Contact Us | Press Office | BEHIND THE BARBER Pete Marshall – Photojournalist in Residence
PRESS RELEASE
Behind the Barber :
A Photographic Odyssey
13 August to 10 October 2010
Lady Barber Gallery
FREE ADMISSION
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is pleased to announce the first exhibition of contemporary photography to be staged in the gallery. Pete Marshall, who trained at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University, is a renowned photojournalist who specialises in environmental photography, capturing the relationships between people, their working lives and the environments in which they function. For the last 8 months Pete has been our official Photographer in Residence, capturing images of the galleries and concert hall as well as being granted special permission to photograph behind the scene activities ranging from the mounting of exhibitions to attendance at exclusive patrons private views. His atmospheric and illuminating images reveal to the public the wide range of activities and events which take place at the Institute, reflecting the multi disciplinary nature of our remit. Pete not only took informal images but he also posed staff in front of their favourite works. A poll will be launched this autumn to establish the public’s favourite paintings in the internationally famous collections.
Pete is now a post graduate student himself in the History of Art Department at the University of Birmingham which is based in the Barber and therefore a regular visitor to the spaces. He has lectured on the project and has also been collaborating with young talented photographers from BIAD who have made their own responses to Behind the Barber. A selection of their work will be unveiled in the Function1 exhibition, the first in a series of annual shows, which opens in the Education Gallery on 7 September when an award will be made for most outstanding photograph. Pete Marshall sat on the Selection Panel for the Function1 awards.
Pete Marshall explained: ‘Being a photographer is basically an excuse to be nosy. I wanted to see what happened behind the scenes at the Barber, so I asked to take the staff in front of theier favourite images and to be given access to a wide variety of activities’.
Professor Ann Sumner, Director of the Barber Institute commented ‘It has been an inspiring experience working with Pete who has tirelessly documented the staff in their everyday activities in their offices, in the galleries, on the shop floor, preparing for concerts and exhibitions, in meetings, lecturing and engaging with the visitors. He has brought the Institute to life, allowing the public a rare opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes and see the staff engaged and dedicated to our mission to bring the study of art and music to the University and wider communities. It has been an especial pleasure to work with Pete and Rob Gibb from BIAD. I’m delighted with the fascinating and thought provoking images Pete has produced. We know that this show will appeal not only to our own students but to photography students across the region and to the wider West Midlands public. This show will do much to transform the image of the Barber for all who visit it’.
For more details, please see our website at www.barber.org.uk/behindbarber.html
For further information, images or to arrange interviews with Pete Marshall and Ann Sumner contact: Barber Press and Marketing Officer Andrew Davies on 0121 414 2946/07769 958114 or at andrewdavies@barber.org.uk.
| For further information, please contact Andrew Davies, Barber Press and Marketing Officer, on 0121 414 2946 or andrewdavies@barber.org.uk |