Ashton Market Jigsaw
Ashton Market Jigsaw "When the Clock Stopped"
John Kimpton has been a regular visitor to Ashton-under-Lyne's Markets since his childhood. As he developed his artistic talent, John found the market to be an inspiration and a rich source of subject material. Few places offer such a diverse range of people as a market. At the same time, John recognised the vital place that the markets occupied within the community.
Over the years John created a large catalogue of sketches of people observed at the market and, eventually with support from the Ashton Town Centre Management Initiative, published a collection of these sketches in "The Art of the Community".
Always a popular attraction when he attended the Farmers' Market on the last Sunday of the month, John brought to market many pictures including some of his larger original works. Among these was a 10ft. long group of market shoppers, all facing in the same direction forming a "procession" or queue. John deposited this picture in the office of Head of Markets, Ian Kelly, between events.
And then tragedy struck Ashton's Victorian Market Hall. In one dreadful night, more than 150 years of history were swept away by fire. The town and its people, including John, were stunned. Ian Kelly recalls that on the day after the fire, John approached him on the Town Hall steps. "His opening remark", Ian remembers was, "We've got to do something to help the traders!" John didn't ask about his valuable picture that had been lost in the fire - he cared more about the people affected by the tragedy."
But it was that picture of the "procession" of shoppers, which came immediately to Ian Kelly's mind when, later, a proposal was accepted to surround the shell of the old building with public art. Just as the original picture had suggested movement, a series of John's characters mounted on 8' x 4' boards could be made to form another "procession" to guide shoppers to the temporary market hall. "It would be as if you were walking side by side with these recognisable characters - off shopping to the market hall", says Ian.
At the time Ian commented on the 80 metre long project, " This stunning piece of work brings together John's love of markets and market folk and his enormous talent, in one work of staggering proportion."
Now a new project has been completed. Tameside Markets have produced a jigsaw featuring John's characters, set against the background of the Old Market Hall Clock Tower. Predictably, John has been involved in every stage of the planning and preparation of this limited edition. And as work gets underway on the refurbishment of the old building, this jigsaw is a fitting reminder of the fact that a market is actually the people who come together to buy and sell, to meet friends, to swap news, to talk about the past and think about the future. The buildings are just where it all happens.
The very first of the Limited Edition Jigsaws was presented to Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr. Margaret Sidebottom, by Market Events Officer Malcolm Short and Ian Kelly, as her year in office drew to a close.
The jigsaw will be on sale at Ashton Farmers' Market and is also available from the artist, via his website (http://www.johnkimpton.co.uk 
), from Nigel Longden's in the Phoenix Market Hall and Ashton Market Office.
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 Ashton Market Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map 
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 0161 342 3268/3269
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 0161 339 0451
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