The Tour de France is the inspiration for the 100-day festival which was launched at the end of March triggering celebratory events all over the county. The race is the inspiration for many an artist and to offer a different perspective and take an artistic tour.
Meet Anthony Marn artist and keen cyclist from Delph, near Saddleworth. ‘I have been painting for about 25 years and like most artists I have spent most of these trying to find a style and subject I truly like,’ said Anthony. ‘And while I enjoy a variety of subjects, by far the most interesting and exciting for me is my slightly abstract, retro work.
‘As a keen cyclist and like most others, the first sign of good weather I’m out on the bike up and down all those hills that surround us and it is in this and my experiences with other cyclists that I find my inspiration for my work.
‘Just about everyone in Yorkshire, and the rest of Britain, knows one of the most demanding and exciting sporting events in the world, the Tour De France begins here in Yorkshire and offers many thousands of people the chance to watch stage one and two live.
‘But just imagine what the athletes are going through - the constant pain in the legs, knees and sometimes the back, the tactical battle that goes on in the mind that enables them to keep going up that endless hill, the fear of a fast decent alone or in a group, and with the professional cyclist above all the ability to hide all this from their opponents while constantly watching and being watched. There is more going on than just turning the pedals and I hope my paintings help to show this.’
See more of Anthony’s work at Harrison-Lord Gallery, Brighouse, West Yorkshire and the Millyard Gallery, Uppermill, Saddleworth or contact Anthon by email at amarn@btinternet.com.
And in York…
The second stage of the Tour de France sets off from York on July 6th and helping the historic city celebrate is its cycling icon Purpleman who is seen every day in Stonegate in the city centre. Who is Purpleman? A much photographed tourist attraction in York. He together with his trusted dog Bubbles, has been seen in York by about 6.1 million people over the past eight years. He sits on his purple saddle every day, seven days a week – 23,360 hours over eight years to be precise – could this be more time in the saddle than any Tour de France competitor?
Over in Holmfirth…
This rural market town is renowned for its elaborate community events and can’t wait to welcome the Tour de France. Instead of yellow, the town is turning red and white to celebrate the King of the Mountains, which is the Tour de France title given to the cyclist who achieves the best position over the toughest climbs including the 524m Holme Moss. There’s an art masterpiece involved here too – a 10-metre knitted red and white jersey, the work of 35 different Holme Valley community groups and schools, which will be displayed along the route. There is also plenty of good hospitality and pop-up campsites in the area ready to welcome the many thousands of visitors now expected. Go to website created by local mum of three Kerry Sykes, www.holmfirth.info for visitor advice and information.
In woolly Sheffield…
Cassandra Kilbride is a prolific yarn-stormer, known for her crochet street art. For the Grand Depart which races through Sheffield on July 6th, Cassandra is creating 10 woolly bikes based on familiar Yorkshire themes, from wool mills to whippets, from foods to flat caps and landscapes and literature. Follow the thread between locations, and be part of it at any of the 20 workshops across Yorkshire, to knit, crochet, sew or weave your own bit of a bike. Yorkshire’s 10 woolly bicycles will be exhibited together throughout this month at Sheffield Cathedral, before returning to their home towns.
Fieldwork in Oxenhope…
A team of cyclists, artists and farmers have come together to install the latest in a series of field art installations. The cyclists, who are part of the Fields of Vision initiative for the Yorkshire Festival 2014, rode a short time trial in Oxenhope, West Yorkshire to reveal with their tyre tracks the outline of a female figure celebrating the freedom cycling gave to women, called The Leap. The giant installation, designed by West Yorkshire artist Louise Lockhart is one of 12 field art installations which are visible across Stage Two of the Grand Départ.
