Martin
parr
ABOUT COMmISSION
Black Country Stories
Multistory commissioned Magnum photographer Martin Parr to create a photographic portrait and archive about everyday life in the Black Country. Between 2010 and 2014, Martin visited factories, foundries, pubs, working men’s clubs, shops, markets, temples, mosques, churches, St George’s day celebrations, Royal Wedding street parties, horticultural shows and dog training classes, capturing and celebrating the unique mix of communities living in the area.
For the Blast! Festival, a selection of Martin’s images will be exhibited as part of a community exhibition at The Art Yard where Sandwell’s creative communities are encouraged to submit artworks inspired by the themes explored in Martin’s work. This exhibition is part of the Cradley Heath Creative Arts Festival which will feature a full programme of events and workshops curated by Cradley Heath Creative.
WHEN
24.05.2019 – 29.06.2019
Opening times:
Mon - Wed, Fri: 10AM - 5PM
Sat: 10AM - 4PM
WHERE
The Art Yard, 59 Reddal Hill Road, Cradley Heath, B64 5JT
ARTIST BIO
Martin Parr is a chronicler of our age. In the face of the constantly growing flood of images released by the media, his photographs offer us the opportunity to see the world from his unique perspective.
Leisure, consumption and communication are the concepts that this British photographer has been researching for several decades now on his worldwide travels. In the process, he examines national characteristics and international phenomena to find out how valid they are as symbols that will help future generations to understand our cultural peculiarities. Parr enables us to see things that have seemed familiar to us in a completely new way. I
Martin has published over 100 books, and his most recent exhibition opened at the National Portrait Gallery in March 2019.
Cradley Heath Creative is a group of volunteers involved in an array of creative activities around the Cradley Heath area. Their aim is to help creatives, artists and performers find opportunities to share their work locally, raise their public profiles and, in the process, bring the cultural, economic and social benefits of having a thriving local art scene.