Sound & Fury: the Art and Iconography of Heavy Metal
The only major exhibition to explore the unique visual aesthetic and iconography of heavy metal music. Sound & Fury brought together stage set, costumes, original album and comic art, musical instruments, customised bikes and over 200 other exhibits in an exhibition which broke attendance records, toured nationwide for two years and was enjoyed by 250,000 visitors. Sound & Fury was featured as an exemplary case study in the Museum Association's publication Museums and Young People.
"A strong thesis, well researched and establishing a broad cultural context, ensured that the show did not become a gimmick or marketing ploy." Museums & Young People, Museums Association
Local Authority Strategy and Policy
Whilst at Public Arts, Steve Manthorp wrote public art strategies for Bradford, Grainger Town (Newcastle City Centre) and Wigan. Whilst the creation of a policy document was a central output for these projects, it was not an end in itself: his approach focused on changing the culture, both within the authority structure and amongst developers, to one which recognised the positive value of public art and artistic intervention within the built environment. An example of this holistic approach can be found in a guidance note to developers here (pdf document, for which you need free Acrobat Reader).
"Steve Manthorp can talk on water." Robert Powell, Director, Public Arts
Shooting Gallery
Shooting Gallery was a project to develop audiences for Cartwright Hall Art Gallery amongst boys and teenagers. Funded through an audience development grant from YMLAC and in partnership with PC Format Magazine, US Map guru Teddie Tapawan reproduced the architecture and collections of Cartwright Hall as a deathmatch map for Unreal Tournament 2003, and an updated map for UT2004. The map was distributed on the PC Format coverdisc and through UT download sites, and has been downloaded 300,000 times.
"Manthorp may be a maverick, but he certainly knows a thing or two about marketing." Alfred Hickling, Guardian
Please contact me if you’d like to know more about any of my projects, past, present or future
