Next week the largest exhibition to date of photographs by American academic and documentary filmmaker Janet Mendelsohn opens at Ikon Gallery.
Part of a photo-essay Mendelsohn made as a student at the University of Birmingham during 1967–69, the photographs depict everyday life in the Balsall Heath area of Birmingham. They are a wonderful snapshot of the streets and bomb-sites of Balsall Heath and Highgate on the brink of great change.
The Social Eye of Janet Mendelsohn – On Saturday 30 January join a panel of leading artists, academics and professionals at the Library of Birmingham to explore the value of art that works with communities to tell real stories; as well as issues around gender, representation and social/political narratives in art.
Janet Mendelsohn: Varna Road runs from 27 January – 3 April 2016 at Ikon.
I saw the exhibition today it was shocking but fascinating. My father also took some photographs around that time in the sixties. He was at Bournville College of Art. His name was Mike Banner. If anybody remembers him or might know if he was a friend of Janet’s please let me know.
Maybe he was influenced by her work or it was just a coincidence. It is hard to imagine that level of poverty and a reminder of where as a country we don’t want to be.
Thanks.