NEW CASTLE

 

At 9 am on Friday morning Edinburgh Napier's product design class headed off alongside the interior design class to Newcastle. The train journey was short considering I could not keep my eyes open. Forget about travel sickness I get travel sleepy-ness. When we got there it was raining, first thoughts was should of stayed in Scotland. But I was wrong, I had never been to Newcastle and was a bit hesitant to go to a place where tbh I couldn't point out on a map, But I see now why we went. This vibrant city is packed with design, giant clogs, huge statues and amazing buildings, is spectacular.

jose javilas sculptor 

Richard our handy tour guide better know by me and my class mates as Richie, our lecturer. Took us on a little walk round to the center point of the city, told us a nice we story about Grey's monument and how its the hub of the community. Then headed under the Tyne bridge and  over the millennium bridge to Baltic center for contemporary art.  Here we took shelter from the rain. On the way to the art museum we were meant to take pictures but with numb hands and wet hair to have to take my word for it. The industrial vibe from the structure of the bridges and the look of the buildings takes me into my favorite piece at the museum.

Jose Javila Piece made from steal and stone. It challenges your behavior just by looking at it, and god did i want to touch it. his piece balances in on itself to leave millimeters of a gap between a red balloon (even more relevant  as i had just watched the movie IT). Its down to the bone and new new bread of modern art which relay spoke to me. I also had time to watch a document on Javila. He said that art allowed him it become free and allows him to trust his initiative.

|Cool random cog thing
carved into stone

After the museum we took a walk down a dodgy underpass and Richi explained how designers had revamped the underpass to make it more inviting and less dodge by painting the walls a lighter colour and inserting a mirror at the corner so you can see if there is any strange charterers waiting to mug you. Its interesting how such little ideas change the minds of such a vast community.

I was genuinely shocked on the atmosphere and rich design environment of Newcastle. I honestly wish i had explored it before. and am thankful that I got this chance.