Looking out - Mayflower and remembrance

Once again in England we are in lock down and looking out at the world. In Tor bay giant cruise ships bob on the waves redundant and anchored. At the moment it seems hard to imagine a time when they will be able to travel with passengers away over the horizon. Instead they draw crowds who come to see the sight of the behemoths on the skyline. 

There is something about being on a peninsula that invites people to look out at places beyond the horizon. Places at the end of countries (Lands End, Finisterre in Spain and Finistere in France for starters) have been the birth place of many an expedition. Devon is a seafaring county on the South West peninsula (the foot bit that sticks out) with a legacy of explorers, privateers, fishing fleets and war ships. The sea and the pull of the unknown has driven this county and it's place in the world for generations.

 

Cruise ships in Tor Bay

This month should have seen the culmination of a year of commemorative events in Plymouth. There were big plans for marking the 400^th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from the city but like so many things in 2020 most things had to be cancelled. The pilgrims had a very convoluted journey as they hunted for somewhere to settle where they would be accepted. Hounded from Britain to the Netherlands they then sailed back to England to prepare to cross the Atlantic, setting out originally from Southampton to find a new life. Problems with the ships led to a stop at Dartmouth for repairs. The next attempt to set sail led to a near sinking off Land End and forced the boats to turn back and put in to Plymouth. The second ship, Speedwell, was not seaworthy and was abandoned leaving just the Mayflower to go alone across the ocean. 

In one of the Devon villages that edge the Sound there was an amazing display of banners created by locals to mark the quaternary. Demonstrating the changes in the world over the last 400 years and celebrating the historic ship building village itself they were hung from the lampposts. most of them were paired showing things from then and now including two with all the names and jobs of the villagers.Others included food grown in the village and eaten on board, ships sailing from Plymouth port then and now and maps of Plymouth Sound, England and Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts.

 

 

The story of the Speedwell inspired another artwork which has been able to go ahead on the Mount Batten breakwater in Plymouth Sound. A big scaffolding frame supports a light show that spells out NO NEW WORLDS. The words cycle through making a variety of sentences such as NO WORLD, NEW WORLD, NO, NO NEW WORLD and NO NEW WORLDS. Facing onto Plymouth itself when it is looked at from the Hoe people are then facing out to the rest of the world and the route explorers of the past took. The piece has a double meaning, encouraging people to think about both the impact of colonisation and the environmental damage we are causing our world. 

This artwork has met with various reactions but has definitely generated conversation. At times there have been marshals available to talk to people about the installation and there have been metal tags for people to leave messages on then fix them to the fence around the lights. Although this is a lovely idea maybe something other than plastic cable ties to secure the messages might have been better given the environmental focus of the installation. Messages have varied from 'I love unicorns' through to some quite profound thoughts about how we are treating the world and the need for change. To underscore it's intent, the lights are due to be symbolically switched off on Thanksgiving/the National Day of Mourning.    

 

Metal tags with messages on metal fence

Letters in lights on scaffolding - Speedwell

 

November is also a month where in Britain we look back as a nation and remember those who have paved the way for us to live the lives we do. The poppy is the symbol used by the British legion inspired by the poem In Flanders fields written in 1915 by John McCrae. The normal memorial services were unable to go ahead this year but the on line services were beautifully done. As a Naval City Plymouth plays a big part in the national remembrance and hosted one of four spot lights that lit up the night sky around the country on the 11th. 

 

Many soldiers, sailors and air men have both arrived on and left these shores over the years. The legacy of the forces can be clearly seen around the coast here in memorials, the names of areas and roads and in relics such as gun emplacements. 1.7 million Commonwealth men and women died in the first and second world wars. Shine on is a project from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who recognised that people would not be able to stand shoulder to shoulder this year. Instead they encouraged everyone to look out at the stars and remember.