Dear Colleagues

Just a quick invite to the latest photographic exhibition which being
presented by Birmingham Central Library Photographic section and the
Museum of Lost Heritage. The photographer has selected six archival images
and drawn on their style to for inspiration in creating six of his own
images. His rational is described in the press release below.

Kindly direct any queries to [log in to unmask]
rather than to me!

Zoe

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Zoe Rees
Photographic Archivist
Birmingham City Archives / Birmingham Central Library

Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HQ
Tel: 0121 303 2474
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PRESS RELEASE
September 2006

Birmingham Site Specific: Factories     Michael Collins

At the former Museum of Science & Industry, 144 Newhall Street,
Birmingham.

Friday 20th October – Monday 30th October 2006
11.00am-4.00pm
Admission Free

Press contact: Tom Grosvenor 0121 303 2474
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Interviews and press images available on request
www.museumoflostheritage.org

This exhibition, presented by Birmingham Central Library in association
with the Museum of Lost Heritage, comprises twelve pictures; six
contemporary colour photographs made by Michael Collins as part of a
commission established by the Central Library and six black and white
photographs researched by him from Birmingham’s Public Works Department
Archive (PWDA). He applies the principles of record pictures to make his
colour photographs, using a modern 8 x 10 plate camera, similar in kind to
the earlier models employed by the city’s photographers for the PWDA.
Record picture photographs are those commissioned specifically to serve as
matter of fact photographic documentation for the purpose of record. The
photographic approach is one where clarity, definition, detail and
perspective are applied to create a photograph that is as plainly
realistic as possible

The twelve large (4x5’) photographs show the exterior and interior of
factories in Birmingham. At this crucial stage in the history of
Birmingham, with the city undergoing fundamental change as it develops a
modern post-industrial base and infrastructure, there is a need to record
and acknowledge these changes, to register the history and witness new
developments.

‘Factories’ is the first in a series of site-specific photography projects
initiated by Birmingham Central Library in partnership with other agencies
in the city as part of its ‘City as Gallery’ programme. The aim is to
present exhibitions in a range of non-gallery venues and public spaces.


Established in 2006 as a public art association in Birmingham, the Museum
of Lost Heritage exists to creatively research, salvage, document &
transform sites of cultural and historic significance. MoLH approaches
this aim through a series of commissions by artists, writers and cross
disciplinary practitioners from diverse cultures

The former Museum of Science and Industry is a setting synonymous with
photography’s original industrial and historical context. Originally
Elkington’s electro plating manufactory and  during the 1840s and 1850s
produced and supplied Sheffield Plate (copper plate covered with silver)
widely used for production of daguerreotype photographs. The site in
Newhall Street is also associated with Alexander Parkes, the inventor of
Parkesine, a material that laid the foundations from which others would
successfully develop cellulose nitrate plastics - notably celluloid, the
foundation for all modern photographic film.

Editors Notes:-

Michael Collins
Michael Collins uses an 8x10 camera to make colour record picture
photographs. He also researches archives of historical record pictures
which he exhibits in conjunction with his own photographs. His work has
been exhibited in the Barbican Art Gallery (London), Impressions Gallery
(York), Ffotogallery (Cardiff), ArtSway (Hants), Oriel Mostyn (Llandudno),
The German Gymnasium (London), and  Focal Point (Southend), and his
photographs are in the collections of the V&A, The King’s Fund, Birmingham
City Council and Argent Group plc. He is the author of “Record Pictures.
Photographs from the Collection of the Institution of Civil Engineers”
(SteidlMACK 2004).

Museum of Lost Heritage (MoLH)
Set up as a public art association in Birmingham UK 2006, MoLH - inspired
by the historic site of the former Museum of Science and Industry - is an
open collaboration between the site property developer Neville Topping, RO
St. Bernards Ltd., and Amanda Harmer, Associated Architects and Julie
Seddon Jones, Artmatters with co-lead artists Alistair Grant and Stuart
Mugridge.   MoLH exists to creatively research, salvage, document &
transform sites of cultural and historic significance.  MoLH will achieve
this aim through a series of creative commissions by artists, writers and
cross-disciplinary practitioners from diverse cultures. MoLH currently
receives project funding from RO St. Bernards Ltd., and Arts Council
England.

Public Health & Safety Disclaimer
Please note that this event is deemed unsuitable for children under 14 or
persons with special needs.  The owners of the site bear no responsibility
for personal injury.