Introducing Me and My Work
~ Hello! My name is Sian. I'm an illustration student from Milton Keynes, which is a town 50 miles from London, UK. I am fascinated by history.
~ I've been offered a one-week solo exhibition at Milton Keynes Gallery, as part of their scheme Project Space 2012. Six art students from universities in the region are exhibiting over the summer, although I believe I'm the only one direct from MK College. I'll be contributing a series of drawings, paintings and prints, illustrating scenes I've read about in local history books, and quotes by codebreakers, Land Girls and evacuees.
The Stories I'm Telling
~ I'm hoping that my research and illustrations can form the basis of one of my MA projects, and perhaps become my first published children's book!
~ Milton Keynes was founded as a new town in 1967, so it's often thought of as a very modern place. The general perception of it is as a collection of glass office buildings, a shopping centre and a baffling road system with many roundabouts. But it also has ancient ruins, mentions in the Doomsday Book... and we played this extraordinary role in WW2.
~ During WW2, the area of Bletchley was the centre of the Allies' top secret intelligence campaign. Young people there broke Nazi codes and ciphers, shortening the War by at least two years, saving countless lives. They weren't allowed to talk about their work until 1977. In the fields which were later to become MK shops and residential areas, the Women's Land Army took over the agricultural labour which had to be done while male farm workers were off fighting. And as MK is so inland, it didn't attract many bombs -- so foster families took in children evacuated from the Blitz.
~ At Bletchley Park, it wasn't all tweedy pipe-smoking professors: 3/4 of the staff were women, the average age was 19, they had a drama society and skated on the lake in winter. People needed to be young, vigorous and passionate to be able to withstand the long hours and the immense pressure of knowing their secret work could make or break Britain's war effort. The Land Girls weren't all the rosy-cheeked maids of propaganda posters, looking all capable with farm machinery: the girls often had no training and had to do unphotogenic jobs like rat-catching and mucking out pigs. But they got on with it because they knew feeding the nation was vital -- and they didn't get any official thanks for their efforts until 2007, when all living Land Girls received a commemorative badge. They were known as 'the Cinderella Service'. I really want to illustrate the stories of all these unsung heroes, bringing their work to the attention of a new generation.
~ This is a topical project. 2012 is the centenary of the star codebreaker and father of modern computing, Alan Turing. 2012 is also apparently the last year the former Land Girls will be marching past the Cenotaph.
How You Can Help!
~ If you have memories of the times I'm illustrating, or know someone who does, and would like to talk to me about your experiences, I would LOVE to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email sian@drawosaur.com
~ After being a full-time student for a year, I have limited finances and the Gallery's unable to offer me a grant for this project, just the space. So I need to raise £400-£500 to make it all happen. I have most of the materials already, but my big expense is going to be frames, and printing any of the digital artwork. In a few days, I will be launching a fundraising page, where you an donate any amount you like with just a couple of clicks. EDIT: it's now here: http://www.indiegogo.com/wardrawings
~ Even if you can't contribute money, please let others know about my campaign -- maybe you know someone who can! When I launch the page, please RT the link on Twitter, share on Facebook, or your own little corner of the Internets.
~ If you're quite local / London, please let me know if you have artefacts you could lend to my interactive exhibit. Be aware that you'd be risking theft or sticky fingers (although the Gallery will be insured). But if you have any objects or textiles that would suit a 1940s corner for art-loving children, get in touch.
~ And of course, by coming to view the exhibition when it's up!
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