Majestic Studios is a co-working space for artists and creatives in Stoke-on-Trent. The space has wifi, hot water, heating, a kitchenette and a great group of resident artists. They put out an open call for artists to participate in an exhibition called "Hidden". B2B project coordinator and artist Carole Miles decided it would be good to participate and to link it to a walk looking at the traces of craft and industry around the Majestic Studios, the venue for the exhibition.
Main street view
Quiet studio spaces
Hidden organiser and multi talented artist Christine Reader made us very welcome and discussed her Art Lunches and walks.
Some of Chris's sun print textile pieces which
explore many aspects of life and wellbeing
Carole's work delivered and waiting to be hung
The Walk
Everywhere you look in Stoke-on-Trent there is evidence of craft and industry, a proud past, , the beauty and poignance of what was, the troubling jumble of what is and an optimistic, creative ever changing future. Many things ended but there is much to see, think about and enjoy.
Almost hidden, a weathered sculpture from the 1986 Stoke Garden Festival "Hand with Chronos" by Vincent Woropay
In 1986 Carole was working as a playground planner for Wicksteed Leisure and remembers hearin about the Garden Festival from the Wicksteed rep Brian Baggley, having studied sculpture, she was very curious about the Festival but sadly did not get the chance to visit. You can see the list of artist involved here and many images here. The Hand sculpture can be found quitely counting time on the Stoke railway station platform.
View of the Trent and Mersey Canal
The long view of the former Co-Operative Building
and the detail
on Liverpool Rd you can see it in the distance in the 1932 Postcardand in the more recent photo here
Street signs show some of the many changes
Tiles and arches
Evidence of a proud industrial history
from the Minton Hollins Tile Works
more tiles peeking out
Weathered windows
Evocative curves, reminders
of a glamourous past.
Ghost signs and times
1908
2.10
One of the Famous Lions has lost his head
Jackson's Buildings has the date 1899 and decorative panels on the façade that depict the face of the Green Man surrounded by foliage, one shows him with a closed mouth, the other with a open mouth. Smaller panels have foliate decoration, and another bears the name 'JACKSON BUILDINGS'
Above the door there is a decorative sign that is inscribed 'SUTHERLAND CHAMBERS' The small Christadelphian Ecclesia in North Staffordshire was formed in 1910 and worshipped originally on the first floor of Sutherland Chambers, High Street, Stoke
The old parish church of Stoke upon Trent had been demolished in 1830 and some of its stone used to form the bed of a watercourse serving Boothen Mill. Charles Lynam discovered these in 1881 and used them to reconstruct two arches and other features of the old church, set up on the site of the old church.
All things pass
but the Welcome remains
St Peter's Community Mosaic by Philip Hardaker and Helen Sayer
All technologies change, so much change since 2000
but craft makes a more lasting impression
and if you look up you may be surprised at what you see
The former Library and Shakespeare Institute, London Rd
The Exhibition
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