Exhibition with Northern Soul Worth the Wait - December 8th 2010
The recent snowy weather has had a huge impact on all our lives – causing havoc on the roads, closing buildings, damaging property and generally causing major disruption to daily life. Another impact, albeit of less significance, has been the temporary closure of Woodhorn and the delay in opening a new exhibition. Thankfully things are now getting back to normal.
“Northern Soul, a wonderful photographic exhibition, was sitting at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield waiting for collection,” explained Woodhorn’s exhibition officer Liz Ritson. “With the dreadful weather conditions we weren’t even able to get our vehicles to Woodhorn let alone drive to Wakefield for our valuable cargo. We are very pleased now that we have finally managed to make the journey and set up this remarkable show.
The exhibition features the work of highly respected photojournalist John Bulmer. Described as a pioneer of colour photography, he was quick to take up new technology ahead of others working in Fleet Street. His career began with the Cambridge University Newspaper while studying engineering and following that, he co-founded “Image” magazine. Bulmer had a spell working at the Daily Express in 1960 after which his reputation grew with regular magazine commissions including “Town” which was where he first began documenting the North of England.
In 1962 Bulmer began to work for country’s first colour supplement - The Sunday Times Magazine. In a groundbreaking decision he chose to use colour for one of his most famous series - ”The North”. He recently said, “It didn’t occur to anyone to take the north of England in colour – that was considered a black and white subject.”
“The images in the exhibition are not sentimental,” said Liz. “They are an honest view of 1960s life in the North of England; a unique record of ordinary life. Visitors who remember this time and place will recognise their communities and characters from the local shop, the pit, and the back street.”
This touring exhibition from the National Coal Mining Museum for England will be open from Saturday 11 December and will run until 5 March.