British freedom fights history, art exhibition


This video from England says about itself:

Wildcats in Groundbreaking Artist in Residence Project

Wakefield Wildcats will break new ground with a first ever Artist in Residence from September 2012. Jason Wilsher-Mills, a Wakefield-born artist, will work on a host of exciting projects with the club.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

New exhibition highlights struggle

Tuesday 20th January 2015

Commons Speaker John Bercow launched a celebration of Britain’s long and continuing struggle for democratic rights yesterday.

A major programme of events sponsored by Mr Bercow offers a broader perspective than the jingoistic ballyhoo whipped up by Prime Minister David Cameron over the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta deal between King John and the English barons.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs, the Chartists and the Levellers will all have a prominent place in the festival dubbed Parliament in the Making.

Historic Westminster Hall was draped yesterday with 18 illuminated banners by nine artists, commissioned by the Speaker’s Art Fund.

The banners hang until November to mark 800 years since the sealing of the Magna Carta and 750 years since the Simon de Montfort parliament.

Other themes include the 1647 Putney Debates, the punishment and transportation to Australia of the Tolpuddle Martyrs in 1834, the People’s Charter of 1838, the 1965 Race Relations Act and the 1967 Sexual Offences Act.

This video is the first part of the 1986 film Comrades, about the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

This video says about itself:

Visions Of Comrades

The epic story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset labourers deported to Australia in the 1830s for forming a trade union. Unfolding in the pastoral haze of Dorset and blinding light of Australia, this beautiful film is rich with carefully layered visual illusions and nuances. With moving, profound performances from a magnificent cast — including Alex Norton, Imelda Staunton, Robin Soans, Philip Davis, Vanessa Redgrave, Keith Allen and Barbara Windsor — this is a compelling account of struggle and injustice. This distinctive feature from a director of singular vision is presented in a new high definition restoration.

The article continues:

The Tolpuddle Martyrs banner … is among 18 hanging in Westminster Hall.

Artist Jason Wilsher-Mills said: “I was inspired by memories of my father, a coal miner and a lifelong member of a trade union.

“The positive stories of what the unions had done to support working people were as much a part of my formative years as bedtime stories.

“I really wanted to make a banner that would pay tribute to these incredibly brave and inspiring men — the Tolpuddle Martyrs.”

3 thoughts on “British freedom fights history, art exhibition

  1. Pingback: Stop British anti-trade union law plans, says Tolpuddle martyrs’ festival | Dear Kitty. Some blog

  2. Pingback: The Levellers in English history | Dear Kitty. Some blog

  3. Pingback: Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in England today | Dear Kitty. Some blog

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