“The Links of the Chain are of Equal Strength”
“The links of the chain are of equal strength”
Revisiting Preston’s Rich Textiles History: Hand Painted Mural from Local Artist Gavin Renshaw in collaboration with the Courtauld set to Adorn the Harris Building
Preston artist Gavin Renshaw has created a brand new mural: “The links in the chain are of equal strength” with the help of students from two local schools – Penwortham Priory Academy and Christ the King Catholic High School. Consisting of 10 8ftx4ft hoarding boards, the mural will feature a linear artwork with a narrative focusing on the movement through a working day, processes in the factory and moving from overseas to the UK.
“The links in the chain are of equal strength” has been created to decorate the front of the Harris building whilst building work begins for the Harris Your Place project. To commemorate the history of textile manufacturing in the Preston area, the mural celebrates the journeys, long and short, that Courtaulds Ltd employees made drawing attention to the diversity of the workforce that came together and continues to contribute to Preston’s rich textiles heritage.
Year 9 students from Penwortham Priory Academy and Christ the King Catholic High School took part in a series of workshops with local artist Gavin Renshaw and illustrator Toya Walker to develop key themes for “The links in the chain are of equal strength”, creating artwork to be incorporated into the planning stages of development.
Local industrial heritage is the main focus of the mural, which features a collage of images including portraits of former employees who worked at Courtaulds Ltd factory in Preston. Opening in 1939, the factory quickly became one of the biggest employers in Preston at the time.
Beginning with a series of oral history recordings of former Courtaulds Ltd employees, students considered their own connections to themes around migration and textiles heritage, thinking about what it might have been like to work in the textiles factories in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Students explored the history and processes of the mill through drawing, collage and mark making with ink. Following these initial workshops in March 2022, artist Gavin Renshaw developed further on the poignant messages the students identified in their artwork.
Alice Hellard, Heritage and Learning Officer at The Courtauld commented: “The students involved in the project responded to the brief brilliantly, making some thoughtful observations about the research material and developing a clear set of themes for Gavin to work on. When they visited him again during the painting process they were pleased to see how he’d put their ideas into the piece and provided some really insightful feedback.”
This project is part of the ongoing collaboration between The Harris Library, Museum and Art Gallery and The Courtauld. Since 2019, both parties have been working together as part of the Courtauld National Partners Programme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This includes loans of artworks from collections, work with schools and colleges and a volunteer programme, with the aim of developing both learning and knowledge about art history and the industrial heritage of Courtaulds Ltd textiles manufacturers.
The mural will be unveiled later this year at a celebratory event celebrating Preston’s textile heritage through local contemporary artworks.
The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library is being reimagined as part of the Harris Your Place Project. The Museum and Art Gallery will be closed until 2024 for the exciting Harris Your Place project. The Harris has been granted £4.5m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund which will allow for the Grade I listed building to be refurbished. The aim of this project is to protect the building and the architecture for future generations, improving the services for everyone and increasing accessibility. Positioning the Harris as a community and cultural hub for Preston and Lancashire.
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About The Courtauld
The Courtauld works to advance how we see and understand the visual arts, as an internationally-renowned centre for the teaching, research of art history and a major public gallery. Founded in 1932s, the organisation has been at the forefront of the study of art ever since. The Courtauld cares for one of the greatest art collections in the UK, displayed at The Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House, central London. Academically, The Courtauld is a specialist university and home to the largest community of art historians and conservators in the UK. It offers a range of degree programmes in the History of Art, curating and the conservation of easel and wall paintings.
About Courtauld Connects
This project is part of an ongoing collaboration with the Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library. This partnership is part of the Courtauld National Partners Programme which aims to share The Courtauld’s collection with audiences across the United Kingdom, especially in areas where Courtaulds Ltd. once had a significant industrial presence. In Preston, its major factory opened in 1938, the Courtauld became one of the biggest factories and employers in Preston and a significant part of Preston’s industrial heritage.
Courtauld Connects is an ambitious transformation programme that will make The Courtauld’s world-class artworks, research and teaching accessible to even more people. The first stage of Courtauld Connects was completed in November 2021, with the reopening of The Courtauld Gallery and the Learning Centre and the construction of the West Wing Conservation Studios.
Get involved!
1. Follow us on social and share our #HarrisYourPlace posts on your social media platforms with one of these pictures. – or a photo of your own – if you have visited the Harris before we closed for the project.
2. Sign up to receive the Harris e-newsletter and get the latest project news.
3. Join our upcoming events around the city – you’ll find details on our website and on social media.
4. Volunteer with us by signing up to the Harris Volunteer Makers.
5. Make a donation to our charity, the Friends of the Harris, or become a member.
Membership costs from just £25 per year and every donation, large or small, will help Preston and Lancashire people benefit from Harris Your Place. Many local people have already given to the Friends or joined to show their support.
