Artistic For The People

'Ceres'

Meet 'Ceres', the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility, from whom we get the English word 'cereal'. She stood outside Foster's Flour Mill in Cambridge - or so I'm told, though somehow I never noticed in all the many times I must have walked past! Then when the area began to be redeveloped she disappeared and I didn't notice that either. How that happened I can't imagine - I mean, she's big enough! 

She's been away for a face-lift and now she's back. That I did notice. Old photos show her standing on a sphere which is what the original commission called for, but now she seems to be standing in a brick box which looks ridiculous. The redevelopment of the area is still taking place so maybe this is not yet the finished item.

'2 Of One'

I was wandering along minding my own business when something bright and reflective made me turn to look into the entrance to a modern building. After I'd walked by on about a dozen separate occasions I plucked up courage to go in and ask if I could take a photograph. "Yes, of course you can", said the man behind the desk and he also told me that the artist was Danny Lane and I should Google him - which was odd as the building was Microsoft Research.

The artist works with unlikely materials including iron girders or, in this case, large sheets of glass. Like the man said it's worth Googling Danny Lane. And there's a wonderful time-lapse video here of '2 of One' being constructed.

'DNA Double Helix'

This sculpture in Clare College celebrates the discovery of the molecular structure of DNA by Crick, Watson, Wilkins and Franklin in 1953. The sculpture, by Charles Jencks, was donated to the college by Professor James Watson, who was a student at Clare, and must be one of the few instances where someone has paid for a monument to celebrate their own achievement!

'Between The Lines'

This huge incised granite boulder stands next to a modern shopping development in Cambridge and is by Peter Randall-Page. For a long time the shot above was the best I could manage. I'd tried taking photos in the evening, when the sculpture was illuminated by lights set in the ground, but that didn't seem to work either. Then the other day I noticed something different about the piece, something so ordinary but which made the boulder look so different - one of the bulbs lighting the scene had blown and there was also a light drizzle falling. Somehow it makes all the difference...

'Chronophage'

...or the Corpus Christi clock.

Again there are problems in photographing the thing but in this case it's only finding a time when it's not completely surrounded by tourists ogling it. It's a sculpture rather than a timepiece as we shall see. On top (and a part of the mechanism) is what's usually described as a grasshopper which moves and appears to be voraciously devouring the seconds as they tick by - so surely it's a locust, isn't it? From time to time it blinks as if in appreciation of it's meal. 

Time does not pass evenly on this curious clock; if you watch the pendulum it seems to be speeding up, slowing down and sticking. Well, time seems to do that, doesn't it? So the clock is only absolutely accurate once every 5 minutes.

The time is displayed not by hands but by LED lights which shine through slots in the clock face - you can just about see them in the photo. The whole thing was conceived and funded by John Taylor who calls it "Chronophage" which translates as "time-eater", everyone else in Cambridge calls it "The Corpus Christi clock", Except for students at Corpus Christi college who have dubbed it "Rosalind".

The clock should run accurately for at least 200 years, though in practice it stopped several times in the first month!

...and finally...

Just a photo of part of an advertising hoarding and a passer by. Call it "Woman Meets Superwoman", if you like!


Take care.

The Beauty Of Cricket

The sun shone down on the perfect green grass. The little white gate in front of the pavilion swung open and the cricketers of England and the West Indies stepped out onto Lord's Cricket Ground....white clouds drifted aimlessly across the blue sky....the powerfully-built Higgs from Lancashire came bustling in to the wicket....the ball reared up in front of the West Indian batsman....it leapt up off of his bat....young Jim Caldicott, playing his first game for England, ran in purposefully and reached out to take the catch....

"CALDICOTT!" the voice of Mr Matravers echoed around the classroom, "Wake up, boy, and answer the question!" It was Mr Matravers; it must be History. Answer the question...answer the question...he looked up at the ruddy face of the dreadful Mr Matravers..."Errr, 1066, Sir?"

"We are studying, are we not, Caldicott, the reign of Henry VIII and, in particular, his unhappy wives. A diverse and largely unfortunate group of ladies, Caldicott. But none, so far as the annals of history inform us, unfortunate enough to be named 1066! Stand up boy!"

He fumbled and struggled to stand, his jacket sleeve seeming to be somehow caught on the desk lid. "Come here, boy!"  Caldicott shook his arm,  a wire of some kind appeared to be tethering him to his desk. Another step and voices issued from within the desk, the cricket commentary coming from the Test Match at Lord's.

"Aha! Ingenious, Mr Caldicott! A radio in the desk, connected to an earpiece; the wire to the earpiece cunningly passing down your sleeve to the hand which supports your big, fat head! Now take the wretched gadget to the Octagon."

Jim Caldicott knew what that meant. Everybody in the school knew what that meant. The Octagon was outside the Headmaster's Study, and there you had to stand and fret until the Head spotted you and dragged you in to face the consequences of your crimes. There was always a chance that the Head was busy and told you to go back to class, but that had never happened to Jim.

He clutched the radio to his chest and waited for the Head's door to open. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder as the Headmaster appeared from behind him. "Hello, hello, it's Caldicott. I've been wanting to see you, lad, we need to have a serious word, if you get my meaning, a very serious word." Everyone knew that Old Beaky, as Mr Eagleton was known by the boys, was a lot smarter than his bumbling manner suggested, but how on earth did he already know about this latest misdemeanor ?

"Sit down, lad. No, stand up. Standing up suits my purpose better, if you get my drift". He reached for the cane and flexed it. "Now, young fellow, I was watching you on Tuesday and I didn't like what I saw"..... Tuesday?..... "You were playing cricket, is that not so? House match, wasn't it?" Jim couldn't help a slight smile; he'd made 30 not out and had won the game for his team. "This is no smiling matter, lad"  said the headmaster as he took the cane in both hands.

"Now, you were getting your foot to the pitch of the ball all right", he said demonstrating the shot with the cane for a bat, "But your leg was straight as a ramrod and that simply won't do, won't do at all! Bend at the knee and the ball goes along the deck, but keep the leg straight, like you do, and the ball goes up in the rigging, so as to speak, to continue the metaphor, if you like."

"Yes, Sir"

"Yessir, indeed. You got away with it Tuesday afternoon on account of Johnson fielding at mid-off. As a cricketer he's very good at his Latin verbs, if you'll pardon my indiscretion in saying so. But if you play like that on Saturday against King's School it'll be how's that and thankyouverymuch! They'll catch it, won't they"

"I suppose so, Sir."

"Very good cricketers, King's. Should be too with their full-time cricket coach. They'll catch it all right. Rich boys, you see, very good at reaching up and grabbing anything that comes their way. Not so keen on having to bend their backs and grovel about on the ground though, eh? Now show me how you'll do it" and he handed the cane to Jim who put down the radio and demonstrated the shot.

"Splendid, splendid! Now what's that you've just put on the table," said Mr Eagleton, noticing the radio for the first time,"A wireless?" Jim confessed the whole tale.

"Grave, very grave. We simply can't allow this sort of thing. Hand it to me. I'll retain it in my possession and you can have it back tonight when you go home. Only on condition, you understand. On condition that a) You'll not bring it to school ever again,  b) You'll certainly not listen to it in lessons and c) You must never get caught listening to it by Mr Matravers." 

The Headmaster smiled while Jim tried to work out the exact meaning of these conditions. And failed.

"Works on batteries, I suppose.... Mmm....and turns on here, no doubt...." The Headmaster stood stroking his chin while the radio crackled into life. Mr Eagleton and Jim Caldicott stood side by side waiting for the score to be given.

"West Indies 130 for 3", mused the Headmaster, "That's the beauty of cricket, isn't it?"

"Sir?"

"Well, a couple of wickets for us and it's all plain sailing. But a quick 100 or so from them and they'll be in the ascendency. That's the beauty of cricket, you see, James, you never quite know which way it'll go".

********

Take care 

      

England's Glory - Straw Bear Festival 5

(You will see that some of the dancers depicted in the post have blacked-up faces. This was done historically as a form of disguise so that people would not know who it was begging for money. There was never any real attempt to imitate black people; the ears, neck and hands are never blacked-up. Many modern dance sides are aware of possible misunderstanding and have changed their facial make-up, to bright colours, strange designs or just a few smears to make them look more like Victorian chimney-sweeps. One or two sides are determined to stick to the traditional black faces. 

I hope this explanation will be accepted, but also apologise to anyone who may be upset by the inclusion of these pictures here).

While everyone else danced their way into the town's Market Place with joyful enthusiasm, one group chose to march in stony silence, their sinister bearing sending a shiver through the spines of any onlookers.

These are the men of Old Glory Molly Dancers. For the procession they are clothed in long black overcoats and have blacked up faces. Some of the men carry a stretcher or bier loaded with small toy bears. They are accompanied by similarly black-clad women with extraordinary headgear woven from copious amounts of ivy. These women carry small black cases.

When it comes their turn to dance the men take off their overcoats to reveal an array of old waistcoats and cord trousers worn over hobnailed boots. They look unlikely dancers and indeed they perform an unlikely dance!

With never a smile on their black countenances the men grasp each other and with ponderous, galumphing steps they proceed with their dance.

The small cases carried by the women turn out to contain their musical instruments. What an extraordinary sight, and sound, they make.

Three of the musicians with their instruments, one-row melodeons in the key of C, very like Cajun accordions, but with slightly different tuning and very different tunes. Their instruments also include whistles, drums and, believe it or not, a tea-chest bass.

For some dances they post "sentries" at the corners of the sets. They stare out unflinchingly at the onlookers with never a word or a smile. The overall impression is of grumpy and cantankerous old men being forced to do a thing which they are determined not to enjoy - I find the whole show completely hilarious! So here are a few more photos and then a video of these courageous upholders of English working-class cussedness in action.

In case you don't catch it at the beginning of the video clip the man tells you that the dance is called "The Buck" after their local pub in Rumborough, Suffolk. He also says it's nice to see so many smiling faces which, in view of their solemn demeanour, gets a laugh from the audience. At the end of the dance a man appears to be approaching the camera, he then veers to his left and plants a very sooty kiss on the cheek of one of the ladies in the crowd.

Here then are The Old Glory Molly Dancers:

Take care.

Different Ways To Dance - Straw Bear Festival 4

(You will see that some of the dancers depicted in the post have blacked-up faces. This was done historically as a form of disguise so that people would not know who it was begging for money. There was never any real attempt to imitate black people; the ears, neck and hands are never blacked-up. Many modern dance sides are aware of possible misunderstanding and have changed their facial make-up, to bright colours, strange designs or just a few smears to make them look more like Victorian chimney-sweeps. One or two sides are determined to stick to the traditional black faces. 

I hope this explanation will be accepted, but also apologise to anyone who may be upset by the inclusion of these pictures here).

Cotswold Morris

The Morris is usually danced by men dressed in white waving sticks or handkerchiefs. Often they wear bells on their ankles and individual sides are distinguished by slight differences in attire. But also one dancer is often dressed differently from his companions...

Although originally only men danced nowadays there are mixed sides and all-female sides. Sometimes they are younger than you might expect and don't even wear white. 

But they can all jump up in the air!

North-West Clog Dancing

From the industrial North-West of England where people used to wear clogs on their feet. Clog dancers often augment the clogs with bells. Quite large sides exist and everyone dresses in "team colours".

I didn't care much for this type of dancing at one time but I find it is growing on me - very rapidly!

Border Morris Dancing

This is Molly Dancing's western cousin, coming from the borders of England and Wales. Like Molly Dancing it faded away without too much being written down. And like the Molly Dancers the Border Morris sides have turned this to their advantage by interpreting what little is known in ways which suit their personalities.  

 

"Wild" and "colourful" are the two adjectives which sum up most of the dancing I've seen. "Enthusiastic" and "extrovert" would do as well!

Linked Sword Dancing

From the North of England, mostly Yorkshire. Teams of men weave intricate patterns holding on to either end of strips of steel known as "swords". At the end of the dance the swords are woven into a star-shaped knot. The easiest way to explain it is to show you a short video.

 And of course there's....

Molly Dancing

Which we talked about earlier - both the colourfully attired Gog Magog Molly and the more traditional Mepal Morris Men. You couldn't accuse either of being fashion concious or trendy but how about these dancers from the Pig Dyke Molly?

Now aren't they something else?

(I realise that I still haven't introduced you to the glum and sinister men and women seen in "If You Go Down To The Fens Today". Next time I promise!)

Take care.

Some Portraits - Straw Bear Festival 3

Take care.

A Bit Of History, And A Lot Of Fun - Straw Bear Festival 2

After the big procession to the Market Place the various groups of dancers - "sides" they are usually called - begin their dancing. Because there are so many dancers, over 30 sides, they perform at various locations around the town, often outside pubs funnily enough. This also has the effect of thinning out the crowds, a bit! 

A Cambridge dance side but with dances from elsewhere.

But even so I wasn't able to get any video till late in the afternoon when the audience dispersed sufficiently to allow me to get to the front without excessive jostling.

White Rose Morris

Not everyone is doing traditional Cotswold Morris, as you will see. Long time followers of "By Stargoose And Hanglands may be wondering, "Are those crazy Gog Magog Molly Dancers, that you told us about before, there?" Well, yes indeed and I'll include a video of their dancing (a new one you haven't seen before) at the end of this post. Here are their musicians...

Gog music!

That's just their interpretation of the old Molly dancing. There are others. But just what is Molly Dancing? Where did all this begin? Why Whittlesea? What on earth is that man dressed all in straw and calling himself a Straw Bear? 

Hang on a minute! One question at a time!

A traditional broom dance

Molly Dancing is a form of traditional dance which developed in East Anglia and is mostly known from Cambridgeshire and The Fens. A hundred years or so ago it was well known around here, though even then not as widespread as it once was. It was chiefly done by poor people, which meant farmworkers in this area, and was really a form of begging for money during harsh times. If the word "begging" is unacceptable then lets call it "charity", though with the needy actually doing something about it themselves!

Mepal Molly Men

At this time of year they would go around dancing from door to door and expect a contribution from their more wealthy neighbours. They would take a plough with them and threaten to plough up the ground outside the front doors of those who refused to pay up. The last two photos I've shown you are of The Mepal Molly Men, from a village in the Fens, who are probably as traditional as you can get.
 

Blacked up

In order to prevent the embarrassment of being recognised some  of the men would black up their faces and wear a disguise, often women's clothes. Perhaps this is where the word "Molly" originates. 

(You will see that some of the dancers depicted in the post have blacked-up faces. This was done historically as a form of disguise so that people would not know who it was begging for money. There was never any real attempt to imitate black people; the ears, neck and hands are never blacked-up. Many modern dance sides are aware of possible misunderstanding and have changed their facial make-up, to bright colours, strange designs or just a few smears to make them look more like Victorian chimney-sweeps. One or two sides are determined to stick to the traditional black faces. 

I hope this explanation will be accepted, but also apologise to anyone who may be upset by the inclusion of these pictures here).

Continuing tradition - children who've grown up in Whittlesea are keen to be involved

One of the last places this was done was Whittlesea so a little more is known about it here. It all came to an end when police stopped it. Officially this was because it was a form of begging but also because the day usually ended up with everyone drunk and disorderly. A mass punch-up often formed the finale to the evening!

Straw Bear and minder

In Whittlesea the dancing also included one of the ploughboys dressing up as the "Bear" by being shrouded in straw and being led through the streets. No one really knows where this originated though similar Straw Bears are also known in parts of Germany. Certainly a lot of Dutch people were employed to drain the Fens - could they be the link.....?

A smiling Gog

In 1980 the tradition was revived on a very small scale, but without the punch-up! Over the years it has grown and grown with dancers coming from other parts of England. We'll see some of them next time, but for now here's that video of the Gog Magog Molly doing their inimitable thing.

Take care.