The Art of Mining

Series

Series Name

Review 30th Year

Issue

Issue No.

10

Date Released

Jun 1977

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1The Art of Mining

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

NCB Summary - It is only during the last 60 years that the ‘arts’ have concerned themselves with miners and their craft. Much that has been created since has come out of the industry itself.
NoS synopsis: The story begins with artist, Oliver Kilbourn, seen in footage from 16 years ago. The commentator then talks about the effects of shape and colour underground whilst we see shots of mining. We are then shown examples of portraiture and landscape art from the 18th and 19th centuries whilst the commentator notes that during the industrial revolution, British art did not reflect the source of its wealth, the mines.
A spokesman for the Coal Industry Social and Welfare Organisation explains that whilst countries like Germany celebrated the miner, in Britain, mining has been kept separate, and the miner has been regarded as ‘a race apart both socially and artistically’. He posits that the 1921 Mining Welfare Act, whilst improving mining conditions, encouraged miners to take up leaisure activities, including painting.
We are then re-introduced to Kilbourn, and other members of the Ashington Group. Their work is displayed and the history of the group described. The spokesman described the worldwide reputation of the this group, and their exhibition at the Academy of Arts in West Berlin, along with other work by Norman Cornish and Tom McGuinness.
We are then shown the exhibition entitled ‘60 Years of Mining Art’ at the NCB. This features work from Margaret Bulton (a professional painter inspired by mining), Vincent Evans (a former miner, now a painter), Tom McGuinness (a miner and painter) and the Ashington Group (ex-miners). The spokesman sums up, saying that mining Art has ‘come of age’.

Keywords

Arts and crafts; Mining; Exhibitions and shows

Written sources

Viewing Copy - bfi
British Film Institute Databases
Films on Coal Catalogue   1977, p.37
The British National Film Catalogue   Vol.15 1977, p.96

Credits:

Cutter

Deh-ta Hsiung

Commentator

Francis Gysin

Camera

Fred Gamage

Camera

John Reid

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Production Co.

National Coal Board Film Unit

Director

Peter Pickering

Producer

Robert Kruger

Sound

Taffy Haines