Lawrence Stephen Lowry was an internationally recognised artist
whose work focuses on industrial townscapes and town life in the north of
England. His characteristic style of matchstick figures emerged in the 1920s.
The newly built Lowry Centre in Salford is named after him and they possess
a large part of his collection. The location of this painting is Market Place
in Swinton.
Society
once banded together through parades, usually to celebrate religious festivals
like this Whit Walk. Creating banners, organising refreshments and working out
parade routes brought together neighbours and created a sense of community.
Across the country, many of these Christian parades have disappeared as church
congregations fall. Nowadays people often march to protest rather than to
celebrate. Some examples of non-religious parades are the popular Streets
Ahead Festival and the Notting Hill Carnival.
Notice the smoke coming from the chimneys of the domestic houses. Towns have
become much cleaner since the practice of burning smoky coal in the home was
banned in the 1950s.
"Hello,
good morning, how are you? I didn't know you went to work so early, oh, you've
changed shifts, is that better for you? Good. You work at Avery's mill don't
you? I work at Prooth's… Erm, I was wondering, are you going on the May
Day Parade tomorrow? Yes, I am, yes… It should be good, all the neighbours
will be there, and all the people from the local streets round about, and loads
of of other people too, yes…
I was, erm, wondering, if you hadn't already made plans, if you'd like to go
with me? It will be really good, I like the May Day Parade the most, the beginning
of spring time, you can really feel the atmosphere change, everyone's face wearing
their own true smile, everyone stepping out in their own true style…
Yes, just like a field of flowers slowly opening, that's a really nice image
- really true, and the whole landscape seems to change, doesn't it? Are you
going to wear your red dress? It's really pretty… Yes, I'll be wearing
my suit, yes, I'll get a shave too, you have to make an effort for May Day,
don't you?
Hey, if you wanted, we could get a bite to eat, Maybe go for a drink afterwards,
see a band play, wake the music up in our souls, do some dancing - yes, I love
to dance, especially if it's with someone like you… So, will you walk out
with me then? You will?, that's good, that's really good, I'll meet you tomorrow
then? Here, at the end of the street.
)
