|
Record number of runners
attend Decathlon City of Salford 10K
THE celebrated photographer Mike
McCartney officially opened his new exhibition at St George’s Hall Liverpool on
Friday evening with the iconic venue as the focus. Entitled, Mike McCartney Luvs
St George’s Hall, the exhibition runs until Sunday, 18 October.
The evocative exhibition features 60 fascinating images depicting the Liverpool
landmark and spans more than ½ a century, from the 1960's through to the present
day. All of the images have been taken by self taught photographer Mike,
alongside a small selection of his favourite shots of the stunning Grade I
Listed building.
The exhibition will also mark the opening of a further public
area in the fascinating Catacombs, which run underneath St George’s Hall. This
is a new gallery space, never before open to the public.
Photographer, musician and author, 71 year old Mike’s career has taken an
illustrious path, through music and the arts. The father of 6, lives with his
family on the Wirral.
The Merseybeat era played a huge role in Mike’s life. He was ⅓ of cult 1960's
band Scaffold, alongside Roger McGough and John Gorman. Widely known for their
satirical comedy act, things took a turn towards the music charts in 1967 when
Mike penned their 1st Top 5 hit single, Thank U Very Much, a favourite of the
Queen Mother and the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
This was followed in 1968 by another hit song, Lily The Pink which reached the
Number 1 spot and stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks. Already
photographing fellow bands at this time, Mike was nicknamed ‘Flash Harry’ by The
Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein for always using a flash gun for his live
pictures.
Mike is just as famous for his art as his music and poetry. He has staged
exhibitions across the world, including Japan, America and Canada.
Mike’s photographs resulted in the National Trust restoring and opening 20
Forthlin Road as a tourist attraction. This is Mike’s childhood home in
Liverpool, which he shared with his older brother Paul.
Mike’s photographs have also been featured in Q Magazine’s Greatest Rock and
Roll Photographs of All Time, and have been shown worldwide on MTV’s Rolling
Stone 100 Greatest Pop Songs programme.
2 real honours for Mike are having 11 of his photographs bought
for the nation and exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London; and
also personally greeting the Queen at the Museum Of Liverpool to show her his
exhibition, Mike McCartney’s Liverpool.
Photographer Mike McCartney commented:- "When I was asked to do an
exhibition for Liverpool's prestigious St George's Hall I was firstly chuffed,
but then thought 'an exhibition of WHAT?’ Initially I was planning a Liverpool
based number of images with a few of the Hall thrown in, but when I searched
through my vast repertoire of Scouse pics I was amazed at how long I had loved
and photographed this magnificent building! In fact I've been snapping her and
things appertaining her from the 60's, right up to now! Including Scaffold's
first Black & White press photo in Codman's Punch and Judy Show frame... St
George's ace organ and magnificent Minton Tiles... Marilyn Monroe in the Great
Hall… The launch of our European Capital of Culture, with Ringo on the roof!
Plus John Conteh, Les Dennis, Sue Johno, Doddy, etc inside... the start of
Liverpool Gay Pride parade… the hall's various implements of torture!.. Santa
Claus with my grandsons... plus a few secrets...to name, but 1! I hope you enjoy
my 'Mike McCartney Luvs St George's Hall' exi, and your trip down Memory Lane"
Alan Smith, General Manager at St George’s Hall, added:-
“Mike’s work expresses a never ending sense of joy, colour and abounding pride
in the images he records. The legacy of Mike’s work are rarely outspanned by
anyone else. There is a steely eye for detail, but also a beautiful ability to
tell a story in his work, whilst allowing the viewer to discover their own tales
as they view the images. All this is built on Mike’s sheer ability as an artist
and a photographer. It is very exciting to host Mike’s work, and one of the
spaces to show the pictures has never been used as an exhibition space since the
hall opened in 1854. To recognise this milestone, the room will subsequently be
known as the McCartney Gallery.”
The exhibit runs until Sunday, 18 October 2015. It is open daily from 10am to
5pm. Entrance fee is just:- £2.50 payable on door. |
