Side Gallery
Introduction
Welcome to Side Gallery
Since opening in 1977, the gallery's been committed to documentary in the tradition of the concerned photographer - our own production/commissions in the North of England and the historical and contemporary work from around the world, which continues to inspire us. Talks are organised around most of the exhibitions. The gallery sells a range of photography books, posters, postcards and prints, along with Amber films on DVD.
OPEN: TUESDAY - SATURDAY, 11am - 5pm, Admission FREE
Current Exhibition
24 July - 18 September 2010
STATESIDE
American Documentary from the Side Collection.
Lewis Hine, Walker Evans, Weegee, Russell Lee, James Perry Walker, Eugene Richards and others.
From 'The Preacher and his Congregation' by James Perry Walker
Developing its own 40 year exploration of North East England, the Amber collective has drawn inspiration from American documentary from its earliest days. Lewis Hine’s commitment to a content-led social agenda; the Farm Securities Administration project which used photographers such as Russell Lee, Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange to articulate the case for Roosevelt’s New Deal; Weegee’s work in the 30s/40s/50s, almost creating a myth of New York out of its tight geographical focus. Side Gallery was visited both by Russell Lee, whose American Mining Communities is held in the collection, and Weegee’s widow Wilma Wilcox, who gave Amber what is the largest representation of his work outside New York - much previously unseen at Side.
In the 1980s Side Gallery showed Eugene Richard’s powerful exploration of American poverty Below The Line. More recently the gallery showed James Perry Walker’s wonderful documentation of Black Southern Baptist communities, The Preacher and His Congregation. Stateside is drawn from these and other works.
STATESIDE at The Sage Gateshead Friday 2 July to Saturday 31 July
From 'American Mining Communities' by Russell Lee
Such are the riches of the collection, Side Gallery is stepping across the river to hang complementary sets of photographs by Weegee, Russell Lee, James Perry Walker and Eugene Richards in the foyer of The Sage Gateshead. The exhibition will open on July 2 when The Sage Gateshead will also play host to New Orleans piano legend Dr John. Stateside is part of The Sage Gateshead’s SummerTyne Americana Festival (22 – 25 July) which this year features international guests including Solomon Burke, Rosanne Cash and Jakob Dylan.
SummerTyne is supported by ONE North East