I just love photography, capturing great places, food and people. I was really excited to have been invited to capture interesting, funny and entertaining moments during the opening of the Great Exhibition Of The North and to visit two photography exhibitions and be inspired. The Great Exhibition Of The North is taking place until the 9th of September. There is something for everyone!
©MDHarding
Great Exhibition Of The North - Photography
Women By Women
The women By Women photography exhibition is currently on display at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Travel to the 4th-floor gallery to see the work of five female photographers who worked in the North East between the 1970s-2000s.
Women By Women ©MDHarding
ABOUT THE NORTH: Imagined Dialogues
A series of photographs documenting the lives, landscapes and ideas of the north. Displayed in the contemporary Side Gallery.
Side Gallery, Newcastle ©MDHarding
The Quayside
The Quayside has been transformed on both sides of the River Tyne (Newcastle and Gateshead), with contemporary architecture such as the Sage Gateshead, Gateshead and with a man-made summer beach retreat, Newcastle! Take a stroll along the quay over the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, relax in a deck chair or enjoy a chilled drink at one of the bars/cafes or restaurants.
Sage Gateshead ©MDHarding
Street Performers
There were a number of street performers entertaining the crowds, from Southpaw Dance Co performing Icarus, Fastest One Man Band In The World from Pete Moser, Granny Turismo from West Yorkshire, The Flycycle & The Submercycle from Pif Paf in Sheffield plus many more!
Southpaw Dance Co performing Icarus ©MDHarding
Confetti Burst
Upon opening the Great Exhibition Of The North, the black canons fired paper-coloured confetti into the air.
Confetti Burst, The Quayside ©MDHarding
Headline Act
Mercury prize-nominated Newcastle band, Maximo Park played live to a crowd of over 20,000 from a boat on the River Tyne.
Maximo Park ©MDHarding
Water Sculpture
The UK's largest water sculpture at 80 metres long, took months to install. On the night the colourful water danced alongside the performed soundtrack of three specially commissioned music compositions by Maximo Park and Kate Rusby with Royal Northern Sinfonia and Darkstar. Don't worry if you missed it on the night, you can see the waters dancing every day until the 9th of September.
Illuminated Water Fountain, The Quayside ©MDHarding
Drone Display
The European premiere drone display was incredible! 100 drones fitted with led lights danced above the Sage Gateshead performing a variety of 3D shapes, GREAT and the Great Exhibition Of The North symbol of two arrows.
Choreographed Drone Display ©MDHarding
Finale Firework Display
The opening of the Great Exhibition Of The North went off with a bang. Incredible coloured fireworks filled the skies above the quay, with the dramatic white waterfall finale.
Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Newcastle ©MDHarding
It was an amazing night pulled off by an incredible team, with lots more highlights to enjoy over 80 days. What are you waiting for Get North! Happy Travels:) x