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After telling an artist she couldn't display a popular art initiative over the Christmas period, the St Peter Port Constables have done a U-turn and the 'Notes to Islanders' will be going back up.
The brightly coloured prints were first put up during Mental Health Awareness week earlier in the year and were also displayed during Channel Islands Pride and at a number of other events including some local music festivals.
The artist behind them, Sian Jones, felt they had a positive impact during previous displays and asked for permission to put them up again, to offer some support to Christmas shoppers. She was shocked when she received a reply telling her no, and that there had been complaints about her art work.
Pictured: The email Sian Jones received when she asked if she could display her Notes to Islanders over Christmas. She believes they are uplifting messages of support, but not everyone agrees apparently.
With the social media masses rallying to support her, Ms Jones found herself meeting the Constables of St Peter Port to discuss the issue yesterday, and she was pleased to find that Dennis Le Moignan and Jenny Tasker had relented and the art work can go back up.
"It is with a massive sigh of relief that I am happy to announce the Constables of St Peter Port have apologised for their initial response to my request to display ‘Notes to Islanders’ in St Peter Port this festive season," said Ms Jones.
"Dennis Le Moignan and Jenny Tasker have both agreed that ‘Notes to Islanders’ can be installed from now and can remain until 3 February 2019. Both Dennis and Jenny would like me to mention they are fully supportive of Mental Health Awareness.
"They explained their initial email stemmed from the complaints they had received from parishioners who had been offended by the signs due to the fact they were ‘in your face’ and ‘too bright and bold’. They both agreed they had not heard any positive feedback following the display of ‘Notes to Islanders’ in the many different locations this summer."
As well as receiving public support in her desire to help lift people's spirits during the Christmas period, Ms Jones said she had also been well supported by the Guernsey Arts Commission and a number of individuals.
"A big thank you to Russ Fossey (Guernsey Arts Commission) for joining me today at the meeting and for the continued support and encouragement I have received from the GAC with this campaign. Unfortunately, Emily Litten (Guernsey Mind) was unable to attend, but has supported me nonetheless, so thank you very much Guernsey Mind. David Ummels (Art for Guernsey) has also supported my second series of ‘Notes to Islanders’, to coincide with Guernsey Pride which I am very grateful for and he is also offering continued support."
Pictured: The Guernsey Arts Commission publicly supported Ms Jones in her efforts to display her 'Notes to Islanders' this month.
Ms Jones said there has been a lot of positive feedback and support and she hopes her ‘Notes to Islanders’ will again "brighten people’s days."
You can find out more about Ms Jones art work here.
Pictured top: Denis Le Moignan, Sian Jones and Jenny Tasker.
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