Clennie
Fraser Mangialardi
Oil
Chilly Waters A family holiday snapshot from 1963 inspired my journey with this painting. To my surprise, childhood anxieties resurfaced perhaps in response to the news of war around the world today. My childhood in Scotland was not too far removed from the spectre of WW1 and WW2 as my grandfather served in WW1 and my father in WW2. Childhood memories of Scotland in the 1960’s includes Cold War threats, Shelter Drills in school, news of WW2 unexploded ordnance, coastal defence structures and of the day we found a WW2 gas mask on the banks of a stream near our home. Also memories of a fraught relationship with my older sister depicted here in our body language. The location, with its distinct landscape, is Firemore Beach in NW Scotland. Nearby Poolewe and Aultbea played an active role in the Allied defences in WW2, symbolized here by the ghost of a destroyer under an ominous sky. The final symbol within the painting is above the chilly, Scottish waters. A glimpse of sunshine and the hint of a Saltire representing peace, unity and a welcoming, inclusive and forward looking aspect. Hope.
10x30
Fraser Mangialardi’s painting is full of tension. The girl in the white swimsuit reaches for the girl in red, but they aren’t connecting. The left hand of the girl in red is clenched into a fist, and both girls’ faces look uneasy. The grey sky and water are foreboding and this seaside scene is devoid of other beachgoers – the only other sign of life is the freighter in the distance. The viewer is left wondering about the story behind this scene – is it simply cold water or is something else creating the tension?
Honourable Mention - Pat Wheeler Award for Story Telling -