The Figures of Tyne project is developing with a range of activities, meetings and sketch walks with Tyne and Wear Museums and Archives. Part of the project involves looking at some of the archival objects of the Discovery Museum as well as some of the collections at the Laing Art Gallery.
We are also getting some lovely chapbooks artworks from the artists. These cover a range of subjects such as the architectural iconography of the city; cultural and industrial subjects; shipping; battles; statues; doorways; architectural features; railing details, etc.
Recently the Urban Sketchers Tyne, Wear and Tees hosted the national gathering of the Urban Sketchers which saw loads of amazing artists visiting Newcastle and drawing the whole weekend. As part of this event I was invited to take a group on a sketch walk of the target area of the Figures of Tyne public art piece.
I handed out blank chapbooks and provided a brief overview of the project with an invitation to the artists to take part in this collaborative project.
Subjects for Figures of Tyne
We are looking for a collection of storylines and artworks that could include the following:
Architectural iconography - such as egg and dart motifs, corinthian columns, porticos etc
Doorways - I am particularly interested in the doorways we pass every week that took you into a building that has since changed its purpose.
Bridges - of course the bridges - these are the main thing that people associate with Newcastle.
Statues - who are these people?
Shipping - there are some building such as Milburn House that have their history in shipping.
Railings - we seem to have lost a lot balconies in the upper floors of buildings - were they ever even there? But the ones that are left are worth a look.
Stone carvings - pubs and walls are populated with tortoises, rabbits, heads and seahorses.
The names above buildings - who are these people - who was Pape for instance? Who was Mosely of Mosely Street?
Inventions and innovations - Domestos, Swan, Armstrong, Parsons, Eno’s salts (love this story - read it here)
Periods - what are the art movements reflected in the architecture: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Arts and Crafts etc.
Deadline and contributions
I would love to receive your chapbooks to add to the work already created. These chapbooks will feed into the main artwork which will be installed on the wall of the new building on John Dobson Street. The work will also be used as part of the storytelling and guided walks done by the City guides, as well as being used on a permanent collaborative mural which will be produced on a large vinyl for the wall of the new Bank House.
If you can produce your chapbook by end of August that would be fantastic - you can either send them to me or scan at 300dpi and send me the scan. Can you also include a photo of yourself holding your chapbook and include a short paragraph about your chapbook. Any questions just get in touch with me directly.
