few nature scenes, like landscapes and seascapes. These are particularly appealing to those who can't easily experience them in person. Viewing these artworks provides a way to connect with nature and its potential benefits for better health and wellbeing.

Expressive art, especially paintings with gestural mark making, can be incredibly engaging.

They transmit energy and transport viewers into the artist's world.