Sun Up and Sun Down – preserving the Martin Froy Murals in the Emma Cons Hall

In 1958 the creation of two huge murals defined a new Emma Cons Concert Hall. Created by artist Martin Froy, the huge murals measure 58 feet long by 8 feet high and run along opposing sides of the hall. Their abstract images suggesting “movement across a landscape.”

Jack Davy, curator of Morley’s Permanent Art Collection, describes how the murals came about. “The goal of the murals was to create dynamic exciting artworks that look down on people performing concerts plays and performances – there was an open competition and the selected artist was Martin Froy, a well-known artist of the period in the late 1950’s.”

“The concept was Sun Up and Sun Down – the sun rising and setting on generations of Morley students. What’s powerful about these murals is their use of colour and texture in a mid twentieth century fashion. They really speak to that era when Morley was being reconstructed post war and the hope that came with rebuilding this space for the community. They are very much in keeping with the aesthetic of the performance space. At the time, artist Martin Froy explained his ideas for the paintings in a 1958 edition of the Morley Magazine.”

Conserving the murals for future generations of adult learners 

Last week, Sun Up and Sun Down murals were wrapped and protected in preparation for an extensive modernisation of the Emma Cons Hall – led by fitout and refurbishment experts Overbury.  

As well as the restoring of the murals, the renovation project will improve the Hall’s accessibility, acoustics, energy efficiency and storage to create a more flexible rehearsal and performance space. 

The refurbishment work to the Emma Cons Theatre is set to be completed in autumn 2025. Then the protective coverings on the murals will be removed and conservation work will begin.

Curator Jack Davy explains, “These murals were painted in situ onto plaster – which means they can’t be taken down without being severely damaged. So there will be a programme of works to protect and conserve the murals so that when the Hall re-opens they are going to look fantastic – just as vibrant as when they were made in 1958.  The murals will once again point to a vibrant future for Morley.“