THING OF THE WEEK
METHOD MAN...Capital & Centric and Kamani are teaming up to deliver something – they haven’t decided what yet – on a 14,000 sq ft site off Swan Street in Manchester. It could be residential, it could be a hotel, all we know is that if it is half as good as the artwork which has appeared on the units which currently occupy the site, then we’re in for a treat. Street artist Marcus Method, a dab hand with a can of spray paint, has given the buildings a new lease of life while Adam, Adam and Tim decide what they’re going to build.
PLAQUE-NIFICANT.. A plaque that details the history of the Together Trust, and marks it as a place of historical significance, is due to be mounted next to the entrance of Sunlight House on Quay Street, Manchester. The charity, which was originally named a Night Refuge for Homeless Boys, was established on 12 January 1840. Nowadays, the charity is based in Cheadle and provides care for children and adults with autism, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Good deeds deserve good plaques.
BONES & BOATS…Liverpool Biennial, the largest visual contemporary arts festival in the UK, is due to return this year for its 11th edition. Named The Stomach and the Port, the art show will explore “notions of the body and ways of connecting with the world,” and will feature over 50 works of arts dotted around the city. The application for the first is already in with Exchange Flags in line to play host to a five-piece sculpture resembling bones and kayaks fastened to plinths. Sounds… interesting?
FEELING BLUE…Across the North West, and indeed the country, the public took to its doorsteps and balconies to show support and appreciation for the NHS and front line workers by filling the empty streets with the echoes of applause. In a similar vein, buildings across the region were lit blue in a nod to those working day and night to keep us safe. We picked out a selection of our favourites.
PINING FOR PINTS… If you’ve spent much of your time in home-based isolation wistfully reminiscing about a lovely hand-pumped cask ale – THING certainly has – there’s a quiz doing the rounds that might help to ease the pain. Test your knowledge of Manchester pubs, bars, and clubs past and present in emoji form – there’s some dearly-departed boozers, frankly terrible bars, classier establishments, and some cracking pubs that’ll need your help once coronavirus blows over all in the mix. THING can’t profess to have been in all of them, although your author has supped a pint in a good handful, but it’s nice to remember what going to the pub was actually like. THING’s current high score is 21 out of 40 – see if you can get them all.
BRICK IT… Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery in Carlisle is asking for submissions of Lego models that reflect Carlisle’s history in a project called Brick History. People are invited to build anything based on its history including its Viking or Victorian heritage, or from Celts to Carlisle United. Submissions are opening on 27 June and will close on 27 September. Be right back, just ordering some Lego…