Mister Denham's Scrap Book & News
MISTER DENHAM & SOLOMON GRUNDY
This is not about Solomon Grundy, the eclectic rock band from California. Nor is it about Solomon Grundy from the dark swamps outside Gotham City in the Superman comics. It is, however, very much about the obsession Mister Denham has had with the Solomon Grundy nursery rhyme, since his childhood.
Everyone knows the ancient story – Solomon Grundy Born on Monday, Christened on Tuesday, etc. Seven days encompass the life of an ordinary man, and the rhyme has been used to teach the days of the week to countless generations of children, all over the world.
Three months ago Mister Denham began work on the first of a series of seven large-scale paintings depicting the enigmatic life of Solomon Grundy, and as the third painting nears completion, the series is already generating exhibition interest.
Preliminary discussions have taken place about the launch venue for the exhibition, and it is more than likely that this will be in the heart of the actual City of London, towards the end of this year.
Mister Denham chats about the work of fellow Naive Artist John Hayward shortly after they met. How they met is a wonderful story in itself. Mervyn was doing some work in a photographic laboratory in Sidcup in Kent and John came in to collect some photographs. "I couldn't believe my eyes" said Mervyn "when I went to check that I was handing over the correct pictures, the images I saw where staggering" Mervyn got his telephone number and the rest is history as they say. See John pictures on the ABNA web site.
Mister Denham and Frank Smith brave the cold and snow showers to visit the farm in Tanworth-in-Arden which features in some of Franks paintings. They were in the small Warwickshire village for a meeting to discuss the way forward in creating The National Museum of British Naive Art with professional art curator Maggie Firman.
Mister Denham visiting fellow naive artist Lynne Walden at her home in Gravesend in Kent
Oct.2001. Frank Smith exhibits some paintings at the annual art show at Minster in Kent where he grew up as a child. Left : Mister Denham and Dean Williams join Frank in Minster and look round the exhibition. Right : Frank shows some of his paintings, top is of Minster Abbey.
Frank Smith visits his home village of Minster in Kent with a few friends. Left : Frank painting the Abbey at Minster Centre: Mike Trumble films Frank and Mister Denham Right : Mike, Kath Denham, Frank, Mister Denham and Mervyn Clingan pose outside the Abbey
