Textile Details

'Sure and Steadfast' by Lorna Gough (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

This textile/mixed medium work finds the quiet voice of a prolific English lecturer John Springhall who worked as a lecturer in Youth Culture, Colonisation and Decolonisation at U.U in Coleraine from 1970-2004; writing 6 books in total during his years of extensive research.

The images depict his personal interests and his commitment as a lecturer, researcher and reader. The checked background representing his love of chess, arpillera dolls symbolise elements of his research and personal hobbies, jazz music and film. The title Sure and Steadfast is also the motto of the Boy’s Brigade and of one of John’s Books on the same subject and although he uses the Boys Brigade spelling (Stedfast) taken from the King James Bible I chose to use the modern spelling Steadfast as during my research I discovered among many things about John that he was not religious. I have tried to include a range of stitches, materials and techniques to emulate the complexity and diversity of this man’s life and work.

Relevant to this piece is the background information and materials taken from the Special Collections and Rare Books: Other small collections archive. It is placed in Coleraine UU library, left by John as part of his legacy. This also led to interviews to colleagues, friends and family that shaped this arpillera that brings John’s persona to life.

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