101 Days of Lockdown Art

Elliott Turner designs events, exhibitions and conferences for productions and companies all over the world. As Covid hit, to limit the spread of this virulent pandemic these activities became totally restricted. On the 19th March ’20 he was working at Park Display in Bicester. As a diabetic needing to isolate, he left the office for what he thought would be just a few weeks. Then on 23rd March 2020 to find an activity to occupy himself he decided to mow the lawn. The garden refuse bin was full so he piled the grass clippings at the end of the garden. The clippings looked like a melting snowman, so he put some sticks in with a pair of gloves on, a scarf and a carrot nose with his Panama completed the picture.

He posted it saying: ‘This self-isolation is a piece of piss but I think my grass snowman is melting!’ On the 24th March the bin was emptied, so he filled the bin and put the hat, scarf and carrots on the bin posting: ‘To all of you worried about Mr Grassy the snowman, he’s now self-isolating.’ On the 25th March he power-washed the patio, scoring the letters RIP in the dirt in front of the bin: ‘Sad news everyone. Mr Grassy didn't stay in the bin so now they came and took him away. RIP Mr Grassy.’ On the 26th March Elliott’s eldest son took a photograph of him praying beside the lawnmower in a recreation of Millet’s ‘The Angelus’ and posted: ‘So today we held a quiet service for Grassy, to follow the Covid19 direction there was just one in attendance, sorry Millet.’ Little was he to know that there were to follow 101 days of art recreations in homage to favourite works of art and to artists whose work he has always admired.

This book is a loving tribute to my wonderful mother and how hard she worked trying to educate my brother, sister and I into the joys of art.