It’s really not long now until my show opens at Kirkleatham Museum.

16th June marks the opening of a three month run of my show ‘One Suitcase’ at Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar.

The show brings together all the stories anecdotes, saved images and treasured items from my amazing interviewees – all of whom have experience of being, being related to or living alongside people who came to Teesside from Ireland and the Commonwealth between 1949 and the 70s.

You’ll find the history behind this period, and installations using text, textile and sound as well as opportunities to find out what people said they’d bring and a chance to take part yourself. There’s even a space for our young visitors. Find more about this project HERE and keep your eye out on my socials for the private view

While you’re there, take a look at their ‘Lemon Tops and Lobster Pots’ exhibition about our local seaside town of Redcar!

See if you can spot the cheeky Seagull.

You can also find the whole set of designs as stickers over at Whole Lot of Rosie

Tees Zine Fest

While that’s been coming to an end, I’ve been brewing a festival with my friend and amazing illustrator Kathryn Rose.

Sadie from The Word (who is also my daughter Sadie) made us this little logo, to set us off and we’re starting plans for Teesside’s first Zine fest in central Middlesbrough on 26th November! We’re over on insta and it’s Early days, but we’ve bagged an amazing venue with the help of Navigator North

Get in touch at teeszinefest@gmail.com

And The Rest

Our One Suitcase project will hopefully then lead on to an extension, working with the amazing Rumana of Bok Bok books to take stories of saved treasures from afar into children’s storybook form, with a way of getting everyone involved through a visiting Indian Truckpainted Bus….. enough for now , need to keep the rest under wraps!

Other stuff .. so I’m having work as part of One Suitcase in Middlesbrough’s Art Weekender but thought I’d have a go at the Open call . I’m glad to say that from 140 applications, both I and son George (gergnoise) have been shortlisted as two of 21 artists who were chosen to go to the next stage. This will be my first Open Call as a purely freelance artist which is really exciting for us both, We’ll see if we make it to the end..

And why would I not just apply to do a PhD in the middle of this … if you know me, you’ll know I have a referral for ADD/ ADHD so that probably explains a lot, but I THRIVE on having loads of balls up in the air. so yes .. again early days for this one – Loads of things you can get involved in so I”ll keep you all updated

As I type I’m recovering from major surgery, but very much able to move on and return to everyday work and life. It’s been a long road as my first surgery date was at the beginning of lockdown. – Since Oct 2022 I’ve had 4 dates which have been cancelled so when I returned to hospital a few weeks ago and the surgery went ahead it was amazing. It’ll be life changing but I’ll talk more the next time I post.

As you can tell … lots to further talk about but too much for one post.

Back to One Suitcase – Get yourself there, and post on your socials if you do using #onesuitcase

As I type I’m just going through all the amazing interviews I’ve done so far with One Suitcase, and thinking about some of the things I’ve heard – so much have I learned.

As someone who tends to think of themselves as a Teessider, born in the Boro and tracing just about every one of my relatives to some connection with Middlesbrough, I thought I knew more about the town.

I had a chat to an amazing couple before Christmas – Shenaz and Tariq, who still live in Middlesbrough and came to the town as little ones, living in the Canon Street/Newport area ( where Cannon Park industrial estate sits). Shenaz told me about her dad’s restaurant, and the closeness of people there. Tariq enlightened me about the Cannon Street riot, known as the first British race riot. not a good look for the town and perhaps why it’s not something within common discussion., as well as the riot having started after the fatal stabbing of a young local lad, whose family I believe are still alive.

During the riot people who lived in the area with a non-white background hid in the restaurant, which was barricaded, and there was certain fear that those inside would be killed. Luckily after days of rioting the local police managed to quell the rage, but many businesses had been damaged by this time. There’s an article about the riot here from the Gazette, our local newspaper https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/gallery/photos-middlesbroughs-cannon-street-used-23204253

Images From “urbanBelonging: History and the Power of Place” by Tosh Warwick https://pure.hud.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/14086763/From_First_World_War_anti_German_sentim.pdf

I spoke to some retired women from Thorntree who had also lived in the streets about their experience of living there .. They had really fond memories of the area, all the shops and the friendships they made, and I chatted to Maria, from an Irish Catholic background. She’s also lived in this area.

Maria’s memories of being an Irish Catholic in Middlesbrough were familiar. I’m not religious but was brought up Catholic, my religion originating from my Irish and Scottish ancestors both Paternally and Maternally. Maria’s images and artefacts really struck a chord, and it reminded that being from that background will always be part of my identity. It’s helped me understand what people brought in the first place.

So .. where from here ? An exhibition in June, and Art Weekender and Festival of thrift in September, where all the sounds and sights of the project will come together. More research on Cannon Street and more people to interview!