Zoë Bowyer

Our weekends will find us somewhere in the Glens of Antrim or somewhere on the North Coast of Antrim. I am reminded of Moscow Joe McKinley each time I pass through Carnlough. Perhaps it is the sign that refers to a ‘Must C’ ahead that makes me think of him, but in any case the sign is wrong and we do not encounter a fabulous spectacle. Rather we see a bland new-build house in the place where Moscow Joe’s rubbish strewn abode used to be. When I use the word ‘rubbish’ I use it to describe the fact that the items Moscow Joe used to make his artworks had been discarded by someone else at some stage. He used items that he found to make his props, and his home was difficult to pass during the summer when all the tourists would slow down their cars to look at the spectacle. Something will always be missing in Carnlough. When he died all of his artworks were thrown in a skip and his house was demolished. I saw the skip - perhaps I should have rescued something.

Anyway, if you want to read more there is an article here and some pictures here.