The Arthur Dooley Archive
Unit 7A, 36, Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4BE
We are pleased to announce the opening of The Arthur Dooley Archive.
A grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has made it possible to develop a community Archive at The Liverpool Academy of Arts.
The Academy houses the papers and the final studio of the famous Liverpool sculptor Arthur Dooley, who died in 1994. The project’s aim is to raise the profile of Dooley and celebrate his life and work, not only through his papers, but also reminiscences from the people who actually knew him.
The process is already under way and will culminate in October 08 with an exhibition at The Albert Dock and an Arthur Dooley city wide trail
There can be no doubt that Arthur Dooley left his mark on Liverpool. Of course there are the sculptures: Four Lads Who Shook the World, The ‘Black Christ’ in Toxteth and Our Lady of the Quays, but there are also countless memories of ‘a character’ who tirelessly championed the people of his native city.
But who exactly was Arthur Dooley?
Dooley was a largely self-taught sculptor who rose to national fame in the 1960s and ‘70s. Celebrities collected his work and he regularly appeared on television, even becoming the subject of This is Your Life in 1970. His large-scale works reveal his profound religious belief, but Dooley was also a card-carrying member of the communist party and the crucifixions he made throughout his life show his desire to use the resurrection to inspire the living and create a sense of working class solidarity. Dooley was always passionate about ordinary working people of his native city and used his fame to figurehead campaigns for better housing and the redevelopment of the south docks amongst many other popular causes during a remarkable life.
Sadly today, the name Arthur Dooley seems to have begun to vanish and even where his work survives there is little to recall the extraordinary man who made it. But the Arthur Dooley Archive Project hopes to change all this by creating an inspirational archive, an exhibition ‘Arthur Dooley Resurrected’ and a city trail to celebrate Dooley’s contribution to Liverpool in the capital of culture year. Visitors to the city and a new generation of Liverpudlians can then be inspired by Dooley’s passionate belief in the power and creativity of ordinary working people.
HOW YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED
• BECOME A VOLUNTEER
• SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF ARTHUR FOR OUR ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVE
• LEND A PIECE OF WORK FOR THE EXHIBITION
• DONATE MATERIAL FOR THE EXHIBITION AND ARCHIVE
• MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OR PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT
Email: bill.longshaw@btconnect.com
Website: www.arthurdooleyarchive.webeden.co.uk/
THERE WILL BE AN OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF
THE ARTHUR DOOLEY ARCHIVE
MONDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2008
THE LIVERPOOL ACADEMY OF THE ARTS,
32 SEEL STREET, LIVERPOOL, L1 4BE
7:30PM – 9PM