The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #174233 Message #4227086
Posted By: YorkshireYankee
13-Aug-25 - 04:01 AM
Thread Name: Fundraiser for John Thompson Memorial
Subject: RE: Fundraiser for John Thompson Memorial
Here is Nicole's update from July 2nd:
"Hello everyone, We’ve made a LOT of progress this week on bringing the Green Man to Woodfordia! My deepest thanks to all the friends and supporters who have contributed to the fundraising efforts. The latest progress is at the bottom of this post. This week I want to tell you why I have created the portrait of John’s face surrounded by leaves from his favourite places, and what this ancient symbol has meant to both of us.
"John wrote the song “The Green Man” in about 1999, and we recorded it for the first time on Cloudstreet’s debut album, ‘Swallow the Concertina’, in 2000. John’s abiding interest in celtic mythology, Buddhist teachings, other spiritual practices, and history, contributed to his knowledge of this mysterious, millennia-spanning and intriguing character.
"He described the foliate image of the Green Man as “the positive representation of creative masculinity.” “Traveller, reveller, unraveller of dreams and of fancies… son, father and sage,” he wrote in the song, revealing his optimism that men will grow in wisdom as they age. The song embodies John’s magical and poetic way of seeing the world, and his beautiful wordcraft. Of all John’s songs, this one seems to speak most about his aspirations for a better world, and his striving to be a good person. “In our souls we may find him, and remember his wisdom, and rekindle the flame, once again make a start.” The Green Man, or Green George, or Jack-in-the-Green and all his other names, has been known in some form across cultures from India to Ireland, Scandinavia and Iran, since at least Roman times. Despite his thousand years in European churches, there is no clear explanation of why he is there. This lack of historical information invites us to reinterpret the face in the foliage. Modern interpretations include his role in renewal and rebirth, ecological intelligence, and the protection of all living beings. There is a strong element of magic, too.
"I wanted to make a significant work of art to commemorate my beloved John, and when he was living with cancer in 2020, I told him I would like to create a sculpture of him as the Green Man, to place on the grave site he had recently bought at Toowong Cemetery. He was keen, and was present for the first part of the process, though as I’ve said, making the finished work was a labour of love and grieving after he was gone.
"It felt necessary to honour him and celebrate him, in a way that allows many more people than me to keep memories of his singing, his wit and his irrepressible character fresh. Now I am bringing that sculpture to Woodfordia, the place where so many of his stories were shared.
"UPDATE: We are now 70% of the way to reaching the $10000 funding goal! Next week I will share progress pictures and a description of the process involved in making the two sculptures and installing one in Toowong Cemetery.
"Thank you every one of you, for your support so far on this epic adventure.