Commissioned artists/s: Danny Shaw and Mick Gibson
Inspired by: Factory night @ Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge and Captain Cook Public House
Writer Danny Shaw and artist Mick Gibson produced a new collaborative work inspired by the Factory Nights event held at the Transporter Bridge and Captain Cook public house located in the centre of Middlehaven, a regeneration area in Middlesbrough master planned by architect Will Alsop.
WE MOVE FORWARD involved a mass poster campaign around the town and production of a limited edition publication which responds to the past, present and future of Middlesbrough, a boomtown of the iron and steel industry. Using archival and modern photographic representations of the area, heritage information, and poetic response, Danny and Mick attempted to evoke the enthusiasm felt for the place in its heyday, whilst looking at what the area has lost, what has survived, and what it stands to gain during the upcoming regeneration. The work highlighted that which has survived and why it must be treasured and looks ahead to the fate of the area using abstract and symbolic images, poetry and slogans relating to ‘hope and beauty’.
An artist talk and launch of WE MOVE FORWARD took place on September 2011 at the Captain Cook pub, in partnership with Discover Middlesbrough Festival. The Captain Cook is a listed building with 170 years of history and a group exhibition of other art work related to the areas rich heritage also went on show. Poets Bob Beagrie and Andy Willoughby brought the Captain Cook back to life at the launch with stories and poetry collected from the Captain Cook’s history and a talk by commissioned artists Mick Gibson and Danny Shaw discussed ideas around WE MOVE FORWARD.
You can purchase WE MOVE FORWARD limited edition publication here
With Thanks to Teesside Archives and Middlesbrough Council’s MYEVENT programme.
