The Commonwealth games are coming to Birmingham and the City council has gone overboard to make sure that the streets and roads are looking their very best. There are new pieces of artwork, refurbishing of old artwork and the enhancement of buildings. All guaranteed to make a Brummie proud. The following pictures provide a flavour of what is taking place across the City. Birmingham is making a statement to the Commonwealth and the World that it is a vibrant and exciting place to visit.
Perry, the mascot, is following the tramsOur young people are the future of Birmingham.Chamberlain Square coloursColours are everywhere…..and everywhere you look there are giant posters.The best way to get around is by foot or by bike.Taking a walk through the colours is fun.You can even Cycle through the Commonwealth What would our forefathers thought of all this?Bollards with the Be Bold colours.The runnerInterviewsPerryRainbow StepsPut a poster upA city transformedThe BullringThe countdown clock
Lots of pictures around the city and it has been so exciting to see it all. I just hope this leaves a lasting legacy on the City of Birmingham. John Bray of the BBC has put together a wonderful set of images of Birmingham and his photography is excellent. Commonwealth Games: Bright colours transform Birmingham landmarks – BBC
The Council House, Queen Victoria, 103 Colmore Row, Iron:Man and a Seagull
Amongst all the excitement along the colourful streets of Birmingham, there is another success story of the city taking place during the Commonwealth Games. Wandering over to Oozells square and there is a public art display that has the power to match the other artistic events that are taking place. The IKON gallery features an exhibition of the work of three artists: Yhonnie Scarce, Salote Tawale and Osman Yousefzada. The work is diverse yet integrated and visual. They come together on subjects that cover different themes. Having my camera with me was a real bonus as each art installation offers opportunities for picture taking. The exhibits are on the first floor and all three have the necessary space which allows you to appreciate them. The first room I entered contained The Need Breeder (2002) by Australian Aboriginal Artist, Yhonnie Scarce. Suspended from the ceiling were 600 glass droplets each having different shades of opacity. The installation was mesmerising with the light falling on the different shapes allowing a range of interpretations. What they represent is the crystallisation of the Australia desert following British Nuclear tests in the fifties. Together the glass droplets represent a nuclear explosion. Each droplet represents the death from nuclear tests. Powerful, moving and relevant in this present political climate.
The overall powerful view of the art work.
Details of the glass dropletsThe glass droplets.The exhibition has individually designed glass droplets.
The next room had three video projections which spanned the room. The film that ran for around 9 minutes was put together by Osman Yousefyaza. Having met Osman at a Moseley Coffee house, I immediately felt a connection. Spaces of Transcendence (2022) is a film that was made in Pakistan and contains powerful moving images of rituals set against a captivating backdrop of the country. There were gestures and facial close ups that pulled me into the story without words. I found the throw of the cloth into the saucers containing colour water fascinating. The main characters in the film absorbed my intention. I can not work out if the film is on a loop as there was no introduction or end just a complete immersion in the imagery. I loved it.
Mixture of architecture and human shape.Hand gestures and colours.
It was nearly closing time at the IKON when I came into the room with the instillation by Salote Tamale called YOU, ME, ME, YOU. There were three TV screens as distinct to Osman’s work which was projected on much larger screens. A continuous video was playing that darted from one theme to another. There were underwater pictures and then scenes in a tropical jungle. It was a different but refreshing approach to the presentation by Osman in the previous room. Slowly my eyes took notice of the decoration of the room and the recurring pattern. After a while it was this that started to demand my attention. The repeating colourful pattern needed to be photographed as you will see.
The TV monitors contrast with the vibrant background.Love those patterns!
The exhibition was excellent and I felt a sense of calm coming away from the IKON Gallery. The exhibition coincides the Birmingham 2022 games and there will be many people arriving into Birmingham from different places and cultures. The work of these three artists starts to unravel and re-ravel the different interactions of people around the world. Birmingham is privileged to be able to host this unique display of art at the IKON gallery.
My pictures of these artists work provide a simple snapshot of this moving visit and there is more information about each artist on the web.
The Selfridges building is now back to its full glory after a period of renovation. The silver discs were causing problems by becoming detached and falling off the building. All this was happening prior to the pandemic. There were additional problems as the original manufacturer of the discs was no longer operating and a new supplier needed to be found. When the contractors were ready, they covered the building in a spectacular pink and black cover designed by Osman Yousefzada and underneath this “skin” replaced the discs. I liked the Infinity Pattern 1 design as it was a such a different take on the building.
An upward view accentuating the symmetry.A reflection capturing the work being done near to the HS2 site
The repair work continued during and after the pandemic. Finally, the scaffolding came down revealing the new replacement discs. I take part in a weekly photographic project and the week’s theme was geometry. The Selfridges building is perfect for this theme and I went out and about with my camera taking pictures to accentuate the amazing patterns. There was also the chance to get some interaction with reflections of people sitting next to the building. There was a good reaction to the pictures and I find that many people love the design. There are many people who dislike the building but everyone agrees it does put Birmingham on the map.
An opportunity for a few more reflections.Wherever you look there is a different pattern revealed.
I have included some past posts which will provide details of my previous photographic blogs that have involved this iconic building.
There is a “key to the city Brum” that unlocks doors around Birmingham.  What a great idea.  Such doors give the entry to special places.  Ones that only you may open if you have a special key. Intriguing. I always loved a good treasure hunt but how do I get access to one of these fabled keys?  It was not difficult to find out as the project caught the imagination of Brummies and social media was rife with the #keytothecitybrum hashtag.Â
Key to the City Brum 2022 passport box.
 When the launch took place in Grand Central on a Monday morning in June, I jumped in the car and made my way to New Street station, Birmingham.  I arrived just when the launch was taking place with all the media and other important people talking about the keys.  I even caught sight of the artist Paul RamĂrez Jonas who came up with the concept.  The project had previously taken place in New York city and was now being launched in Birmingham as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival taking place prior to the Commonwealth Games.
The reception desk at New Street StationSarah from the Birmingham 2022 festival who signed the pledge with me.Me and my key!
I was near to the front of the queue to receive my key and got talking to people around me.  The picture shows Sophie who works for the B2022 festival committee who were instrumental in bringing ‘Keys to the City’ to Birmingham. Sophie is pictured in New Street Station holding up the pledge that we had to read and then sign before getting our ‘Keys’. To sign our pledge, there needed to be two people signing it together on a table. Sophie kindly buddied up with me so that we could correctly enact the ceremony and then collect the key. Thanks to Sophie for allowing me to take her photograph. The key came in a presentation box with a leaflet in the form of a passport.  All the doors were listed with maps and instructions on how to access them.  One of the helpers then asked me to put a sticker on the map of Birmingham postcodes. This is to show everyone where all the key holders lived around Birmingham.  The story of the places I visit will be photographed in the following weeks.   I did write up the first few places and posted my pictures on Instagram.  However, people wanted the opening of the doors to be a surprise so I will release my journey after the 7th August when it ends.  Until then this is the first place that I visited to give a flavour of what you encounter with your key.Â
The board showing where all the participants live
Artfull Expression
My first lock venue that I visited was Artfull Expression which is on Warstone Lane in the Jewellery Quarter.  My key opened the contents of the cabinet which held items used in the manufacture of jewellery.
David, Artfull ExpressionThe Yale lock on the cabinetThe booklet with venue description Opening the lockDavid explaining a watch mechanism.The jewellery making cabinet displayHere goes as I open the doorArtfull Expression, JQ
David is the owner of Artfull Expression. His premises are one of the venues of the ‘Key to the City Brum’ event organised by the Birmingham 2022 festival. When I arrived, I was warmly met by David who explained the downstairs studio was not open due to unforeseen circumstances. He directed me to a locked cabinet that they had prepared. My ‘Key to the city’ fitted the Yale lock on the cabinet. I freed a metal rod which once removed, allowed the cabinet to be opened. Inside was a description of jewellery making. David enthusiastically explained the manufacturing process to me. Also, I learnt that David is one of the Guardians of the Birmingham Assay Office. He also told me how Birmingham obtained the anchor hallmark on its jewellery. Apparently, Matthew Boulton, the 18th century industrialist, won the right on the toss of a coin in a London pub. Sheffield was the loser and was given a castle logo which they changed to a rose. David has expertise in jewellery design and Sandy, my wife, will be returning to have some jewellery redesigned by him. This was a fascinating visit and the first lock opened in my Keys to the City journey.
I, also, found myself getting caught up in this rollercoaster of a celebration of the motorway junction. Following on from my recent visit to the junction, IgersbirminghamUK organised a photographic meeting for the week of the celebrations. Just under 40 photographers arrived on a Sunday morning to be briefed on the planned photographic walk under the M6. The group photograph was a popular picture and was even featured by the national IgersUK Instagram page. All the photographs taken during the walk may be found under the Instagram hashtag #igbuk_meet_spagjunction. There are some very good pictures that show the relatively unseen world underneath the Spaghetti Junction.
IgersbirminghamUK participantsThe quietness of the canal with the Junction in the distance (selected for the BBC England’s Big Picture).A view of the columns holding up the Motorway.Nature is reclaiming the area underneath the Spaghetti Junction.
The events of the meeting were recorded by the BBC and the report by reporter Laura Mcmullan featured interviews with me and other photographers. Following the publication of the BBC news item, I was invited by the University of Birmingham to write an article on what lies below the Spaghetti Junction from a photographic viewpoint.
Broken glass in Salford CircusDiscarded and broken shopping trolley.
Although I was busy with the organisation of the meeting, I did have time to take a few pictures myself as featured in this blog. I wonder what the place will be like in another 50 years. Meanwhile, I know that I will be passing over the Junction in the future as I hurtle in and out of Birmingham.
The Moor Pool Estate is a Garden Suburb in Harborne, Birmingham. The estate was designed to be a low-density housing scheme and the concept was drawn up by John Sutton Nettleford who was the first Chairman of Birmingham’s town planning committee. Moor Pool area has around 500 houses spread across 54 acres. There are 6 different house styles in the roads that link together across the estate. The houses also take advantage of the contours of the land, and this gives pleasing views of the area.
The classic view of Moor PoolA public bench at the start of Park EdgeReady to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.Reflections around the circle.
John Nettleford was appalled with the living conditions in the back to backs which were typical of the housing in the City. Moor Pool Estate was seen as a solution that catered for the expanding urban population of Birmingham. The policy of building garden suburbs ensured that people would enjoy access to clean air and green spaces. The estate was built between 1907 and 1912 and is maintained by the Moor Pool Heritage Trust. The area is an example of how Garden suburbs were planned to provide low-cost housing in a semi-rural environment.
Listed flats on Ravenhurst RoadHouses on Margaret Grove.A different style on Moor Pool Lane
A visit to Moor Pool Estate was organised as an Instameet by IgersbirminghamUK. Luckily it was a glorious sunny day. We met at the entrance to the Hall and then walked around the Circle to overlook the tennis courts. This is where Louise Deakin who is the Education, Engagement and Outdoors Officer for the Trust gave us an enthusiastic account of the Moor Pool Estate past, present and future. I learnt about the connection of the Nettleford family and Winterbourne House which was interesting. Louise handed out an information leaflet that included a map of the area. I have reproduced the map below as I can refer to it during my blog.
Taken from https://www.moorpoolhall.org.uk/images/Interpretation_Map.jpg The Numbers relate to the information boards around the trail.The Moor Pool tennis courts Entrance to the Tennis courts.The tree at the junction of Margaret Grove and Moor Pool Lane
Once the briefing had finished, I wandered around the Circle and the tennis courts and the beginning of Carless Avenue. Following this I made my way around to the shops on the circle. There was a colourful banner celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over the optician’s shop. My path went along Park Edge towards Margaret Grove and the listed flats on Ravenhurst Road. There is a viewing point over Mill Pool giving a traditional view of the area. It is these pictures that you first encounter when searching on the Internet about the Trust. There was a person fishing in the pool and he had many photographs taken by the IgersbirminghamUK group. Margaret Grove was very pretty with the houses nestling into the lie of the land. I also discovered the various alleyways through the area. Louise mentioned that these were not paths to personal properties but pathways to encourage the garden suburb approach. Where Margaret Grove met Moor Pool Avenue are the Nettlefold Gardens and the Moorpool tennis club. The latter being the second tennis club in the Trust. I walked up to the disused railway line which is now a footpath. Here the residents would have had train access to the City of Birmingham. Moving back to the Circle via Moor Pool I encountered a few cats taking advantage of the warm sun. The houses here are of a different style and sit up and away from the road.
The railway bridge at the edge of the trust.
A higher view into the estate.The most photographed fisherman in Harborne.Moor Pool Bowling Club.One of the many alleyways.
I caught up with the rest of the group and took one of the footpaths to the side of the Pool. I took a few more pictures of the fisherman who was still there. This footpath led onto the bowling green. It is not a level crown surface as the picture shows so it must be a challenging game to play. Back to the Circle to meet up the rest of the IgersbirminghamUK participants and we adjourned to Harborne high street to the pub and a chance to talk about our pictures and the ones that got away.
Back to the start at Moor Pool Hall on the Circle.
Thank you to Louise Deakin and the Moor Pool Heritage Trust for inviting us to their home. I enjoyed the visit, and hope that these pictures along with those from IgersbirminghamUK will go a long way to advertising a real gem of a place to visit with a great history to match.
Please follow @igersbirminghamUK to learn more about our activities and upcoming Instameets. Thank you to Nicky Butler who organised this Instameet on behalf of the IgersbirminghamUK team. Thanks to Lena and John for their support of IgersbirminghamUK as well.
It was a beautiful day and some people took time to enjoy the sun.
I love exhibitions that think outside the box. The Sistine chapel exhibition is different. Whilst In Rome, I missed the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel and wonder what the experience is like. Apparently it is very crowded and you spend your time looking upwards and at a distance at the great works of Michelangelo. It is still said to be a moving experience.
God divides the water from the earth.
Meanwhile in a warehouse in deepest Digbeth, there is a Secret Space and it was here that 34 life sized reproductions of the frescos were displayed by the Fever exhibition company. The pictures were arranged around two large rooms and there was an audio accompaniment to each fresco. Some pictures were hung on the ceiling with the majority on the sides of the warehouse.
The Creation of AdamTaking a pictureThe Ceiling of the Warehouse in Digbeth.
There was ample space to move around and take pictures. My friend Monsignor Danny McHugh religiously followed the audio narrative. I chose to jump back and forth taking pictures of both the exhibition and the observers. It was an enjoyable experience. A church like atmosphere was maintained throughout by the use of choral music. I found that I came away with an enhanced understanding of how Michelangelo executed his paintings and the thought processes behind them. There were some humorous parts of the narrative that accompanied the picture viewing. There were some nice attentions to detail and the staff were very friendly and helpful.
David and GoliathThe Prophet EzekielThe Last JudgementSo much to take inLooking upwardsJudith Slays HolofernesZechariah
Next I will visit the real Sistine Chapel but for now I hope you enjoy the pictures. If you can catch the exhibition in your own local town then I would recommend seeing it.
In deepest Digbeth, the Secret Place, River StreetContemporary Art outside the Exhibition
The pictures were taken with both my Fujifilm x100v and my iPhone13. The mobile phone does a great job of low light situations but I like the control that the x100v gives me as well. I have the settings of the Fujifilm on Aperture priority and automatic ISO.
What lies below is a theme for this and my next blog. Spaghetti Junction is 50 years old in May 2022. Millions of car drivers pass over Spaghetti Junction as they hurtle past Birmingham. Many are on the M6 heading north or south to their destination with no thought about what is below. For others the Aston Expressway is the main northern route into Birmingham and is a spur off the Junction. The sprawl of roads spit out cars to Erdington and 6 ways along the Tyburn Road. People live in Gravelly Hill immediately adjacent to the junction. The area is a mixture of concrete, noise and fumes. The Junction celebrates 50 years in May and at the time was seen as a landmark construction. Over the years it has become synonymous with Birmingham.
The layers of the Junction from the River Tame to the Signs for the Aston Expressway
As a photographer what lies below is much more interesting and is seldom seen from above. The first part of the junction to investigate is Salford circus which is the link roundabout for many of the local roads to the motorway. It is not clear what the planners had in mind but the inner pedestrian area of the junction is an unfriendly concrete jungle. It is covered in litter and graffiti tagging. It is not a place to visit alone and luckily my photographic colleague John Bray was with me. The concrete pillars are giants holding up the roads above. The area is under attack and the hero is nature as it attempts to reclaim the area.
What wonders what the planners had in mind for the underpasses.The sound of broken glassNature is fighting back on the concrete.Tagging and signsHaving someone with you when visiting is essential.
Kicking our way through the rubbish we make ouir way through the underpasses and cross the busy junction to reach the canal access steps. Running under the Motorway the canals also make a junction. There is where three canals come together namely the Birmingham and Fazeley, the Tame Valley and the Birmingham and Warwick Junction canals. Flowing alongside the canals is the River Tame. The area has numerous bridges criss crossing the canal and the light peeks through vents above. There are grafitti strewn around the place. Cyclists and walkers move around in a surreal dance. Walking eastwards the Motorway passes Star City and the area is reminiscent of many TV programmes. This is probably because a great deal of car chase filming takes place around here.
Concrete everywhereAccess to the canalStarting to explore underneath.A view of the Star City entertainment complexA place where many movies car chases are filmed.
Moving westwards there is a bridge tunnel where there is graffiti which in the past was renowned for its beauty and craftsmanship in previous years. When we visited, there was just a white washed wall with a prison window. I am unsure of the meaning of this painting. The site is used as there is a shaft of light that comes down from above the junction onto the canalside.
Underneath the heart of the junction.The “prison window” graffiti. Reflections and stagnations in the water.The deep green canal.Traffic thunders above.Constant repair of the road structure goes on.Looking back along the canal.Bolts hold the roads together.
The canal path leads under all the roads that form the Junction and there is repair work on several of the bridges. A path along the Aston Expressway eventually comes out onto Aston reservoir. This is a hidden feature in the shadows of the Motorway. It is relatively peaceful and a contrast to the distant noise of the traffic. Moving along the perimeter and keeping the river Tame in view, there are trees and shrubs which are reclaiming the land underneath the tarmac. This becomes the end of our journey underneath Spaghetti junction, and we head home back on the M6.Â
Aston ReservoirSpring Blossom against the concrete pillars.
There are likely to be birthday celebrations on its big 50 birthday but meanwhile here is a BBC link celebrating 40 years.
I love National Geographic Traveller UK magazine and I am always tagging my pictures with their hashtag #NGTUK in the hope of being featured. My persistence paid off and my picture of a person walking along Regency Wharf in Gas Street Basin was featured first on Instagram and then in the April edition of the magazine. It just shows that you do not have to travel far to get featured in a travel magazine.
My picture on the Instagram pageMy picture from BirminghamFront cover
Oozells square in the westside of Birmingham is unremarkable other than the IKON gallery which is on one side of the square. The IKON is a highly acclaimed contemporary art venue and when you have finished looking over the latest exhibits, take a well earned rest in Yorks coffee shop. However in the months of March and April the square erupts with cherry blossom and becomes one of the most photographed squares in Birmingham. I also took many photographs. The square was featured in a BBC news and my photograph was included. I have also added a few more of my own in this post.
A favourite reflection is produced around the water featurethe blossom turns and ordinary square into the extraordinary.A traditional view of the blossom with the IKON in the background.Another traditional view of the blossom in the square.
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