| Martina Weatherley | ||
| Martina was at Falmouth school of Art 1979 - 1982 The Guardian |
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| I don't know why I never thought to look up Lionel on the internet before now. I was momentarily very taken aback and very sad to learn that he had died, but then I found it impossible to think of him for more than a few moments without feeling very happy. I was a student at Falmouth School of Art between 1979 and 82, so it was my great good fortune to catch him or be caught by him, just before he left. | ||
| Our first conversation rescued me from homesickness and gave me the means to survive not just art school but everything, and his last words, on my last day; "I expect we'll meet again" were said in a way which left me feeling most unexpectedly honoured and hopeful - a feeling which has lasted for twenty five years. | ||
| As to our first encounter, I was near the start of my degree course when Lionel intercepted me and to my great surprise, invited me to have tea with him in his studio/office in the college. It was hard to get inside his room because the whole floor was covered in piles of paper and stacks of books. I immediately felt at ease. I thought it was like steeping inside a cave, full of paper stalactites but Lionel told me it was an enchanted forest and not to worry, he'd soon create a path for me.. | ||
| Quite a few papers and books went flying as he cleared a space to sit down. Then he started to tell me a story. "The thing is," he explained, 'you need not worry. You are the heroine in this story. The heroine! Do you see? This place, this art school - it's an enchanted forest. And you are the heroine." And then he told me the story of my journey in life. He did not say that this was what it was about, but I understood and felt myself unable to stop smiling and smiling. | ||
| He said I would meet wicked witches and dragons - people who would try to put enchantments on me to make me forget who I am, or to harm me, or steal my gifts from me. He told me to be on my guard for this sort of creature even amongst people who were allegedly there to help me. | ||
But equally well, he assured me, I'd meet with plenty of true helpers. He urged me to recognise them and listen to their advice and use whatever weapons and gifts they had it in their power to give me - indeed to use all my gifts well, including the ones I'd been given at birth. "The thing you must remember through it all, is that you are the heroine. You will find the prince. You will fulfill the quest. You will undo the bad magic or whatever it is you have to do. You will succeed." Words to that effect. The implication was encouraging. A story of self actualisation, of becoming and healing and return, - one which spoke to my situation as it was, humourously and profoundly, and which has stayed with me ever since.
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