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Monday, 20 September 2010

Wash out

Sadly, the weather for the final weekend of the Saltaire Festival was a bit of a wash-out. Chilly grey skies on Saturday and incessant drizzle on Sunday. Added to that, I managed to injure my back on Saturday morning. Don't ask me how... I just bent down to pick something up and - aaargh! I did have a hobble round in Saltaire for a while but neither I nor the light was in a good frame of mind for photography. So the finale went undocumented by me, though you can see a few photos on Paul's blog Leeds Daily Photo.

I did however manage to visit some of the exhibitions. The photo above shows part of a multi-media installation in one of the houses on Ada Street, "Ghosts of Ada Street" (by David Honeybone, Jonathan Lindh, Jean Sagheddu, Lynette Willoughby, Terry Wragg & Sue Wray) suggesting "the faint remains of lives lived and generations moved on". It was a thought-provoking comment on Sir Titus Salt's legacy - his benevolent provision for his workers within his 'model village' but also his expectation that the residents should be 'model villagers', sober and hard-working.  As in the case of the Wash-House spurned (see my post of 13 August 2009), some of these expectations had limited success. There are echoes in the present constraints on residents imposed by Saltaire being a conservation area.

16 comments:

  1. Like it and hope your back improves quickly.

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  2. Sorry to hear that the weather was a wash-out for the festival finale. Even more sorry to hear about your back. Here's wishing you a speedy recovery.

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  3. I was just outside Leeds for the weekend, passed a sign for Salt Mill; visited the Media Museum in Bradford.

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  4. This is a very cool b&w image!
    Sorry about the back problem, wish you get better soon.

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  5. I have done that 'bend down' to pick up something more than I wanted to in my life and had my back go out. That Hurts Soooo Bad! Usually settles in the lower back and I do my share of complaining. Hope you're up and around now.

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  6. excellent tones, i also love your lady in red.

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  7. First, I'm sorry to hear about your back, Jenny. I can relate, having had chronic back issues for a dozen years, and then suddenly they disappeared, never to return, knock on wood. Hope you feel fit as a fiddle soon.

    I like your post title and the story with fitting image. You cover your fascinating town so well!

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  8. Glad you managed to visit some of the exhibitions.

    Hope you get well really soon.

    What a lovely picture!

    B

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  9. I caught a glimpse of Saltaire some years ago when touring Britain. I thought the concept fascinating, but it was a dreary day when I visited and I was 'all touristed-out' after several months overseas, so I didn't pay the attention I should have done. I'll be back to make more on-line visits! (No lugging luggage!)

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  10. And I thought you were showing us your laundry! :) It's a nice, moody b&w shot. I hope your back feels better for you soon.

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  11. That's the trouble with philanthropists -- once they give the money, the feel they have the right to dictate not only its use, but quite a few other things as well.

    Hope your back improves soon!

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  12. Oh no! I do hope for a speedy recovery from your back pain. Are you trying to tell us that if the weather had been better you may have continued shooting for us!! What a trooper, hope you feel better soon. ~Lili

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  13. Very intersting blog. I love the image you added here. How unique.
    Hope you back is better. It could take time. Lots of heat with a wheat bag helps.
    Get to feeling better.

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  14. Hi bit strange to see my backyard on your blog but very interesting all the same. Also my colleague Marilyn is the extra in your South Riding photographs. Small world indeed.

    Look forward to seeing you maybe in May for the next Arts Trail.

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