I was scouting for bees when I took this shot of the very top the Palace Hotel. Can't say I've ever noticed this security camera before - I wonder what it's focussed on?
Showing posts with label Out and about in Manchester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Out and about in Manchester. Show all posts
Friday, 19 October 2012
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Radisson Edwardian Crests
A few of the crests visible along the exterior of the Radisson Edwardian Hotel on Peter Street. The bees of course are a symbol of Manchester (and have already been added to The Manchester Bees), but I don't know the origin of the other two. Does anyone have any ideas or can suggest an online resource?
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Looking down on the world
How long has this young lady been sat on the roof of The Old Nags Head? Long enough to make it onto googlemaps it seems.
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Portico Library
A visit to Portico Library has been on my "To-Do" List for a long while now but due to it's limited opening hours, my full time job and general busyness I've never got around to getting there. So when I heard that it would be open all weekend for Heritage Open Days, I finally had a chance to pop on by.
Upon entry into the Library it really feels like a step back in time, with the place looking unchanged since it first opened. Books dominate the space, many of which are in need of repair - an ongoing process at the library. We were taken on a tour of the place by a volunteer named Brian, one of the many library members there showing visitors around. There's also a number of handy guides a information guides dotted around the place, so if you're curious about what is Polite Literature, there's a handy information booklet available explaining the term.
If you'd like to find out more about the Library, I suggest having a look at their official website. You can also follow them over on twitter.
Upon entry into the Library it really feels like a step back in time, with the place looking unchanged since it first opened. Books dominate the space, many of which are in need of repair - an ongoing process at the library. We were taken on a tour of the place by a volunteer named Brian, one of the many library members there showing visitors around. There's also a number of handy guides a information guides dotted around the place, so if you're curious about what is Polite Literature, there's a handy information booklet available explaining the term.
If you'd like to find out more about the Library, I suggest having a look at their official website. You can also follow them over on twitter.
Monday, 1 October 2012
Portuguese Morris Dancers at Piccadilly Gardens
Crossing Piccadilly Gardens on a recent Saturday afternoon, I came across a group of traditional Morris Dancers performing next to the statue of Queen Victoria.Then these guys stepped forward and started performing a sword dance. I overheard one of the gathered crowd mention that they were from Portugal and this was their first visit to Manchester. No idea what was going on but this is what I love about Manchester - the unexpected sights you can come across while walking around the city.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
The Manchester Bees
The Manchester Bees is a little tumblr project I started a little while ago, with the aim of documenting all the bee symbols that can be found in and around Manchester. I'm sure everyone has noticed the bees that adorn the bollards and bins of the city centre, but as the bee has been a symbol of Manchester ever since the industrial revolution, I thought it might be interesting to see just how much it has been integrated into the city.
Initially it looked as though there wouldn't be that many to find but, after a fair amount of wandering the city centre looking upwards (something that might well lead to another tumblr project in the near future), I've actually come across quite a number and there's still a couple of places I haven't made it to yet (the Town Hall being the prime candidate).
If you have any photographs that could be added to the collection they can be submitted here. I'm especially interested in photos from the Manchester Day Parades - the street sweepers at the tail-end this year looked fantastic in their bee-regalia.
You can find the tumblr page here and there's also a googlemap if you'd like to see their locations. And yes, I will be re-photographing the Portico Library bees when I get a chance.
Initially it looked as though there wouldn't be that many to find but, after a fair amount of wandering the city centre looking upwards (something that might well lead to another tumblr project in the near future), I've actually come across quite a number and there's still a couple of places I haven't made it to yet (the Town Hall being the prime candidate).
If you have any photographs that could be added to the collection they can be submitted here. I'm especially interested in photos from the Manchester Day Parades - the street sweepers at the tail-end this year looked fantastic in their bee-regalia.
You can find the tumblr page here and there's also a googlemap if you'd like to see their locations. And yes, I will be re-photographing the Portico Library bees when I get a chance.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Urban Canal Photography Competition
I was pleased to find out over the weekend that one of my photographs has been selected as one of the top 40 in the Urban Canal Photography Competition. Part of the Canal Festival that's happening this week (details of what's going on can be found on the official website), my picture will be printed up and exhibited along with other winning entries at the Manchester Photographic Gallery in the Northern Quarter between now and August 26th.
You can also find the complete top 40 here and you should go take a look - there's lots of lovely photos to look at. And finally, here is the photograph in question:
I'll try and find some time to post the other photographs I entered during this week.
You can also find the complete top 40 here and you should go take a look - there's lots of lovely photos to look at. And finally, here is the photograph in question:
I'll try and find some time to post the other photographs I entered during this week.
Friday, 27 July 2012
Opera Di Peroni at Media City
Opera di Peroni was performed over 2 evenings at Media City last week in it's very own shiny white tent, a circular bar in the middle with a piano at one side and seats and tables all around the edges.
A collaboration between Go Opera and Kwes, the show is performed by the cast in and around the bar area, with performers interacting the crowd and dancing on top of the bar and tables on occasion.
Three scenes from three different operas were presented over the course of evening (the last two being performed together) - "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" from Verdi's opera La Traviata; "Quando m'en vo" (Musetta's Waltz) from Puccini's La Boheme and "Chi il bel sogno di Doreeta (Doretta's Beautiful Dream" from Puccini's La Rondine. All are performed with gusto by the cast, who look like they're having fun. I had seen a mention of translations being projected around the roof of the tent at earlier performances, but that didn't happen tonight, making it a little tricky to follow what was going on.
There's two more changes to catch this show as it tours around the UK - it's in Liverpool on August 15th and 16th and Glasgow, August 22nd -23rd. Also, thanks to Manchester Wire for the heads up - I wouldn't have known this was on without seeing their article.
A collaboration between Go Opera and Kwes, the show is performed by the cast in and around the bar area, with performers interacting the crowd and dancing on top of the bar and tables on occasion.
Three scenes from three different operas were presented over the course of evening (the last two being performed together) - "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" from Verdi's opera La Traviata; "Quando m'en vo" (Musetta's Waltz) from Puccini's La Boheme and "Chi il bel sogno di Doreeta (Doretta's Beautiful Dream" from Puccini's La Rondine. All are performed with gusto by the cast, who look like they're having fun. I had seen a mention of translations being projected around the roof of the tent at earlier performances, but that didn't happen tonight, making it a little tricky to follow what was going on.
There's two more changes to catch this show as it tours around the UK - it's in Liverpool on August 15th and 16th and Glasgow, August 22nd -23rd. Also, thanks to Manchester Wire for the heads up - I wouldn't have known this was on without seeing their article.
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Boardman's Entry, Dalton Entry and Mulberry Entry
I'm always interested in exploring Manchester City Centre for new sights, so when I came across this article on The Skyliner on Boardman's Entry, I realised that while I've walked under the umbrellas on a few occasions, I never before knew of their significance and link to John Dalton and that there were further entryways
So with a day off set aside for exploring, I set off to have a look and take a few photographs. Out of interest, does anyone know whose faces are depicted at the end of Boardman's Entry? I'm assuming that they might be modelled on Dalton but that is just a guess.
Dalton Entry
Mulberry Passage 
So with a day off set aside for exploring, I set off to have a look and take a few photographs. Out of interest, does anyone know whose faces are depicted at the end of Boardman's Entry? I'm assuming that they might be modelled on Dalton but that is just a guess.
Boardman's Entry
Saturday, 7 July 2012
The Heart of the City
Organised by The LRM (Loiterers Resistance Movement) and supported by Cornerhouse Micro Commissions, The Heart of the City was the third in a series of Dérives exploring the city centre.
After an introduction from Morag to the history and methodology of psychogeography, the group was divided up into teams of 4, with each team assigned a different map with a heart drawn on it and set the challenge to follow the outline as close as possible while pondering where the heart of city might be located.
We then set off on our mission. Our little team managed to redirect twice by security guards and our route which took us up through Piccadilly, round the Northern Quarter and then back down through Umist (below you'll find photographs documenting the journey), taking a good couple of hours to do so. The task at hand encouraged to head into areas of the city we wouldn't normally explore, allow us to look at the city, it's buildings and how it all connects together in a new light.
After arriving back at base camp, we compare notes with the other teams and got ourselves warmed up after the slightly soggy weather. Just before the event ended, everyone was given a small knitted heart and set the task of photographing it in what we felt was the heart of the city. Mine's at home - I haven't found the heart of the city yet, but I'll keep looking until I do.
The LRM organise walks on the first Sunday of every month, so if you're interested in going along you can find out when their next one will be taking place via their blog.
After an introduction from Morag to the history and methodology of psychogeography, the group was divided up into teams of 4, with each team assigned a different map with a heart drawn on it and set the challenge to follow the outline as close as possible while pondering where the heart of city might be located.
We then set off on our mission. Our little team managed to redirect twice by security guards and our route which took us up through Piccadilly, round the Northern Quarter and then back down through Umist (below you'll find photographs documenting the journey), taking a good couple of hours to do so. The task at hand encouraged to head into areas of the city we wouldn't normally explore, allow us to look at the city, it's buildings and how it all connects together in a new light.
After arriving back at base camp, we compare notes with the other teams and got ourselves warmed up after the slightly soggy weather. Just before the event ended, everyone was given a small knitted heart and set the task of photographing it in what we felt was the heart of the city. Mine's at home - I haven't found the heart of the city yet, but I'll keep looking until I do.
The LRM organise walks on the first Sunday of every month, so if you're interested in going along you can find out when their next one will be taking place via their blog.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Art in Architecture Walk with The Skyliner
Part of the same Love Architecture Festival as JumperCity, the Art in Architecture Walk was an event organised by The Skyliner to explore the hidden and unnoticed art of Manchester city centre.
Asked to mysteriously bring along headphones, the walk started outside Fopp on Brown Street, taking us on a wander around a number of city sites. First up was the Spring Gardens Post Office to see the fibre-glass murals that are display above the main counters, something that, even after countless visits to this building, I had never noticed before.
Other stopping points included the Mercure Hotel to see the large-scale William Mitchell mural which spans the staircase for four floors of the building. It's a beautiful piece of work, made from the debris of pianos, furniture and bottle tops all laid out in symbolic patterns and set in resin.
Another was St Augustines at Manchester Metropolitan University to see the huge Bob Brumby sculpture that dominates the wall behind the alter. It's another artwork created from debris, this time mostly from old roof tiles.
The tour ended under Mancunian Way by a seemingly ordinary concrete wall. It was here the headphones came in handy as it turned out that a small music device had been intergrated into the wall. Another part of the Love Architecture Fesitval, this was a collaborative work by Lonelady and Manchester Modernist Society with a specially commissioned song playing on a constant loop for the life of the battery. You can find more information on the installation here and here.
Thank to Hayley for fascinating tour and I highly recommend that you go along yourself. The walk will be taking place again this Saturday, so if you'd like to go along, you can find the booking information here.
Asked to mysteriously bring along headphones, the walk started outside Fopp on Brown Street, taking us on a wander around a number of city sites. First up was the Spring Gardens Post Office to see the fibre-glass murals that are display above the main counters, something that, even after countless visits to this building, I had never noticed before.
Other stopping points included the Mercure Hotel to see the large-scale William Mitchell mural which spans the staircase for four floors of the building. It's a beautiful piece of work, made from the debris of pianos, furniture and bottle tops all laid out in symbolic patterns and set in resin.
Another was St Augustines at Manchester Metropolitan University to see the huge Bob Brumby sculpture that dominates the wall behind the alter. It's another artwork created from debris, this time mostly from old roof tiles.
The tour ended under Mancunian Way by a seemingly ordinary concrete wall. It was here the headphones came in handy as it turned out that a small music device had been intergrated into the wall. Another part of the Love Architecture Fesitval, this was a collaborative work by Lonelady and Manchester Modernist Society with a specially commissioned song playing on a constant loop for the life of the battery. You can find more information on the installation here and here.
Thank to Hayley for fascinating tour and I highly recommend that you go along yourself. The walk will be taking place again this Saturday, so if you'd like to go along, you can find the booking information here.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
JumperCity at Piccadilly Gardens
JumperCity was a one day installation piece that appeared in Manchester's city centre yesterday. Created by Jane Leach and Valpuri Vihriala (who you may remember as the creator of the fashion collection I photographed last year) and part of the RIBA Love Architecture Festival currently taking place across the country, the artwork involved one of the Piccadilly Gardens many bus shelters being covered by 150 items of knitwear.
While I was taking photographs, a number of people came up to find out more about the installation, exploring inside the shelter and interact with it - It was possible to actually "wear" some of the exterior jumpers - and they all appeared to be delight by what they found judging by the sticker board.
You can read more about the project by reading Jane and Valpuri's blog posts. There's also more photographs of the work in this flickr set.
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