2. Theme
Stoke on Trent
Celebrating our Ceramic Heritage and Local Artists who have captured its essence in various forms.
Highlighting:
Social History.
Industrial Loss/Decay of industrial sites.
Raising awareness of buildings of historical importance that are allowed to fall into disrepair.
Showing:
Local artwork/photography and ceramics from Stoke on Trent and international artists
3. The proposal…
Stoke on Trent is my home city. Its rich industrial past runs through my family like slip into a mould. I’ve come
to appreciate the buildings that remain in the once smoke filled streets; watching some of them fall into disrepair
causes me great sadness.
Library
images
4. The proposal…
Around four thousand ovens within hundreds of factories filled the air with thick smoke from the late 1700s until the
clean air act came into force and the last firing of an oven took place in 1978.
5. The proposal…
My work ‘47’ is a photographic collection of the 47 remaining bottle ovens that survive in Stoke on Trent today
6. The proposal…
We will have a small selection of Lowry artwork showing the lives of working class folk, alongside local artist Sid
Kirkham, Industrial photographic images from Michael Kenna and also ceramic works on loan from Claire
Heath highlighting ecological plights from the UK and abroad made her in her Studio at the old Spode factory.
7. The Venue and Area
Middleport Pottery - which remains a working pottery, museum and workshops with exhibition rooms for
hire, will be available.
Price Kensington a derelict pottery works –will have historical images of designers, ceramics and ordinary
workers projected onto it. The tow path trail extends along from the old Bottle oven at Price Kensington to
Middleport pottery and continuing to bridge 125, which can also be accessed by road.
8. Middleport Pottery
The Venue for the exhibition is ideally placed close to main road links whilst having the added benefit of the canal
access for walkers and boat lovers alike.
Beginning at dusk, at the disused Bottle Oven outside the Price Kensington Pottery works, images of ware and
their famous designers; the likes of Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper will be projected onto the disused buildings
visible from the Canal, tow path and road for visitors to enjoy.
Inside Middleport Pottery the exhibition will be housed in rooms, from it’s former life as a factory but which also
hosted the TV programme ‘The Great Pottery Throwdown’. We will be surrounded by artifacts and nostalgia of
the building’s past which will highlight each artist’s work for everyone to enjoy.
9. On opening night, guests will be able to obtain tickets to arrive on a fully equipped drinks and dining narrowboat which
will moor at the works.
The Tearoom will also be open for guests on the Middleport site during opening night and of course on a daily basis as
normal for the duration of the exhibition.
The following slides show some of the exhibits…
10. from ’47’ by Alison Berrow
Large print Images sized in a combination of A1 and A0
11. Artist – L.S. Lowry
Mill scene 12” x 15.75” Street Scene 10” x 8” Industrial Scene 13.5 “ x 9.75” Our Town 17” x 24.75”
12. Artist Sid Kirkham
‘The Lad’s Made in Stoke’ ‘Our First Kiss’ ‘Race to the Top of the Street’’ ‘School Holidays Down by the
Cut’
[Stoke on Trent] prints/artwork. Kirkham was a local artist, his work of Pottery and community themes are
well loved throughout the city and beyond.
15” x 24” 17” x 26” 17” x 26” 17” x 26”
13. Michael Kenna
Ratcliffe Power Station, northern England. Chapel Cross Power Station,
Dumfries
Selection of Kenna’s Industrial landcapes
14. Other Local artists’ work
Claire Heath local sculptor, teacher and ceramic artist. Her work depicts ancient tree
loss and the deforestation of important historical sites for HS2.
And ‘Forest Fires’ highlighting the devestation near Sydney
These are created in her studio at the old Spode Works in Stoke.
15. And…
The above list is not exclusive – Stoke on Trent has a wealth of talent from which to
choose including (but not limited to) Arthur Berry, Terry Shave and Colin Melbourne,
a display of extra exhibits is awaiting confirmation.
16. Layout of exhibition
Inside; Middleport Pottery Photographs, artwork and ceramics will be displayed with audio soundtrack of
factory workers through the years.
Outside; The projected images on Price Kensington works and on the Bottle Oven to the side, will form a
link continuing along the towpath to more projected images on Middleport factory and the last old factory
approaching bridge 125 on the canal.
This will then create a short ‘Potteries Art Trail’ loop along the canal tow path from Price Kensington to
bridge 125 over the canal to Middleport Pottery where the indoor exhibition museum, workshops and
tearoom will be available to visitors.
The friendly people of Stoke on Trent deserve to have their hardworking history and renowned artistic
wares celebrated and shown to their best during this exhibition. My aim is to see that in reality.
18. The Outdoor Space
Images of Stoke on Trent’s treasured and renowned Ceramic Artists projected
across buildings on the ‘Potteries Art Trail’.
Susie Cooper, Clarice Cliff, and many more
