Graffiti transforming medieval city pub

Jul 2 2008 by Natasha Wynarczyk, The Journal

THE interior of historic Newcastle Quayside pub The Cooperage has had a dramatic makeover by a group of seven local artists.

Chiba Love, JCB 893, Magik Marker, Vosp, Vigo, Mr Guy and Creative Ginger are members of the Ghetto Method, a 70-strong collective of artists, musicians and dancers.

The Ghetto Method have been around since 2005 and were contacted by the management of The Cooperage, which has been around since the 14th Century, to undertake the art project.

“Although we formed by bringing together the Method Lounge and Ghetto Disco events, we are about more than just putting on club nights,” explains founding member Sandy Duff, 31, better known locally as DJ Mudfoot Blaps.

“We are inspired by (Manchester’s) Tony Wilson and Factory Records, producing events, promotions and networks supporting creative individuals in the North East. We are basically a cross-arts crew, the first group to bring different types of art forms, such as musicians, dancers and artists, together.” The Cooperage is not the only commission the group have had in the North East. They are the artists-in-residence at the End Bar on Scotswood Road, a bar which has been growing in popularity recently as a venue for new bands and club nights, and they were also affiliated with the FuturePerfect Festival, held earlier this month in Durham.

The work at The Cooperage has been going on for more than three weeks, in four separate sittings, and should be completed by the end of next week. The collective don’t only do graffiti. “Obviously we have used spray paint in our work but we are trying out other mediums, such as acrylics and hand painting, during our work at The Cooperage,” said Sandy.

Members of the collective also include illustrators and fine art photographers, and two of the group working at The Cooperage, Mr Guy and Creative Ginger, have made video installations.

Sandy said: “We are always on the lookout for new artistic mediums and how these can be combined in the work of the collective.

“There’s great artistic talent in the North East, but unfortunately many of these talented people move away. We’re all about sustaining a cultural base in the North East through long-term cultural growth by bringing fresh faces to the collective and maintaining links with local bands, artists and DJs.”

For more information on the Ghetto Method, visit www.myspace.com/theghettomethod