Laura McCafferty

Invited by the curator to make work about Runcorn, for the exhibition Material Evidence.  Both were inspired by a visit to the junk shop, Alice’s Attic. Displayed in the shop window was a collection of old photographs. The sign read, ‘not for sale, from Runcorn house clearances, for your viewing.‘ I knew there was someone special in this shop as they had chosen to keep and display the photographs, preserving the local history. I was sure that Pandora’s box awaited me inside- a way into the heart of the town.

Inside was a room full of junk and treasure. Under a pile of old videos, on a big old sofa, I saw a green photograph album poking out. The stickers on the cover read, ‘Hilda green, shop copy for your viewing.’ ... I spent the next hour speaking to the shop owner, Maggie Fowler. Who told me about Hilda Green.

Hilda had left all her possessions to Maggie Fowler, whom she had asked to deal with her house clearance when she left this world. Maggie had to sort through everything- she kept the photos and put them into the album.

I have created two pieces of work for Material Evidence; one a celebration of the life of Hilda Green, inspired by a collection of her own personal photographs (Hilda Green, 2009, 133x98cm, Textile, screen-print and hand stitch) and the other a portrait of Maggie Fowler in her shop with shelves of objects that once filled the homes of Runcorn (Maggie Fowler, 2009, 175x127cm, Textile, screen-print and hand stitch) My aim was to unravel a thread that could link past and present Runcorn. Through Maggie and Hilda, I’d like to celebrate life, capture memories and document once loved possessions, leaving the story of these two women for future generations.