HIVEArts’ month long photographic extravaganza commenced on 3rd August 2024, with a two floor exhibition of work and talks from two photographers. David Simper bused down to the Church Street venue to view the work, listen to the talks and enjoy the vibe.
The PhotoPool collective is HIVEArts’ photographic arm and supports a variety of photographers to showcase their work across the county. A month long programme of events has kicked off and will feature a variety of work, talks, workshops, studio sessions, photowalks, cameras for sale and photo developing. There’s also the Tramstop Takeover showcasing local photographer’s work.
On entering the downstairs cafe, Bernie Blackburn’s excellent punk portraits were prominent on the wall. I ordered my Americano and hurried up the stairs. I was thinking that I was late, but technical difficulties meant that I was in good time to catch Adam Mousley’s presentation about his journey into analogue photography. This included reasons for selecting film, inspirational photographers (including three of my favourites) and a selection of work.
Following this talk there was a decent juncture to view the exhibition. So much to recommend and so many striking frames, it really can’t be described. However, notable is Debra Parr’s set ‘Going to the match’ below, reflecting her own love of football and affection for fellow fans.
Peter Dench’s ‘Sun, sea and sandbags’ is also particularly striking, showing how difficult it can be to catch some rays in a war zone. One amazing image shows a woman walking by anti-tank obstacles. On 12th August 2023, several Ukrainian Black Sea beaches were reopened, providing a welcome relief for the populace. Precautions included an anti-mine net. Dench found the beaches crowded, despite the risk of missile attack; and Odessa has been so attacked, one of the photographs below shows a burnt out supermarket.
Next up was Kim Scott’s heart-warming tale ‘From Homeless to HIVEArts’, achieving success in photography while managing a hard-scrabble life and raising three children. The presentation related how from getting hold of a camera, Kim had discovered an affinity with the image, had gained a photographic degree and had worked with models, several of whom had gone on to great things. The talk was illustrated with a fine selection of work – I noticed that the capture of skin tone, light modelling across the faces and composition were all particularly strong. This from someone who claimed not to know much of the technicalities of cameras or photographic materials – I’m not so sure about that.
Back to the exhibition, Andy Marland’s ‘A mining typology’ was, for me, particularly evocative. I used to live in sight of Darfield Colliery and when this closed and the pit head was removed, it left a gap – more so for those who’d lost their jobs of course.
Andy has been photographing the industrial north for 20 years – this is a long-term project, honouring the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher in the late 1960s in recording the coal industry at that time, photographing the remains of the coal and salt mining industries.
I asked fellow exhibition viewer Zoe Siobhan her opinion of the work around her.
“The punk stuff stands out the most, but I really like the architectural material. I’m kind of always inspired in places like this and around people like this. I’m not a photographer myself, but I like taking photographs and I’ve taken some half decent ones, but maybe it’s not really my area.” I wonder if Zoe will now give photography more of a go, as a complement to her painting.
I ask what she thought of the two presentations.
“They were really inspiring and I can relate from my own experience. I’m dipping my toe into the arts – these are further along than me, but I also intend to get there.’
Zoe showed me some of her very impressive paintings. We noted that in painting, unlike photography, if there’s something you don’t like, you can just ignore it.
This is a wonderful exhibition, one of the best I have seen, and everybody involved deserves an incredible amount of credit for putting it together. Other photographers involved include Amanda Aiton, Dawn Mander, Hannah Gross, Ian Currie, Kate Yates, Mandy Left, Peggy Marsh, Richard Oughton and Robbie Lee. Contributors from Blackpool School of Arts are Jack Sykes, Joe O’Gara and Stacy Chambers. Congratulations to all on your fine work!
I have only highlighted work here that I personally found particularly compelling and which I thought would fit nicely into a reasonable article length. There is so much more – I will be returning myself. Please do visit this excellent collection of work and choose your own favourites.
With that I needed to get back home. The service 61 was reasonably due. I noticed police around, some of them mounted, a precursor to the disgraceful riots that occurred later that day. In the morning, our guests the punks attending the Rebellion festival, were out sweeping up the broken glass – that says a lot.
The PhotoPool exhibition runs to 31st August 2024. There are a wealth of presentations and other events to come, follow the HIVEArts page for details. If you fancy giving analogue photography a go, a selection of film cameras are available for sale. Film can be purchased from The Strand Collective in Abingdon Street Market.
See the HIVEArts page for event details. The programme is supported and produced in conjunction with BlackpoolBID, That Alternative Studio, Aunty Social, Blackpool Community Darkroom, The Strand Collective and VISITBlackpool.
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