From The Smoke - A2 Poster

FROM THE SMOKE...

Introducing Cold War Steve’s latest work celebrating an important cultural and musical history and this time returning to his home turf.

NOW AVAILABLE AS A SPECIAL STAMPED A2 POSTER!

'I'm a Brummie and I've created Birmingham works before (although not solely concentrating on music) and I was always a bit frustrated by the strict parameters I'd set myself. They had to be from Birmingham - even if they were just down the road in Walsall or Coventry they didn't make the cut - which I was able to do, because Birmingham has been blessed with such a rich history of creative artists. However, I wondered how even more magnificent it would be if I just widened the net a little. The joy with my Manchester piece was the prefix of 'Greater' - with 'Greater' Manchester I wasn't restricted to a self-imposed rigid geographical area. I could encompass not just the actual city of Manchester, but also Salford, Oldham, Stockport, Bury etc. So now I present to you my WEST MIDLANDS MAGNUS OPUS!

I loved my deepdive into Coventry, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire - adding to my already assembled Brummies. The backdrop is an etching of the Industrial Revolution era West Midlands. From the smoke, soot and din of the factories, emerged the most diverse and innovative musical artists the world has ever seen.

I've spoken previously of how my 'positive' pieces are an essential coping mechanism for me. When the hideousness of everything becomes overwhelming, I take time away from social media and the news and immerse myself in creating an artwork of celebration. My most recent was the Greater Manchester collage 'Frank's Mancs'. Last year it was 'Sheffield, it's alright. On Friday just gone, such a moment arrived again. I retreated to my desk in the corner of the kitchen and emerged again this morning, bleary eyed, but soul cleansed!'

Format: A2 Poster, stamped on reverse

Shipping: UK only - shipping out by end of August