Part of the Shipbuilders & Fisherfolk exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery, a commission exploring and celebrating the maritime heritage of Hartlepool. The work that Jonny created draws inspiration from the Museum of Hartlepool’s collections, the heritage buildings themselves, the landscape and bygone industries of the North East of England, and hundreds of tales and contributions from the local community
Painted Eko guitar, in tribute to the Foggy Furze Folk Club, of Hartlepool
JONNY HANNAH “I was invited to a folk club in Hartlepool called the Foggy Furze. But I was also told I’d be expected to do my ‘turn’. So I practiced various songs; ‘On a Monday Morning’, by Cyril Tawney, ‘What did the Deep Sea Say’ by Woody Guthrie and many others… and then I went along. I’ve been several times now. On my first visit, a woman called Gill sang a song by her dad, Alan Todd. Then another time, another member sang another song by the same songwriter, called The Seacoal Warrior… magical stuff”
Music has always been a point of inspiration for Jonny and especially apt as part of a commission involving the retelling of tales and folklore.
Jonny painted over 20 LPs that are displayed in the ‘Sea Songs’ section of the exhibition, the output of an imaginary record label devised by Jonny called ‘Codhead Records’
Jonny has also compiled a playlist on Spotify for the exhibitions, you can listen to it here
