Art revolution brings people onto the streets
HUGE murals drew in huge crowds to Rochdale town centre as part of an art festival.
Street artists from across the UK and Europe gave the town a fresh lick of paint during the Rochdale Uprising event.
Twelve murals have been created on buildings such as the Pioneers Museum on Toad Lane and on the back wall of Marks and Spencer off Yorkshire Street.
The festival was led by Rochdale-born artist Hayley Garner, one half of
mural duo Nomad Clan.
Hayley, 36, said: “As far as I know everyone seemed to get really positive feedback including from the artists they really enjoyed it.
“Everyone I spoke to seemed to be really blown away by the fact that we managed to do this in Rochdale.
“They see it as a positive thing bringing a lot of colour to the area.”
She said visitors came from far and wide for the event with one woman even travelling from Dubai.
“I know a lot of people travelled here which is crazy,” Hayley said.
“We have very passionate fans and to get some of those people who have probably never heard of Rochdale a success on its own.
“The best thing about it is that we don’t just turn up and then leave - there is something left behind.”
Nomad Clan’s contribution is a huge mural showing cotton workers and miners, a nod to Rochdale’s industrial past.
It also shows the construction of Rochdale’s landmark Seven Sisters flats and the wind turbines on nearby Scout Moor.
Speaking before the festival was launched Hayley, whose grandma owned a wool shop in Rochdale and whose family still live in the borough, said: “Our mural will celebrate the major role that Rochdale played on the world stage through the textile industry and as part of that we’ll be highlighting women, who were often the backbone of it.
“I’ve wanted to get my hands on the Regal Moon for years, so I was really excited when the council approached me about doing a street art festival here.”
The former Kenion Street recording studios, which played host to the likes of The Fall, has been adorned with piece paying homage to Joy Division’s album Unknown Pleasures - the band recorded at the studio earlier in their career - and the long demolished Ashfield Valley flats, which was once home to a thriving punk scene.
On Water Street, close to the council’s headquarters, artist Philth has paid tribute to Rochdale’s cotton mill heritage, by painting eight cotton bolls.
The Walk, a well-known shopping alley, has also got a giant new street sign painted by artist Lei Mai.
And Manchester-based artist Tasha Whittle has created a bright mural of smiling daisies on the wall of the Pioneers Museum.
●●Pictures by Vincent Cole