John Collinson: Salford

As a way of mourning John’s death and acknowledging his impact on our lives, we collected together all the things of his we had in our possession.

These were mostly poems, drawings, and writings salvaged from the remains of his side of a ten year long correspondence; a ragged collection of half chewed and stained letters, 28 dog eared photographs, a pile of drawings and doodles, typed and hand written writings, and quotes on the backs of envelopes: Things that had no real value until his death and which subsequently became precious artifacts.

At first we searched for content amongst these disparate materials, grouping together items that seemed to relate. The chapters evolved, the book grew, and it became apparent that the very essence of John was emerging. The aesthetic of the material embodied aspects of who he was, and the book became a document of Salford at that particular time, from his particular perspective. The culmination of this process, was a book that exuded the spirit of John and revealed his very unique genius.

The compilation of this very personal tribute led to a broader question:
How many are born with talent, and yet with no inclination towards celebrity, what great works and thoughts have been lost throughout time?