Aidan O'Rourke Photographer Website Publisher Tutor

An exhibition about East Manchester by photographer writer Len Grant

Written by Aidan O'Rourke
2009-06-15

The exhibition East 1 to 10 showcases the development of east Manchester as documented in work of photographer and writer Len Grant.

In 2005 he proposed a large-format magazine called 'East', highlighting the regeneration work going on in east Manchester. Len went on to produce the magazine in partnership with designer Alan Ward and local writers including Phil Griffin, Jonathan Schofield and Louise Tickle.

"My interests lie in urban regeneration, and more importantly the people who live through thse both positive and negative experiences of chagne. I vew myself as not just a photogapher, but a story teller giving previously unheard and unseen people a voice and committing their stories to history."

The place now referred to as east Manchester was once an area of factories and workshops with coal mining and a power station. In the post war years, most of the industry disappeared leading to unemployment and related .

In recent decades, the area has undergone regeneration. One of the high points was the Commonwealth Games in 2002.

All ten print issues of East are on display on a table at the end of the exhibition room. I was struck by the quality and impact of the photography as well as the boldness of the design, layout and typography.

On the walls are panels displaying a selection of Len's photographs along with his own comments about the project.

Through Len's photographs we see streets, houses, construction sites, including the City of Manchester Stadium, the Velodrome, New Islington, Gorton Monastery, part-completred Metrolink stops, junk yards, derelict streets and lots more. We also see images of local people who were happy to have their photographs taken and offer their experiences in recorded interviews with Len.

The East project has now migrated to the internet in the form of a website named www.thisiseast.com. The website uses audio as well as still images.

The story of east Manchester is ongoing and the latest chapter is the dismantling of the controversial B of the Bang sculpture, in progress right next to the exhibition venue.

Len Grant is one of Manchester's best known and most respected photographers. Since becoming a freelance photographer in 1990, he has documented many high profile construction projects across Manchester and Salford. His photographs and writing have featured in a variety of books and exhibitions.

I know Len Grant personally - like me he went to Xaverian College grammar school, though he was older than me and I have no recollection of him (I was there 1969 to 1976). His photographs are both technically excellent but also creative and full of charm and spontaneity. He has built up an irreplaceable body of work documenting the development of Manchester.

The exhibition can be viewed at the Sportcity visitor centre at the junction of Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way. Exhibition dates are 12 June - 17 July 2009.

Visit the websites www.thisiseast.com and www.lengrant.co.uk.

2009-06-15

e

Read further articles The Manchester Wheelers a book about the Twisted Wheel in the 1960s. The Big Chip Awards 2009 Palace Hotel Manchester - a personal account. Manchester Then and Now - book by Jonathan Schofield photos by Aidan O'Rourke. Capture Manchester exhibition preview at CUBE gallery. Marketing Manchester and MIDAS film on public transport in Greater Manchester. Manchester cityscapes: Where to view them and how to photograph them. The Northern Quarter: Greenwich Village of Manchester?. Oxford St Peter St Manchester's 'Entertainment Street' last place for another office block. Along the A6 ancient north-south route across Salford and Manchester. Achievements of Tony Wilson and why it's not the end for 'Mr Manchester'. My experiences of Tony Wilson music maverick media personality and mentor. A journey along Palatine Road south Manchester - link between two counties. Central Station lives again! Travel by train in the Manchester that might have been - MP3 Audio introduction. BBC Life On Mars Manchester location guide and critique. Hacienda 25 exhibition Urbis Manchester MP3 Audio Slideshow. Interview with Brother Cyril headmaster of Xaverian College Manchester MP3 Audio. Leonard Cohen at the preview of his art exhibition in Manchester. Manchester congestion charge: Critique of the GMPTE document and proposal. Journey along Kingsway key artery of south Manchester and pioneering road. The Gentry Grooming Company Manchester website launch. Book Review: The Munich Air Disaster by Stephen R Morrin. In conversation with Tony Wilson on Talk of the Town Radio Manchester. Stunning views over Manchester from Mauldeth Rd station temporary footbridge. The sound of steam trains can still be heard across south Manchester and Stockport. Why demolition of the Paramount / Odeon is bad news for Manchester. Family History: Why so many marriages in Manchester Cathedral?. Misconceptions about Manchester: Not the Rainy City!. Manchester's streets aren't paved with gold. Manchester Round Table Discussion No1 27 Oct 04. Along the Mancunian Way, Manchester's 'Highway in the Sky'. Hacienda Memorabilia and Shrinking Cities. Review of Exhibition: Urbis DTroit 20 May to 18 July 2004. Review of Trevor Grimshaw Exhibition Shades of Grey. Review of 'Cities' exhibition Manchester & New York. The Image of Manchester in the eyes of PR. Search my 3 sites using Google Custom Search Custom Search