Having all reassembled successfully at our very own globe in the Highcross Retail monolith, I was surprised when Caroline cheerfully signalled to us that we had another 2 globes to visit. Or at least that’s what I think she was signing. Whaaa… I thought, well on the way of being ready for a sat-down, recuperative pint. Do I really need to step off again, along the pavements, across the streets and around yet more corners? How much further do we need to go?
But such was the journey of discovery, that we stepped off resolutely towards DMU and the next Globe Sculpture by Lakwena Maciver (theme: Staying Power) based just outside the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, and a few yards away from Trinity House.
I remembered that a few years ago I had been invited there to a graduate lunch by DMU and remember reflecting afterwards, you never know what’s just around the corner:
So I sit down amongst the finery and refinery sporting my guest badge meeting with a laudable gent from the Guild of Patten Makers and a lecturer in photography and before you know it there’s a very decent three course meal and then someone gives a welcome speech and then I’m chatting to someone from the arts and humanities department about the cross overs between arts and science and then there’s a very nice glass of wine on offer but I’m not drinking as it’s midweek and then I think I’d better get off to work as it’s a busy day and I have a meeting in thirty minutes and then I have a train to catch and then there’s loads to do and it’s fifteen minutes until the next meeting and then and then and then and then…
But suddenly I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned a corner in the dining room, looked up at the altar at the end of the chapel and saw the magnificent stain glass windows by Christopher Whall, (a distant great uncle on my mum’s side) benignly staring at us assembled hordes just feet from where we were sitting. How something in our past can be just around the corner out of sight: but so present and impressive if we are prepared to turn to see it.
We don’t stop often enough to take stock of what’s just around the corner: and we lose out, being engulfed in the mist of our daily routines. How much further do we need to go? Not that far at all: just show some staying power and look at what’s around your next corner.
The Mighty Creatives staff team took part in the Mighty (UN)Mute, a day-long vow of silence, on 5th October 2022. You can check out the campaign here or donate your support to it here.
Or if neither of these is possible (and heaven knows we’re all in tough financial times right now), then anything you can do to share and shout about the campaign would be equally welcomed and appreciated.
Dr Nick Owen MBE PLUS 