Her Worship the Mayor of Douglas Councillor Carol Malarkey JP has unveiled a blue plaque to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Archibald Knox, one of the most influential figures in the art nouveau movement in the British Isles.
The unveiling ceremony took place on April 9th, the date of Knox’s birth in the Isle of Man 150 years ago, in the Archibald Knox garden adjacent to 70 Athol Street, Knox’s home in Douglas for many years.
Guests included the President of Tynwald the Hon Clare Christian MLC, Council Members, senior officers, chairman and founder of the Archibald Knox Society Liam O’Neill and society member Andrew Bernbaum, and Simon Kelly from Dixcart Management (IOM) Limited.
Before unveiling the plaque, only the second blue plaque to be erected in the Island, Her Worship said: ‘…it is testimony to the excellence of the work of Archibald Knox that his legacy has stood the test of time and is recognised around the world for its beauty, detail and innovation.
‘Douglas Borough Council has been working with the Archibald Knox Society and the Island of Culture 2014 organisers to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Knox’s birth. In addition to unveiling this blue plaque today, the Council will be dedicating one of the Marine Gardens on Douglas Promenade to the memory of Knox, theming the garden in his honour.’
Her Worship closed by thanking the Archibald Knox Society for their input and Dixcart Management (IOM) Limited for allowing the plaque to be erected on the wall of their property.
Replying, Mr Bernbaum, (pictured below with Her Worship) who had travelled from London for the 150th anniversary celebrations, paid tribute to Liam O’Neill for playing ‘such an enormous role in bringing Knox into the public domain and to international acclaim.’
Referring to Knox as ‘an artist ahead of his time’ Mr Bernbaum said Knox wanted to accomplish both modernism and beauty - the twin themes of a forthcoming Knox exhibition he and Mr O’Neill are organising – as covered in his teaching maxim: ‘aim at order, hope for beauty’.
He went on to say that Knox had ‘his own unique Celtic take on the art nouveau style’ and, as a watercolourist, was once described as: ‘The man who could paint the wind’.
Her Worship, Andrew Bernbaum and Archibald Knox Society chairman Liam O'Neill
He concluded: ‘This blue plaque at 70 Athol Street where Knox once had a studio and died in 1933 will be a timeless testimony to this great, internationally recognised Manxman. Just as Scotland has Mackintosh, this Island has Knox and that is a phenomenal asset and complement. This blue plaque could not be a more deserving gift to Knox, but above all it is a gift from Knox to this Island and beyond.’
