High Force, William Tillyer, 1974

My parents used to take me to High Force waterfall in Teesdale quite regularly during my childhood. I remember it always being absolutely spectacular but freezing. I recall a giddy rush of school age knowingness when watching a repeat of the Michael Palin and Terry Jones comedy series Ripping Yarns and in one of the

Frontispiece, Memoirs of County Durham by Tisa von der Schulenburg

My two favourite subjects at school were art and history. I’ve always been fascinated at how the world changes both culturally and historically and how we can learn lessons from the past. For me, there’s nothing better than when those two subjects collide and somehow link to people and events of huge historical significance. It

Construction in Black, White and Ochre by Victor Pasmore

Modern art eh? What’s it got to do with me? I don’t understand it, it’s not for me is it? It says nothing to me about my life. What’s the point? What good has ever come from it? It’s just nowt… Plus what’s all of this got to do with Peterlee? Eh? I’ll level with

Emperor Penguin Freddie with Polar Bear Claw Necklace

With my previous posts I’ve possibly given you the impression that Middlesbrough Council only owns art that relates to the Middlehaven area of the town and I’m pleased to say this couldn’t be further from the truth- the collection spans many different eras, styles, continents, genres and mediums. For instance did you know that Middlesbrough

The Bottle of Notes by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje von Bruggen

This is a drawing by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje von Bruggen from 1988 of their sculpture the Bottle of Notes, which was eventually completed in 1992 and installed in the centre of Middlesbrough a year later. The drawing was used as a cover image for the prominent art magazine Artforum. The sculpture itself now stands

The Old Town Hall by Margaret Harrison

Margaret Harrison’s practice addresses political concerns, particularly feminist ideals and histories. This painting is part of a series where she looked at the dominant visions of landscape and the built up environment by prominent male artists in museum collections (in this case the previously discussed Lowry in the Middlesbrough Collection) and reinterpreted them via her

The Old Town Hall, Middlesbrough by L.S. Lowry, 1959

The first piece I’d like to discuss is one of the most popular pieces in the mima collection, “The Old Town Hall and St Hilda’s Church” by one of Britains most famous artists, L.S. Lowry. Lowry’s painting represents an important part of Middlesbrough’s history both socially, economically and artistically. Originally painted as a commission for

What is art and why?

What is art? Does anyone really know? Does anyone really care? I think art means different things to different people. That’s an easy stock answer but I think it’s right – and it’s an answer I go back to all the time when talking to visitors in my role as a Gallery Assistant at Middlesbrough