OPEN EYE GALLERY RE-LAUNCHES ON
5 NOVEMBER 2011

THE First UK Solo Show by Mitch Epstein, plus work by Chris Steele-Perkins and new commission by S Mark Gubb will he held very soon at the Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool.

The Gallery is delighted to announce the opening of its brand new gallery space, in Liverpool, will open on 5 November 2011, presenting work by world-class photographers Mitch Epstein and Chris Steele-Perkins for its programme of inaugural exhibitions.

Open Eye Gallery has been one of the UK’s leading photography spaces since 1977, and is the only gallery dedicated to photography in the North West of England. 2011 represents an exciting milestone in the history of the gallery as it moves to a brand new purpose-built home, twice the size of its former incarnation.

Located in a development on Liverpool’s Waterfront, the new gallery is a stone’s throw from Tate Liverpool and the Albert Dock, in the heart of the city’s rich cultural quarter.

Its re-launch this November reinforces Open Eye’s position as 1 of the most significant exhibitors and collectors of photography in the UK.

The new gallery is a bespoke space developed by Open Eye director Patrick Henry with architects RCKa and comprises 3 areas for exhibitions:- "The main exhibition galleries on the ground floor will showcase an international programme of cutting-edge contemporary photography, opening with award-winning, New York based photographer Mitch Epstein’s acclaimed American Power series. Awarded the prestigious 2011 Prix Pictet photographic award, the body of work reflects on energy production, power politics and the American Dream gone awry. The first floor of the gallery will house a series of exhibitions drawn from the richness of the gallery’s archives, launching with Magnum photographer Chris Steele-Perkins’ The Pleasure Principle, while the gallery’s exterior wall will be used for large-scale ‘Wall Work’ commissioned pieces, the first being a striking new artwork by S Mark Gubb. Further highlights from the opening year’s programme include Richard and Famous in January 2012... An exploration of celebrity and fandom curated by the highly influential photographer Martin Parr featuring work by Australian photographer Richard Simpkin and LA-based Simone Lueck."

Sarah Maxfield, Director of the North West, Arts Council England said:- "The Arts Council is delighted to support the opening of the new gallery space in such a high profile location. It strengthens ever further Liverpool’s claim to have the strongest visual arts sector of any English city outside the Capital. Open Eye Gallery has secured a place as one of the National Portfolio organisations for the Arts Council to 2015, bringing great art to audiences and plays a key role in the national network of photography centres."

So what's going on soon?

MAIN EXHIBITION:- Mitch Epstein; American Power. 5 November to 23 December 2011

American Power at Open Eye Gallery is the American photographer Mitch Epstein’s first solo show in the UK. Epstein was awarded the prestigious 2011 Prix Pictet photographic award for this body of work, which examines how energy is produced and used in the American landscape, questioning the power of nature, government and corporations. A reflection on the American Dream gone awry, the show has its genesis in a small town in Ohio, which Epstein documented in 2003 after compulsory land purchase by the American Electric Power company. He went on to photograph 25 US states over 6 years, with the results forming a searing depiction of the effects of mass consumption.

ARCHIVE EXHIBITION:- Chris Steele-Perkins; The Pleasure Principle. 5 November to 23 December 2011

The Pleasure Principle is a powerful and searching photographic portrait of England in the 1980s. Chris Steele-Perkins records the rapidly changing social landscape that he found after returning from extensive travels in the third world. Using ideas of pleasure he explores public rituals that cut across class and location. The result is familiar yet disturbing. Steele-Perkins also explores his complex relationship with the country he’d grown up in but had never fully felt part of. His father was English, a military officer who abandoned his Burmese mother and brought him back to England at an early age. Chris Steele-Perkins said:- “England is a strange place - funny, complex and sad. Distance yourself from it, experience other cultures, then look again. That strangeness becomes almost overwhelming.” The exhibition marks the new acquisition of works from The Pleasure Principle for Open Eye's Archive, which contains more than 1,600 prints by celebrated photographers such as Tom Wood, Martin Parr and Edith Tudor-Hart.'

WALL WORK:- S Mark Gubb. 5 November 2011 to 23 December 2011

The first in a series of striking new commissions for the exterior façade of Open Eye Gallery. Gubb’s design incorporates dazzle camouflage, historically used as a paint scheme for warships to confuse the enemy. Consisting of a complex pattern of geometric shapes in contrasting colours, this technique made it difficult for the enemy to estimate the size, speed and direction the ships were travelling, preventing them from getting a 'perfect shot.' Over the top of the dazzle camouflage, Gubb has overlaid the last words of revolutionary American poet, natural scientist and historian Henry David Thoreau:- “Now comes good sailing…”

The new location for the Open Eye Gallery is 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Merseyside, L3 1BP.

YOUNG BRITONS VOTE ALTON TOWERS AS THEIR TOP BRITISH ICONIC LANDMARK

THE UK’s most popular theme park, Alton Towers, the world’s largest 4 faced chiming clock, Big Ben and Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, the London Eye have all been voted Britain’s top iconic landmarks by young Britons, says a new poll.

The children’s tourism report conducted by budget hotel chain Travelodge surveyed 2,000 young Britons to attain their views on which UK attractions they rate to be the best British iconic landmarks as well as the Staycation break.

Key findings from the study revealed today’s youth have a much more modern outlook in regards to their definition of a landmark and are more interested in what a place has to offer rather than it’s historical significance.

Within the 10 listing of top iconic UK landmarks as voted by youngsters, with only 4 historic landmarks making the bill, like:-

► Big Ben, the 152 year old clock which is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London

► The world heritage site also the best known frontier in the entire Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall

► Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, the Tower of London which was founded in 1066

► Edinburgh Castle, the fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, from its position atop the volcanic castle rock

Modern day, fun themed attractions such as Alton Towers, the London Eye, Lego Land, Blackpool Tower, London Zoo and Wembley Stadium made up the remaining top ten list of iconic landmarks.

Listed below are the top 10 British landmarks as voted by young Britons:-
 

1.	Alton Towers	6.	Hadrian’s Wall
2.	Big Ben	7.	Tower of London
3.	London Eye	8.	Edinburgh Castle
4.	Lego Land	9.	London Zoo
5.	Blackpool Tower	10.	Wembley Stadium

Respondents from the study were also asked what type of UK attractions they had visited so far this year. In first place was the beloved British seaside. Interestingly in second place, 46% of young Britons stated they had visited a museum and in third place 44% of kids reported a trip to the zoo. Listed below are the top seven UK attractions British children have visited so far in 2011:-
 

1.	Beach	5.	National Park
2.	Museum	6.	Safari Park
3.	Zoo	7.	Art Gallery
4.	Theme Park

The survey also investigated young Britons views on taking a Staycation break and tested their knowledge on UK cities. Findings revealed eight out ten British children (84%) don’t know how many cities there are in the UK. A shocking 1 in 10 young Britons thought there were only ten cities in the UK. 4 out of 10 youngsters thought there were between 20 to 30 cities in Great Britain.

Over a third of children (37%) surveyed stated they did not know the difference between a city and a town.

Further findings revealed 44% of British children have visited London, whilst only 17% of youngsters have taken a trip to Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh and just 14% have been to the Welsh capital city Cardiff. Around 15% of young Britons have visited top UK historic cities such as Cambridge and Oxford. In comparison 39% of youngsters have already visited Paris, 18% have been to Barcelona and one in ten British children have crossed the Atlantic and visited the Big Apple (New York). One and ten youngsters have been to Amsterdam.

Nearly half of children (48%) reported they enjoy visiting different parts of the UK and experiencing the different regional attributes of Great Britain. Over a third (36%) of young Britons reported they think it’s important to explore the UK in order to get a better understanding of their birth country. One in ten children reported they would like to see more of the UK but their parents always make them go abroad.

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said that:- "Its great news for the UK tourism industry that today’s youngsters enjoy holidaying on British shores and that they appreciate the value of experiencing what makes Great Britain so great. Older generations grew up on Staycation breaks, but it’s a lot more difficult for young Britons, as parents are eager to visit foreign shores now; making it harder for their children to explore Britain. To help feed young Britons appetite for exploring the UK, parents need to invest in more UK breaks. It’s amazing what lies on your door step such as an historic city, beautiful coastal scenery or the British countryside which is world renowned for its stunning, scenic natural beauty."

Over a quarter of children said they would like to visit the London because they would like to see the Queen, Prince William and Princess Catherine. 1 in 10 youngsters would like to take a trip up north to Newcastle to visit the birth city of Cheryl Cole. A fifth of youngsters reported they would like to visit Manchester and Liverpool to see the grounds of their favourite football team.

The report also asked British children which city they would most like to visit and listed below are the top 10 results:-
 

1.	London	6.	Brighton
2.	Edinburgh	7.	York
3.	Manchester	8.	Belfast
4.	Liverpool	9.	Cambridge
5.	Bath	10.	Newcastle

Young Britons voted London for having the nicest regional accent, followed by Dublin, Newcastle, Edinburgh and then Liverpool!

The information came from the children’s tourism report that was conducted in August 2011, asking children aged from 6 to 16 years of age.