Tees Transporter Bridge 108th Birthday Exhibition at RoRo Studios: An interview with curator Rosie Morris
The Tees Transporter Bridge depicted alongside other Middlesbrough icons
The Tees Transporter Bridge is one of the UK’s most recognisable bridges and a landmark of Teesside. Heritage Unlocked is currently working with Cleveland Bridge, designers of the bridge, to enhance access to the company’s heritage and celebrate the area’s engineering and industrial history. Heritage Unlocked’s Dr Tosh Warwick caught up with artist Rosie Morris during a visit to her RoRo Studio in the shadow of the ‘Tranny’ to learn more about the recent Tees Transporter Bridge 108th Birthday Exhibition at the gallery.
RoRo Studio is located within minutes walk of the Transporter Bridge and you have spectacular views of the historic crossing. What inspired you to establish the gallery ?
Situated within Transporter Park, in the shadow of Transporter Bridge, the gallery is actually my studio within my home. When not using it for my art practice I transform it into an art space and throw exhibitions. Being my home, I want this to feel like a home from home art space; welcoming, with no judgement and open to all to submit. As such, I love receiving submissions of artwork from locals, general public, people who don’t consider themselves artists or that just dabble in it as a hobby. Exhibitions generally last 7-8 days and opening times vary.
Artwork on show during the 108th birthday exhibition
Can you tell us a little more about the exhibitions that you have held at RoRo this year?
This year we have held a range of exhibitions spanning a range of themes. In February we held a one day student show working with a group of art students from Teesside University. The official RoRo launch exhibition in March focused around International Women's Day and all 19 artists exhibiting were women. May saw Radio 1 Big Weekend come to Middlesbrough; to celebrate I hosted a week long exhibition titled “Inspired by Middlesbrough” and I asked for submissions of any art/poetry/sculpture/craft to be shown that is inspired in some way by the town. In July, the art space was hired by a local art tutor, showcasing her classes work for a week in the heart of Middlesbrough.
Can you tell us what inspired the Transporter Bridge exhibition?
In October, the Tees Transporter Bridge turned 108, and having the studio so close, I just had to host a Transporter themed exhibition. The opening night of the exhibition marked its birthday on 17th October. As the overriding theme for this particular show was the Transporter Bridge, every piece of artwork showed an aspect of it in some way. Some paintings were true to life depictions, others were more abstract. Coloured pencil drawings were displayed along with illustrations, lino-cut prints and etchings. Photography featured heavily with artists playing with the lighting of the bridge on a night time. Two artists submitted poetry. Including such different mediums within one group show makes it more diverse, interesting and appeals to a wider variety of visitors.
A variety of depictions of the Tees landmark on show at RoRo Studio
What has been the response to the exhibition from visitors?
Visitors have been so supportive and encouraging; they loved seeing the bridge celebrated in this way. On a few occasions, visitors that crossed paths in the gallery chatted to each other about the bridge, their history with it and personal stories of what the bridge means to them; for instance, walking across the top of it many, many years ago after one too many at the local pubs!
Many people have strong associations and attachments to the bridge. What does the Transporter mean to you?
To me, the bridge means that I’m home. When here, there isn’t a day pass by that I don’t see it. I see people walking past, taking photographs and being in awe of it. It is such a strange looking structure really, very simple and effective in drawing the eye. Across Teesside you can see it from all kinds of angles and its changing perspective. A classic landmark of this area, you see that bridge on anything such as logos for companies and you just know, yep, Middlesbrough.
A view of the Transporter Bridge from outside RoRo Studio, Transporter Park
Your own works takes inspiration from the historic and post-industrial surroundings of St. Hilda’s. What is it like living here and having a gallery ‘over the border’?
Living ‘over the border’ since 2014 has been genuinely mint. Being so close to the industry of the river, the industrial estates and all these wonderful buildings - I can’t help but be inspired and informed by them through my art practice. I may do something totally abstract and later realise just the colours and shapes of it could have been drawn from the area, it’s as if the surrounding textures and elements are seeping into the subconscious, which I suppose it is.
Having a pop up gallery here in Transporter Park is great; more because of the conversations with visitors who haven’t been to this area in years. Some still have old preconceptions of what it used to be like. They are taken aback by the landscape of it, the green hills of the Old Town, the quietness. I have had many visitors who are shocked houses are even here, but houses always were over here, if more would be built the community would really thrive. Hearing visitors memories of the area is really interesting and always a topic of conversation. I see a lot on the internet of people bemoaning the area, or wanting it to be back to how it was 100 years ago. I’d love to invite them in, come and see it for how it is now and hear their stories of their experiences here. I enjoy living in Middlesbrough and within such close proximity to the town and river. The summer walks down the river are just something else.
What future exhibitions and collaborations are on the horizon?
Next year, I’d love to do a children only exhibition - kids artwork is great, so joyful and free. I have also toyed with the idea of having a MFC exhibition - celebrating the local football club and culture around it - that may be a collaboration to pursue. I am open to suggestions from locals - if they have an idea for an exhibition or an aspect of the local town they want to celebrate that can get in touch and we can see what we can put together. The space is also open for hire too for any groups'/artists/hobbyists wishing to display their arts/crafts.
More information on RoRo Studio can be found at Facebook.com/rorostudioboro, on Instagram @rorostudio or by email at rosie@rorostudio.co.uk.
Rosie Morris at RoRo Studio
Dr Tosh Warwick interviewed Rosie Morris as part of Heritage Unlocked’s ‘Features’ section which includes interviews and reports on heritage and history news and projects across the UK. More information can be found at www.heritageunlocked.com.
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