The year heads inevitably toward a conclusion but my work opens a new chapter and already heralds in the next.
Over the last few months I've been in collaboration with a man who's finger reassuringly measures the pulse generated by the beating heart of this conurbation, and who's mind interprets facts, disseminates theory and then fashions a suggestion towards remedial solutions; unselfishly and philanthropically by encouraging, nurturing and harnessing community-friendly aspirations through an astutely considered and meticulously researched penmanship that is much anticipated every Wednesday in the pages of The Sentinel Newspaper of North Staffordshire.
One of his notable hallmarks is to trumpet the work of innovators and social champions whether historically established, overlooked, or thrusting their way into the contemporary context of modern life as it happens now!
The man is Dave Proudlove who's quietly spoken manner, and cool and collected demeanour belies an explosive internal furnace of energy and ideas enviably capable of harnessing a multitude of muli-faceted disciplines together in an organisational masterclass that just happens to be his every day life.
If I seem to be displaying considerable bias you could be forgiven, but this is my observation.
If I seem to be strangely knowledgeable on the man, then it is through being on the receiving end of his appraisal, and it has done me no harm - in fact it has terrifyingly raised the tempo considering I was quietly minding my own business when his radar detected my minute creative endeavor, wrestlïng as it has been doing with the enormity of realising personal human stories from within the colossal historical industrial heritage that Stoke-On-Trent is, tucked away in the beautiful but decaying antiquity of a top-floor grotto that lends itself to being my studio in a former pottery works building in Longton town.
One morning Dave came to see me, and the following week I read this: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/personally-speaking-dave-proudlove-talented-pearsall-is-our-new-man-of-fire/story-30386645-detail/story.html
That painting of mine spawned a conversation of kindred thinking, and our mutual vision manifested itself as a quest to capture the essence of the vista it created. Over beers in The Congress Inn, Longton he read to me the thoughts he'd put into writing, thus;
" Ballad of the Streets is a look back at my coming of age in a working class neighbourhood as It's city lost It's industry and some of It's purpose. It is a love letter to It's people and the lives we lived together. It is a howl of fury at misguided and damaging political decisions that have eroded the character of such places, and affected people's lives.
It is also a look at the human condition in a place without definition. It is part memoir, part social commentary, laced with emotion and dark, dark humour."
It has been something of a personal journey to illustrate this title, the scope of which in the overall surface of possibility it covers, is only minutely scratched, and I come to realise that our, and millions of other childhoods throughout this city, and even the world over have kindred resonances - it does not have to be about the surroundings that we grow up within - but about the forgotten, or overlooked intricacies in the act of growing up itself.
Don't let me give the whole game away though... we don't yet have a tangible product in a finished book, although we're as close as damn-it ...
... come and see us present what we have so far!
Hosted by Trent Art Gallery, ( www.trent-art.co.uk ) in their ongoing series of artist lectures held at the prestigious Potter's Club ( thepottersclub.co.uk )
Online ticket sales: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/414653
Trent Art Gallery, 19 Brunswick Street, Newcastle-Under-Lyme. ST5 1HF.
Phone: 01782 610588 or Email: art@trent-art.co.uk
Twitter: @TrentArtGallery
Mine: @flowerboxorguk
Dave: @fslconsult
Potter's Club: @thepottersclub
