If you were to take a stroll down the Ipswich waterfront, you might notice a new edition to the site…
Art organisation Art Eat Events has been working alongside artists Edward Ofosu and Raul G. Loya and residents at HMP Hollesley Bay prison to design a new mural that’s been displayed in order to ‘start a conversation’ about race and equality.
The new mural will also celebrate the much anticipated and inspiring Power of Stories exhibition at Christchurch Mansion.
The project has been a Covid-safe art activity for residents of the prison. Workshops were led online by the artists from Ghana and Mexico and educational sessions about objects in the exhibition were delivered by Eleanor Root from Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service.
The mural display by Raul G Loya, who specialises in such paintings, was recently unveiled at the waterfront, an event attended by the Mayor of Ipswich.
Raul told us: “I put the symbol of the Black Panther in the mural because it’s the symbol of justice and the black community. I made sure every colour of skin was featured so that we can start to get rid of this nonsense of racism. We need to walk together towards the future and construct a varied society, that’s what this mural is all about.”
Elizabeth Hughes, recently elected Mayor of Ipswich, congratulated the Art Eat Events team for their effort and work, stating:
“My year as Mayor is joy, hope and happiness. This gives me hope, this mural makes me happy and it’s joyful for the whole community. It really is what we want in Ipswich. Everyone that’s contributed, whether in a large or small part, please be assured that Ipswich thanks you. I can’t wait to see the success of this project and what you do in the future.”
The team at Art Eat Events hopes that the new murals, along St Peter’s Dock, will draw attention to the Power of Stories exhibition and the array of exciting events organised by Aspire Black Suffolk in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.
Plenty of thanks were given to the Director of Art Eat Events, Daisy Lees, who helped pull the project together. In a moving speech, she stated:
“This is a piece of art without the barrier of a doorway in a museum, it is on the street and we encourage people to have conversations about it and to know the story of all those involved in this project. They’ve given their time and energy, you can see it in the mural and the anti-racial stance in it. We hope that people will have a conversation and will enjoy and celebrate all of the things that those conversations may bring up
“Thanks go to the artists Raul and Edward, who has been deported to Ghana. Edward Ofosu has direct experience with being in a prison before he was deported so we have to understand all of these things that have helped realised this art. I bow to you all in the Ipswich community, you really are all formidable, thank you so much for coming out and seeing this display.”
If you’re thinking of how to get involved with this amazing project, Art Eat Events run an ‘open door’ policy where anyone can connect and work with the organisation. Simply visit www.arteatevents.com and sign up to the newsletter to find out more.