Lowry and MOSI

A bright, clear blue sky greeted our day in Manchester - although clouds returned by lunch time. Rain kept away until after we had returned to the boat for the evening.

Reconstructed Grocers' Warehouse

Metrolink Tram (going the other way!)

We began with a Metrolink tram trip to Salford Quays to visit the Lowry Centre and its current exhibition of Lowry art works. On our walk to the tram stop we took a closer look at Castlefield basin and explanatory displays. At one time it was dominated by a large transhipment warehouse designed by Telford. He introduced water power to mechanise the lifting of goods from boats into the warehouse floors above. Sadly the original building was demolished some time ago but the first two floors were reconstructed to show what it was like.

From Harbour Quay we walked across a footbridge crossing one of the former docks that were once so important to the life of Manchester.

There is much variety in the architecture of the modern development of this area.

Lowry Centre

MediaCity UK

We soon arrived at the Lowry Centre and also had a view of MediaCity UK across the other side of the dock.

Inside the building is most impressive - strong colours dominate much of the space. As well as the gallery there are three theatre spaces and conference facilities, but we had a little wait before the exhibition opened so we visited the coffee shop first!

Photography is not allowed in the gallery so, dear reader, you will have to rely on words to gain some feeling for our experience (although here is a photograph of the exhibition flier)

For this summer the gallery have assembled the largest collection of Lowry works ever displayed and it certainly was an amazing variety. As well as many of the better known industrial paintings, there was real insight into his later life with many of the pencil drawings, quite a few of which only came to light after he died and his 'workroom' was dismantled.

Far from the rather naive painter that Lowry has sometimes been portrayed as being he was obviously exceedingly complex. He had a long art school training which developed considerable draughtsman skills which he cherished throughout his career.
In his later years he moved away from portraying the industrial scene, many based on the mills he saw around him in the Manchester area. He turned much more to sketching people - his last phase had strange animal-like creatures alongside the people.

He probably never really overcame the negative domination of his mother, whom he cared for over several years when she became bedridden after his father's death. As well as spending a lot of time looking at the exhibition and the careful comments alongside the pictures, we gained further insight from the curator who was conducting a tour and commenting on some of the key items. His summary of the Amy painting (with which Lowry surprised the Royal Academy) and many other drawings of the same - still unidentified - person. Lowry, it seems, delighted in telling journalists and other enquirers quite different stories about who she was and where she came from - all probably fictional!

 

By the time we were able to tear ourselves away from the gallery it was definitely lunch time. A gentle stroll from the Lowry Centre gave a chance to see more footbridges, including one that seems to be a lift bridge, and the Imperial War Museum North on the other side of the ship canal.

Imperial War Museum North

The space in front of the Lowry Centre - people walking in different directions much as we had earlier seen them depicted by Lowry.

We took a look at the different options in the Retail Outlet Centre and opted for an oriental buffet lunch. Absolutely wonderful - a good selection of dishes to choose from and all you could eat! We friendly service we were really pleased with our choice. No need for dinner tonight!

We wandered across to MediaCity, passing one of the sculptures that have been commissioned to recall the almost lost history of the docks - only a few indications, apart from the stretches of water, can now be seen.

We took the Metrolink tram back to Deansgate and then visited the Museum of Science and Industry. Spread across five buildings, each of which was important in the industrial and commercial development of the city, MOSI is a fascinating and informative array, ranging from computers, textiles, steam and many other aspects - well, that's the parts that we had time to investigate!

Reconstruction of Baby - an early computer

Spinning Mule

There were a number of talks and demonstrations - we managed to catch most of one about the cotton spinning and weaving industry. We were taken through all of the stages from sorting the bales of cotton when they arrived, through the formation of rovings, the operation of the spinning mules to the looms where the cloth was finally woven.

After a mug of tea we left and walked back to the boat - we had to pick up some rolls as we no longer needed the dinner that we had planned!