Whitworth Art Gallery: The Launch in Photos

Rooftop pyrotechnics engulf the skies overhead.

A photography exhibition lines the corridor.

Images are projected onto the new building's wall, which will feature film screenings and displays in the future.

Photos & video: Tom Warman

Marble Brewing Day - Photo Blog

A fortnight ago we found ourselves under the Victoria railway line arches in our wellies, gazing down a chute into the depths of a mill where freshly poured malts were filtering through the first stage of Marble Beers' brewing system.

Here's Joe demonstrating.

We were still digesting an earlier brewery tour courtesy of Matthew Howgate, the Head Brewer here who has been captaining a sturdy ship since taking the position at the start of this year.

This has included increased production of the core Marble beers, including Lagonda IPA, Manchester Bitter and Pint, along with less frequent, more selective specials.

Our brewing expert and guide for the day is Slav (above), whose work behind the bar at the nearby Marble Arch pub has led to a successful transition to become a respected brewer within the company.

Also working on the Marble team was Johnny (above), who originally applied to a part-time bartending advert and subsequently became a Marble van driver, taking the finished ales to several pubs and bars both near and far. He is now embarking on a traineeship to become a brewer himself and is due to take his exams next May.

As the natural starch in the malts was converted to sugars in 66°C brewing water in the first tank, our ale was still a distant pipe dream. 50 minutes later and with a malty mash now formed, we had the basis of our future alcohol.

But after the sugary liquid has flowed from that tank to the copper kettle, the addition of hops started to offer the scent of our end product. We used Herkules, Simcoe, Riwaka and Columbus.

While all these ingredients are brewing, Slav checked a sample of the yeast under the microscope ahead its inclusion at the final stage.

The used malts were cleaned out of the first tank and deposited into barrels to be taken to a local farm and fed to cows, which apparently follow the sweet scent of the barrels in the delivery van on its arrival. I climbed inside the tank to finish the cleaning process.

Once this process has been completed, the all important final stage begins. As the nascent beer lowers to the correct temperature, it was migrated to its brewing container.

Yeast is added along with oxygen to stimulate the yeast.

Last but not least, we can have a taste of the final mixture with its week of brewing ahead.

The limited edition 3.7% pale ale brewed with oats and five hop varieties will be on rotation in pubs across Manchester from Friday 27 June. Look out for the pump clip above.

Words & photos: Ian Pennington

Now Then in Gorton: Event Photography

We staged the first event of our summer series on Saturday 24 May in Gorton.

Below is the story of the day told in photos by Ged Camera.

The t-shirt design screen printing workshop set the wheels in motion, facilitated by Upper Space.

Artwork from past Now Then issues was projected onto the back wall as DJs James Owen, Biff Roxby and Joe Who selected songs throughout the day.

The audience listened intently to Ruth Daniel's talk on her work with grass roots music, from Un-Convention to Agencia, which has all aimed to encourage a 'Do It Together' attitude.

North West folk-pop trio Ivan Campo concluded the event. A unique suitcase kick drum is one one their many idiosyncrasies.

Words: Ian Pennington
Photos: Ged Camera

Gorton in Pictures by David Dunnico, Part Two

Following Part One of David Dunnico's photography feature on Gorton, here is the second half of his photos.

The magazine feature is available to view online here (page 9).

Donkey Sanctuary
A Donkey Sanctuary and assisted therapy centre in Abbey Hey.

Fallowfield loop
Eight miles of off road trail for bikes, horses and walkers, running from Chorlton, through Gorton and on to Fairfield. It was part of the route of the Manchester Central Railway, which was built in the 1890s and closed in 1988.

Gas lamp Parts of Gorton are like a village. It’s been the victim of bad developments in its past.

Statue of Liberty
There are apparently other Statues of Liberty in Paris and New York.

Gorton Cemetery statue
There is a notable Catholic community in the area.

Cat

CCTV dishes

Steelworks Tavern
Once, this pub served the workers at the big foundry (now a council depot) that produced steel for the locomotive works. Now it recycles its aluminium cans.

Open soon door
Ready wit and self depreciating humour.

Market
The indoor market was opened in 2008.

Train wheel
One of several sculptures recalling the town’s industrial heritage.

Gravestones
The churchyard of Brookfield Unitarian Church where Richard Peacock (of locomotive works Beyer-Peacock fame) is buried in a grand mausoleum. It declines into picturesque ruin.

Street sign
Gorton has changed over time, but some things remain the same.

Gorton housing
The redevelopment of the 1960s and 1970s is being wiped away. Will its replacement be more successful? Will the people who were moved be able to afford to live in the new Gorton?

Gorton roots
Despite all the changes, Gorton keeps a lot of its traditional character.

Words and photos: David Dunnico.
David is a documentary photographer from Manchester.