FRANK’S ARTWORK BRIGHTENS UP ROAD TO WEMBLEY
Sunderland artist Frank Styles has brightened up the road to Wembley with a striking art work.
Frank has become wellknown on Wearside for his distinctive pieces across the city, including Raich Carter on the Blue House pub in Hendon, which has been seen by millions after featuring as a backdrop many times in NetflixseriesSunderland‘TilIDie.
Now his work will be seen by more people after he’s created an eye-catching installation at Wembley Stadium to raise awareness about mental health.
Titled One in Four, the new artwork highlights that one in four people will experience a mental health problem each year. One in Four is a collaboration between the mental healthcharityMindandWembley Park.
Theartwork,installedprior to the lockdown, aims to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, a topic that has only increased in importance since the pandemic.
Frank also enlisted the helpoffellowSunderlandAFC fan Michael Lough to feature among a series of 12 portraits which run down the steps.
Viewedfromheadon,three oftheportraitsoneachsection of the stairs are visible, but the fourth can be seen only if you look over from the adjacent flight. One in Four symbolises that understanding mental healthproblemsandhowthey can affect people, sometimes requires a shift in perspective.
The collaboration originated as part of the English
Football League (EFL) and Mind’s charity partnership which aims to raise awareness aboutmentalhealthproblems among football fans.
Michael Lough, a participantinOneinFour,said:“Football is a massive escape for me. Because of my mental health problems I often feel numb, butfootballbringsoutsomany emotions in me – even if it is frustration!
“I have met so many people who I wouldn’t be friends with if it weren’t for football, and this has helped me talk more openly about my mental health. Too many of us think that we have to bottle up what we are feeling, it is great to use footballtoencourageaconversation about mental health.”
Frank said: “As a football fan and someone who is passionate about mental health advocacy, it was great to work on this commission. Although it may be some time until football fans are able to return to Wembley Stadium, I’m glad thatmyworkisstillabletosend a positive message.”