The Footballer Man

I wanted to do a Series of artworks using Vacuum Sealing bags and Assemblage. Including some Puppet Making materials, Faux Fur and toy eyes etc. I liked the idea of freezing time, preserving things and also keepsakes and souvenirs, which led me to thinking about memento’s and the Reliquaries. I like the way they are built up over time with a random placement element as objects or jewels are added. I also like the reverence. So I studied Reliquary and Religious Art and added to my toolbox Acrylic Gems, Gold Leaf, Found Objects and Antique Jewelry and set about enshrining some of life’s great, maybe odd moments. One idea I called, ‘Chance meetings and nice people’.  The Football man is about my meetings and chats as a child with a footballer at the back of our local Launderette where I frequently waited ages for a friend to go out and play. I only ever knew him as the Footballer Man and he would be there waiting for his Laundry. We mostly chatted about life, as I knew nothing about Football other than playing it. He it later turned out was Bobby Moore and he waited out the back, as he was quite famous having recently led England as Captain to being the World Football Champions of 1966. He later gave me a toy water pistol camera. I only ever remember him saying one thing, “It’s a long Game Marcus.” I tried to capture it all in this Artwork.