Making an Exhibition of Ourselves

Come along to see photographs from behind the scenes at the UK's only train building factory, where the good people of Bombardier are building new tube trains for London.

You can talk about pictures online, upload them, leave comments and Google further details, but how about seeing them in-person?

That's exactly what you'll be able to do from tomorrow evening. The graduating shows from many of the photography courses round the country are happening in the next few weeks at the Old Truman Brewery in London's Brick Lane, and the whole graduating class (including me) will be there.

As part of the Free Range set of shows, it gives us a chance to showcase our final project in a proper gallery setting and invite along a wide range of industry people to ask questions, critique and offer advice.

The exhibition runs from Friday 22nd until Monday 25th June (Friday- Monday 10am - 7pm and Monday 10am - 4pm), is free and has a wide range of photography on display.

I'll be displaying the Bombardier Derby and London Underground Neasden S-Stock project, entitled, 'At London's Service'.

Pop along and say hello!

Swindon's Regeneration : Swindon, Works

Swindon's newest artwork gives a salute to the past and a glimpse to the future.

Today's unveiling of the newly refurbished Great Western Underpass gives a real hint of how Swindon has finally begun to embrace it's heritage as a key selling-point.

Along one wall is a set of portraits of rail workers through the ages, right up to the present day. Finished in Great Western green, the images are backlit, creating a dramatic installation piece as you walk between Churchward and Bristol Street. On the opposite wall, in big chunky steel lettering are the words 'Swindon Works'.

The quote from artist Bruce Williams sums it up nicely, "On the opposite wall in gleaming letters read the words SWINDON WORKS, which is the name of the site but could also read as a hopeful slogan for the future."

Swindon's Regeneration : Does The Uni Dream Start Here?

The bid for funding to set up a University Technical College has been successful and it looks like this is the very first step in Swindon getting a university.

The preferred site for the UTC is the former rail works carriage work buildings that run along London Street.

I had a fish through the station forecourt images and found the above picture, taken from the top of the Signal Point building, showing the buildings and site.

From these unassuming workshops, will Swindon's University dream start from?

"Hang On A Minute Lads, I've Got A Great Idea"

With Ken White snapping a picture on the left and artwork designer Mike Pringle in the red, the assembled crowd of officer workers, Alexander House tenants and BMW staff look on.

I like to think that Mike Pringle, the designer of the artwork that now adorns the side of Alexander House, said the above phrase before sketching the plan for the design!

The much talked about artwork was unveiled by a couple of abseilers in appropriately windy conditions just after 11am this morning. It was heartening to be amongst a big crowd, with media, councillors, office workers, the Mayor and Mayoress, the designer Mike Pringle, Swindon legend Ken White (had a great chat with him whilst we waited), plus a lot of passing shoppers down below in John Street, along with a few Community Support Officers. Everyone was snapping pictures.

The second mini can be seen in it's blue cover on the roof.

The artwork is easily the biggest piece of installation artwork in Swindon and is instantly recognisable. 

The question now, is what will be the next piece of public art in Swindon, and which building will it go?

Swindon's Regeneration : The Mary Celeste, Faded Glories & The Last Day

The perfect day to be up on the roof.

Today's visit to the former Swindon College site at Regent Circus was what we'd been waiting for. After painstaking work by the asbestos team, the main building is now safe to access and there was only one place to go when arriving, to the roof!

A perfect day and a great location gave a view for miles around. Back inside, we methodically went through each floor, working our way down. Any former students will remember the floor and room numbering system at Swindon College, for example, I had Environmental Science in 4.16, which was on the 3rd floor, as the ground floor were numbered '1'. Each floor had it's own colour too!

Room 4.9's room timetable from week commencing 3rd July 2006. Anyone recognise the staff names? Who took Entry English on Wednesday evening?

A few rooms had their classroom timetables still in place behind perspex on the room outside. Did you have a class in room 4.9 in that last week of it's use in July 2006?

On the stairwell, at each half-landing was a large piece of student-produced artwork, which are all intact and still in-situ! I did retrieve a piece of artwork on an office wall that was also remarkably undamaged, more of that in a later post!

The view towards the half-landing between the 3rd Level (2nd floor)  and the 4th Level (3rd floor). Do you remember the mural of the countryside? 

The library is much smaller than I remember, but the red carpet is still there and apart from some missing ceiling tiles, debris and graffiti, the structure looks solid enough.

The silent study area of the library.

Does anyone remember the careers library? That small room on the right when entering the library, it now has a grand view of the workshops demolition happening right outside.

Anyone need careers advice?

The main building is the eeriest of all to walk through, most likely because of it's size. We also got a look in the hall and Vincents Restaurant (the refractory). More pictures of those soon-to-disappear spaces in the next few days.

Swindon's Murals Make Right Royal Return

A new mural to Swindon's best-kept-art-secret collection has just appeared in the town centre! Above an office on the corner of Temple Street and Commercial Road, it's full of colour and has a royal theme.

In the sun, against a blue sky, the colours really stand out.

Swindon needs a new generation of murals, on houses, walls and offices. Who's with me?

Swindon's Regeneration : A Sign of the Times

Have you seen the time?

 For the first time in over 50 years, the residents of Edmund Street will be able to tell the time from the Town Hall clock.