Margaret Stanley is honouring her late husband’s legacy by featuring their work in a new art exhibition titled ‘Mike and Me’.
The textile artist, designer and retired educator told Saturday Living that her husband had a significant influence on her life and her life’s work, “He’s a painter, and I wanted to show some of his last works. These are small pieces of his because he used to create much larger ones,” she explained. In the name of collaborative efforts and as a last hurrah among soulmates, Stanley also incorporated her own body of work, inspired by different hues, styles and textures of hair.
“I started doing artworks with hair a few years ago, and I wanted to show them as a group. So I just thought, let’s do it one time,” she added. A student of the 1960s, Mike attended the Chelsea Art School and was inspired by the greats like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Margaret was fascinated by his vivid imagination and exciting use of colours. His abstract pieces were usually motivated by music of all genres and his vast readings of great poets and storytellers. His inspiration would also become a dedication to someone special in his life.
Last week, ‘Mike and Me’, which was available for viewing at CreativSpace Art Gallery, 5 Windsor Avenue, Kingston, showcased a unique balance between the talents. Margaret was happy to join forces with Blaqmango Consultants to make the collaborative dream a beautiful reality.
Having met across the world while teaching at art school together in London, Mike and Margaret bonded over shared interests and pretty soon began planning their lives around each other. Tying the knot, they moved to Margaret’s home country in Jamaica with their daughter, and supported each other’s creative endeavours during 40 years of marriage. The British-Jamaican settled into the new home, embracing Margaret’s family and culture with open arms and an open heart. His passion for painting has graced many local galleries and hangs as a lasting staple in luxurious spaces of hotels all across the island.
For this creative celebration, Mike’s side highlighted a myriad of shapes and colours, inviting viewers to engage with acrylic paint on canvas, examine the flow and, in so doing, react to the work. Mike had even created a few hairpieces as well, so it stands as the motif throughout the showcase.
Among Margaret’s speciality of heads and hair are pieces like ‘The Cut, Memories of August Town’, social commentary on locs in the education system. ‘Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow’ addresses the artist’s personal journey, conquering the breast cancer fight years ago.
The conversation took on a sombre note as Margaret recounted Mike’s passing from a sudden heart attack two years ago. Still fresh in her mind, she misses her best friend and dearest love daily. But she remains hopeful that, in moving forward, she can keep her husband’s memory and legacy alive through his moving works of art.