Katkins in the sun

Posted on April 21, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Green, Industrial archaeology, Life, Marl pit, Mining, Photography, Staffordshire, Staffordshire wildlife Trust, Stoke-on trent, Westport lakeLeave a comment

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A warm evening in March, out at Westport lake. One of my favourite places for a walk. Over the last few years the trees have grown and the management of the lake has been taken over by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. The sun reflects off the water and ripples from the swimming birds make it sparkle. The lake was artificially created from the remains of a marl pit (where they dug out the clay for potteries) and old mine workings. It was created for wildlife in the 1980s I think when Shelton Bar Steel works closed ?

Life spreads and grows. Greenery overtakes the tallest buildings, ivy scrambles, buddlea infiltrates. And beauty comes from waste and destruction.

Wallflowers and dianthus

Posted on April 21, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Environment, Gardening, Life, Plants, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Urban greeningLeave a comment

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I shared this a few days ago as part of a group of photos but I came back to it because I loved the vibrant colours. It goes with my mood today. Gold wallflowers and pink dianthus I think are the types of flowers.

An artist at Spode planted and looks after this area just outside the spode studios. They always cheer me up when I go in. To see them in the middle of industrial delapidation lifts my spirits.

On the road that passes the site there was a project called greening Stoke where various shop fronts and bits of derelict land were planted up with wild flowers. They are still growing. Good to see green in the urban landscape.

Etruria Artists

Posted on April 20, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Easter Sunday fun, Etruria, Etruria Artists, Etruria Industrial museum, Exhibition, Hands on clay, Life, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

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This group I’m in is starting up again this week. At the moment I haven’t the time to get involved. But in a couple of weeks I might be able to join in again. I’m the meantime if you live in Stoke you might want to give it a look this weekend. Just up the canal from Etruria industrial museum by Summit lock on the trent and merdy canal. I think there is an exhibition on. There will also be the chance to do some hands on clay art work.

Exhibition at centre space.

Posted on April 20, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Centre space, Colours, Photo collage, Photography, Spode visitor centre, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

I had the pleasure of meeting an artist and photographer called Cyril Tilstone at his exhibition at Centre Space tonight. It is based at the Spode heritage visitors centre at spode site, Eleanora Street, Stoke-on-Trent. It started tonight and is on for a month.

His images are photo collages of bottle ovens or historic buildings like cherished chimneys at Longport. With interesting and intruiging compositions including things like chimney pots, doves, paintings by Joshua Reynolds and even marbles. The images are colourful and show the industrial history of Stoke-on-Trent in a new way. There are time travelling Dr Who characters dotted about. This is a gentle and gently humorous look at Stoke-on-Trent past and present.

I would recommend it to you.

Buddha

Posted on April 20, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Buddha, Enjoyment, Food, Life, Possible painting, Sawadee Thai taste, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Thai2 Comments

Having a good meal at the local Thai restaurant in Stoke. Sawadee Thai taste. I noticed how the Buddha there was beautifully decorated. Such a warm friendly atmosphere. I like the coloured garlands round his neck and the shiny baubles balanced on his knees. Buddhas seem to look so relaxed, calm, kind.

The food was lovely. The owner always cooks tasty meals, we really enjoyed it. This hadn’t meant to be a restaurant review..

The Buddha might get his portrait painted!!

Chimney

Posted on April 18, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Artists studios, Eleanora st, Photo, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

Chimney from a pottery kiln. The rest of the building was demolished but thus was left. Like the remains of a rocket due to fly to the moon, or a set dressing for a Sci-fi.

Outside the artists studios at Spode Site, Eleanora Street, Stoke-on-Trent. Staffordshire.

Jewellery

Posted on April 18, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Design, Eleanora st, Jewellery, Makers market, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Stoke-upon-Trent2 Comments

Glass cabochons with wire weave surrounds. These will be for sale at the Spring Makers Market at the potbank Hotel, Spode site, Eleanora st, Stoke-on-Trent. I will also be selling small and medium size paintings..

Peeling paint

Posted on April 16, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Life, Paint peeling, Photography, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Stoke-upon-TrentLeave a comment

I’m thinking of painting something like this. It’s a window in one of the buildings at spode. Goodness knows what the paint is made of. It is just so old. The wood looks dry and decaying. The putty holding the glass in is probably made with lead. Surprisingly the window looks quite clean and the building opposite is reflected in it. Capturing the detail will be a challenge.

Today at Spode site

Posted on April 15, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Crumbling, Dasies, Flowers, Industrial archeology, Life, Pansies, Peeling Wood, Photographs, Poem, Poetry, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Stoke-upon-Trent, WallflowersLeave a comment

Flowers and old wood

Blocked up windows and peeling paint.

Dasies and dianthus.

A history in brick and slate.

Clay and pottery.

Caged in but released,

Renewed and Revivified.

Pansies and wallflowers shining,

their sunlit faces turned to a bright, chilled sky.

Crumbling with asbestos innards,

But able to be proud again.

Timothy Trow memorial day

Posted on April 13, 2019April 13, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Choirs, Life, Local archives, Local hero, Memorial, Music, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Stoke-upon-Trent, Timothy TrowLeave a comment

Timothy Trow was a tram conductor who tried to save a young girl who had fallen in a local canal, he drowned while trying to save her. He is recognised as a local hero. Today, 13th April is the anniversary of his death.

I sang with two choirs to commemorate his death by the Memorial stone laid near to where he died on London Road, in the West End area of Stoke on Trent. Singing a song about his life by a local song writer. We then had went over to the local Methodist church, a decendant of the girl who was saved read a piece about the incident. The choirs then sang three more songs.

There were images selected by the local archives department on display inside the church. In all it was a very poignant day.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Stoke-on trent