Early Colour Hulme Manchester 1965 - Shirley Baker

Early Colour Hulme Manchester 1965 - Shirley Baker - Café Royal Books

What is evident in the colour work is that Shirley began to see her surroundings differently. All the traits of the black and white photographs are there: close observations of bodily gestures, definition of personal and relational space, everyday absurdities, and acute recognition of urban form in street perspectives, roof tops and alleyways. Added to this is a new found awareness of colour as it livens up the otherwise darkened dusty street scenes. Shirley is drawn to the bright cleanliness of a group of children playing in colourful clothes. The sunshine makes the dusty air sparkle softly. 

• 36 pages
• printed in the UK
• staple bound
• 14cm x 20cm

About Café Royal Books:

"Café Royal Books is the idea of Craig Atkinson, an artist and lecturer. Our first title was published in 2005.

Craig wanted to create a way to make artwork accessible to a wider audience. The solution needed to be small, functional, open to collaboration, affordable, and work independently of galleries. These ideas remain at the heart of what we do.

We’re a small family-run publisher based in England, next to the woodland, dunes, and windswept beaches of the North West coast — we’re always inspired by the vastness, calm and energy of this environment. 

We make weekly publications, focussing on documentary photography linked to Britain and Ireland, printed and bound locally by a small 170 year old printing company. Libraries and museums around the world collect the books, so the work will remain preserved and accessible for many years. Our books don’t need batteries, or screens. We hope they will be used, create conversation and be passed down through family generations."

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