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A R T H A U S  B L O G

TEAM TALK BRING “THE APOSTLES” TO LIFE!

1/7/2018

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April brought me back together with my Boro guide Brian as we headed out to Redcar to meet the men from Team Talk once more. Our mission: to wrangle this gang of ex-steelworkers into a modelling session of sorts and create a living version of Mackenzie Thorpe's classic sculpture, “The Apostles”.
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The idea was born when Team Talk visited Arthaus last autumn (for full details on that rowdy occasion, check out my previous blog post!). Mackenzie joined the group via Facetime and talked about “The Apostles”, describing it as “The Middlesbrough Last Supper” - wherein a group of flat-capped working men leaving the pub on a Friday night, immersed in their tall tales, jokes and debates, fall into the instantly recognisable positions of the Apostles themselves. Well! This sparked quite a conversation and we laughed about the notion of recreating the sculpture with the men of Team Talk. What better models?! How fitting that these Teesside working men should be the ones to do it?! The plan was set in motion.
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Brian and I arrived at the 'Boot Room' (Redcar Athletic Football Club), where the Team gather for their weekly meeting, and joined them for morning coffee. I looked around the room at the men as they clustered in smaller groups, deep in conversation, and thought about the harsh history of the industrial North, the decline of its defining industries like the steel mills and factories of Teesside, and the tough times every man in the room will have faced. And here they were bantering over the morning papers and sharing out the bacon butties! I was struck by the strength of their camaraderie, how their shared history has laid the foundation for these weekly gatherings, a chance to take a break among others who come from the same world and know its hardships....a chance to meet up and have a laugh.

​At this point the gang were spreading out, getting louder and more raucous. I remembered Brian's warning that it might be a challenge to get them organised...and wondered once again what I had let myself in for!
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I needn't have worried. These guys were ready for the challenge! As we gathered together, I was thrilled to see every one of them produce a flat cap in readiness, keen to uphold this unifying feature of the sculpture. There was a bicycle. A satchel. And even a dog! We were in business! I assigned roles (there was some negotiating over who was Jesus and who was Judas), and each of my models studied the sculpture carefully to make sure he was bringing his part to life. Who needed to be miming laughter, who needed to be listening, who needed to show a separateness from the others...it was all there.
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We staged the session both indoors and outdoors, with the outdoor version appropriately being shot on Redcar seafront not far from the decommissioned blast furnaces of the steel mills. This Team, being so deeply connected in their personal histories to what Mackenzie is representing in his sculpture, really did bring “The Apostles” to life. There couldn't be a better group to make the idea work! The guys themselves were just amazing, full of enthusiasm and laughter; it was a fantastic morning! I will let the final images speak for themselves...


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Huge thanks to Team Talk for being such great fun and so willing to take on this challenge: Brian, Tony, David, Peter, Alex, Colin, Eric, Cliff, Paul, Mick, John, Richie, Paul, Roy, Martin...and Tess the dog!
​Thanks also for my very own Team Talk Hoodie, I feel like part of the gang!

*Watch this space for further adventures with Team Talk – I wonder what our next project will be?!
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MACKENZIE'S BORO

22/2/2018

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ART CONSULTANT ERIKA BAYLEY GETS THE GUIDED TOUR OF MACKENZIE THORPE'S BORO.

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Following the Team Talk visit to Arthaus, in which this lively gang of ex-steelworkers from Teesside came to view an exhibition of Mackenzie Thorpe artwork inspired by his roots in  Middlesbrough, I somehow agreed to be taken on a guided tour of the town and surroundings that are at the heart of Mackenzie's “industrial” work, by those who know it best.
​And so I found myself, on a suitably grey winter's day, meeting Team member Brian for my first trip “Over The Border.”
First Stop: The Transporter Bridge

It was only natural that our first port of call was Middlesbrough's beloved “Tranny”, that iconic symbol that dominates the cityscape and features in so many of Mackenzie's images. Driving past the now-derelict (but still-infamous) Captain Cook pub, we met the men who work on the bridge, and rode across the river Tees with them as they recounted stories about transporting workers and watching for the seals that breakfast in the waters below every day. Industrial Middlesbrough sprawled on either side of the river; ships, factories, docks and work yards (some active, some not) lay in every direction.
We took the opportunity to photograph our own version of Mackenzie Thorpe's "Waiting For Me Dad"
​Middlesbrough Train Station and a Journey to Saltburn
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Our next port of call was the Train Station, where Mackenzie's “Station Posters” are on display right on the walls of the platforms, in the heart of his home town. I got to enjoy these full-sized nostalgic tributes to Teesside while waiting for the train to Saltburn. Brian wanted me to see the industrial landscape on this short journey to fully appreciate the extent and significance of Middlesbrough's industrial history. I watched the factories and mills, many of which are no longer operative, roll past and reflected on how much this has impacted the community here.
Redcar and the Steel Mills

After stopping to take in the view of the cliffs at Saltburn, Brian led me North to Redcar and South Gare for a look at the closed (yet still manned) steel mills. Huge and decaying, they stand like the skeletons of great beasts, still dangerous-looking and awe-inspiring but somehow beautiful and poignant at the same time. The mills tower over the Cleveland Golf Links, which, as a symbol of privilege and leisure, stand in stark contrast to the crumbling ruins of industrial working life above. We left this atmospheric stretch of coast and headed back to the Boro, driving past ICI and the other old factories that line the road into the city.
Middlesbrough
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The rest of the day was spent touring Middlesbrough, from Grove Hill to Linthorpe, Doggy Market to Town Centre, a circuit of places that have cropped up in Mackenzie’s artwork and stories. I could not have asked for a better tour guide than Brian – like the town itself he is full of distinctly northern character, stories, and humour! Brian had an anecdote or memory to share for every stop we made, bringing the town to life for this New Yorker’s first taste of the Boro. I'm looking forward to our next outing, which will reunite me with the rest of the Team Talk gang as we re-enact the Mackenzie Thorpe sculpture "The Apostles" - this group is about to take the modelling world by storm!
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6 Comments

"MADE IN TEESSIDE" WITH THE TEAM TALK STEELWORKERS

20/12/2017

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The October exhibition upstairs at Arthaus was themed “Made in Teesside” and showcased some of Mackenzie Thorpe’s most personal artwork, focusing on his Middlesbrough roots. The exhibition was full of iconic images of the Transporter Bridge, shipyards, mills, working men and of course the streets and people of Teesside.
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One of the highlights of the show for me was a visit from Team Talk - a group of ex-steelworkers from Teesside. An appropriate audience, and what a great bunch of guys! Although quiet - and possibly unsure of what to expect - when they arrived at the gallery, as soon as they went upstairs it became a very different story! There was a heated debate on the specific location of the industrial setting of “Boro Brothers”, plus stories and memories stirred up by pictures like “That Side of the Track” and “Pay Day” – it was a rowdy, vibrant morning spent with a group who found so much of their own experience reflected in Mackenzie’s work. 
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​Every artwork sparked a conversation or a tale, every figure was somehow recognisable, every setting was familiar. It showed once more how Mackenzie’s work speaks to the world beyond art galleries and collectors, to people and places rooted in real life. Mackenzie himself joined us via facetime and regaled everyone with an explanation of “The Apostles” that had jaws dropping. There were pasties and cups of tea and a lot of laughter, and by the end of it I had agreed to go on a road trip with Brian and the guys, and visit the Transporter Bridge and the rest of their stomping ground for myself! What have I let myself in for?!
 
Another idea born that day was to connect some of the team with our framer in Darlington, Malcolm Hepper, for a project that will see Mal donating off-cuts of wood from his shop and giving the guys a tutorial on frame construction. We love the idea of bringing people together and supporting Team Talk in their efforts to build opportunities for skill sharing and creative projects. Some of the team are already keen woodworkers so it will be interesting to see where this all leads! Something tells me this is another outing I will be joining; I wonder if they will let me try some frame-making myself?! I expect to return from my adventures having been both educated and entertained by this lively gang – watch this space for updates! ​
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GALLERY  LIFE

15/9/2017

2 Comments

 
 
As a new Art Consultant here at Arthaus, I have had a busy (and educational!) couple of weeks so far. Remembering the daily to-do list, mastering the drive to the framer’s, and learning all about Mackenzie Thorpe and his work. Today I have been tasked with contributing to the Arthaus blog and to say a bit about “Gallery Life” from a new team member’s perspective.
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One of my favourite things about working in the gallery is talking to the people who come through our door. I have already met such a wide range of people and I love hearing about how they discovered Mackenzie and how the artwork fits into their lives. A recurring theme in these conversations has been the accessibility of Mackenzie’s work. For every collector I have met that is a seasoned gallery-goer, I have met just as many who would never have described themselves as “art lovers” in the same way. People who always thought art wasn’t “for” them and would normally hesitate to go into a gallery like this one. One lady even asked if we charge entry!

If you have ever heard or read a Mackenzie Thorpe interview, you will know this is a topic close to his heart - the perceived elitism of the art world. What an absolute pleasure it is, then, to have spent these weeks talking to so many people who have found art that speaks to them, that reflects the world they know and love. Many of Mackenzie’s fans, like Mackenzie himself, are from industrial cities around the world, from Newcastle to Sydney to Chicago. They know these cities, know the people, and know the life. Although not originally from the north-east (I am a London/New York girl myself), I am a real fan of Mackenzie’s Middlesbrough artwork and love seeing pieces featuring his hometown and its people.

I love the fact that this work is being represented in the 2018 calendar. If I had to pick my favourite image from the calendar, it would definitely be “The Night Before”, an evocative portrayal of Middlesbrough workmen with the ever-present Transporter Bridge standing watch over them. This train of thought has led me to a fascination with all of Mackenzie’s artwork that feature the iconic Transporter Bridge – watch this space for more about this and some of my favourite pieces! What is your favourite Transporter Bridge image?

​- Erika
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  • HOME
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  • BUY ONLINE
    • LIMITED EDITION PRINTS
    • RESIN SCULPTURES
    • POSTERS
    • GREETINGS CARDS
    • PAINTINGS FROM THE KITCHEN TABLE
    • OUT OF THE SHADOWS BOOK
    • MACKENZIE THORPE GIFTS
    • GIFT VOUCHERS
    • FRAMING
    • HOW TO SHOP >
      • LAYAWAY ACCOUNT
      • WEDDING & GIFT ACCOUNT
      • GIFT VOUCHERS
  • ORIGINALS
  • BRONZE & STAINLESS STEEL SCULPTURE
  • NEWS
    • TOUR DE YORKSHIRE
    • WAITING FOR ME DAD
    • THE TIMELINE SHOW >
      • MACKENZIE THORPE 1989
      • Y E A R S 1989- 1992
      • Y E A R S 1993 - 1996
      • Y E A R S 1997 - 2000
      • Y E A R S 2001 - 2004
      • Y E A R S 2005 - 2008
      • Y E A R S 2009 - 2012
      • Y E A R S 2013 - 2016
      • YEARS 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 9
      • U E F A 2003
      • O K L A H O M A 2011
      • HM QUEEN ELIZABETH 2ND 2012
      • CHARITY >
        • British Dyslexia Association
      • MEDIA >
        • MOVIES
  • CONTACT US