browseExhibitions 1977 to 1999
Side Gallery Exhibitions 1977 – 1994
1977
Documents of the North East Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, Graham Smith, James Cleet, Robert Carling
Singular Realities group exhibition
New York in the Thirties Berenice Abbott
Imogen Cunningham
Chris Killip
Ralph Gibson
Other Eyes group exhibition
British Calendar Customs Homer Sykes
Lewis Hine
August Sander
1978
Thomas Annan
Larry Herman
New British Image open group exhibition
England Past Humphrey Spender, Bert Hardy, George Rodgers, Thurston Hopkins
Russian War Photographs
Northern View group exhibition
AL Coburn
EJ Bellocq
Henri Cartier Bresson
Photographs from the Beaches Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen & Marketa Luskacova
1979
Work & Unemployment Robert Golden & Nick Hedges
The Teds Chris Steele-Perkins
Juvenile Jazz Bands Tish Murtha
Alexander Rodchenko
Alabama 40 Years On Walker Evans & Peter Cannon
Photographs from Peru Martin Chambi & Edward Ranney
Beyond the Fields We Know David Lyons
Martine Franck
John Davies
Mike Disfarmer
Edwardian Portraits from a local studio
James Cleet a South Shields photographer
The Camera & Dr Barnado
1980
Brassai
Isle of Man Chris Killip
Quoits Ian Macdonald
Retrieving the Past Manchester studies
Daily Herald photographs from the thirties – various photographers
Observers of Man
Weegee
Andre Kertesz
Bill Brandt
Pie Town Russell Lee
To Build Jerusalem photographs of labour history
Building the Tyne Bridge
1981
The Fishing Industry Nick Hedges
Cumbrian Landscapes John Davies
Don McCullin
Art of the Tattoo Chris Wroblewski
Scotswood Road Jimmy Forsyth
Latin America John Cohen, Luke Holland, Manuel Alvarez Bravo
Mauretania historical photographs
North Tyneside Isabella Jedrzejczyk, Marketa Luskacova, Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, Graham Smith
Diane Arbus
Youth Unemployment Tish Murtha
American Mining Communities Russell Lee
Robert Doisneau
China Marc Riboud
1982
Nicaragua Susan Meiselas
Survival Programmes: In Britain’s Inner Cities Exit Photography Group
The British Worker historical exhibition
Images of Women various photographers
Tees Estuary Ian Macdonald
Consett Steel Graham Smith
John Pattison Gibson
Early Soviet Photography
1983
Askam and Skinningrove Chris Killip
Northern Ireland and Iran Gilles Peress
South Africa Peter Magubane
Work & Wit documentary photographs from Side Gallery
Bert Hardy
Beirut and Ethiopia Chris Steele-Perkins
Northumberland Landscapes Isabella Jedrzejczyk
Durham Coalfield John Davies
For Druridge Isabella Jedrzejczyk & John Davies
El Salvador work of 30 photographers (curated by Susan Meiselas)
Chile various photographers
Shipbuilding on the Tyne Bruce Rae
Byker Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
1984
South Bank Graham Smith
A Vanished World Roman Vishniac
John Heartfield: Photomontages
Seacoal Chris Killip
Martin Chambi of Cuzco
The New Incas Paul Yule
Why Photography? Why Documentary photographs from the Side collection
Easington: A Durham Mining Village Bruce Rae
Easington, August 1984 Keith Pattison
Workers! Unemployed! various photographers
1985
Josef Koudelka
Narita Airport Takashi Hamaguchi
Famine in Africa Mike Goldwater and Chris Steele-Perkins
Pilgrims Marketa Luskacova
Weegee the Famous
The Forest John Kippin
Colour from the FSA various photographers
Making the News various photographers
David Goldblatt
1986
Home Front John Reardon & Derek Bishton
American Images various photographers
Portraits & Dreams Wendy Ewald
Hard Times Mark Power
In the Company of Women Jenny Matthews
Scotswood Road Jimmy Forsyth
Edgar G Lee
The People’s Centre photographs from the People’s Centre, North Shields
1987
Approaches to Documentary various photographers
No Pasaran Spanish Civil War, various photographers
Blast Furnace Ian Macdonald
Ashington: A Coal Mining Town Mik Critchlow
In a Right State Heartfield / Kennard / Budgett
Wills Factory Closure Isabella Jedrzejczyk
From West Cumbria John Rigby
Migrant Labour Keith Pattison
In June 1988 Side Gallery introduced a series of photo-story commissions, ‘NOW!’, with a dedicated exhibition space on the ground floor. Commissions were often for only two weeks work and were concerned with local, national and international current affairs.
1988
Major Exhibitions
Let Us Now Praise Famous Women women photographers for the US Govt, 1935 – 1944
The Cordoned Heart various South African photographers
Edith Tudor Hart photographs 1930 – 1952
The Lensman Humphrey Spender
Below the Line and Exploding Into Life Eugene Richards
Northern Landscapes Isabella Jedrzejczyk & John Davies
Juchitan Graciela Iturbide
Working the Surface of the Earth mining photography from around the world
Robert Doisneau and Xmas Show from Side collection
NOW! Exhibitions
Seafarers – the Ferries Dispute Mik Critchlow
Harambe Africa photographs from Ethiopia
Working It Out Isabella Jedrzejczyk
Cedarwood Women Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Kampuchea – Pictures from the Killing Fields Pete Brabban
North Blyth – A Sense of Community Peter Fryer
Look Me in the Eye Richard Grassick
1989
Major Exhibitions
Coke to Coke Peter Fryer
Step by Step Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Primary Concerns Marketa Luskacova
Steel Works Julian Germain
Bathing Places Kevin O’Farrell
Bitter Harvest David Lurie
Ten Days in Tiananmen Bob Gannon
NOW! Exhibitions
Every Breath They Take Keith Pattison
Scotswood to Kurdistan Mark Pinder
Do Not Pass Go Steve Conlan
Haiti Gilles Peress
When the Waters Came Shahidul Alam
Mixtepeco Eniac Martinez
Let Go Peter Fryer
SIDESHOWS touring exhibitions
at the following venues: Thermal Syndicate Ltd Staff Canteen, Wallsend; Longbenton People’s Centre, North Tyneside; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead; Park View Sports Complex, North Kenton, Newcastle; Northern Arts, Jesmond, Newcastle; Preston Hospital, North Shields
Building the Tyne Bridge
Weegee
Look Me in the Eye Richard Grassick
Ashington Mik Critchlow
Shipbuilding on the Tyne Bruce Rae
Scotswood Road Jimmy Forsyth
In 1989 there was an 80% reduction in funding from Northern Arts (now part of Arts Council England). The disagreement centred on their interest in Side Gallery becoming a generalist photography gallery and Amber’s interest in developing community-based photographer-activists, who would tour work in their areas and generate new production. For a short while in 1991, Side Gallery was closed, then re-opened in 1992 as an augmented touring venue. The photographer-activist model was developed in particular in County Durham, where as well as the touring, there was the Crook International Photography Workshop in 1993, leading to [Unclear Family] and a series of exhibitions from the various participants.
1990
Major Exhibitions
Reindeer People – The Saami of Lapland Jorma Puranen, Marja Vuorelainen, Matti Saanio
Sovinec Jindrich Streit
Days of Steel photographs from the Firth Brown Archive
Life in the Liberated Zone David Lurie
Nicaragua Susan Meiselas
Gilles Peress - Northern Ireland, Iran, Homeless Americans and Haiti
The Untrained Eye [Jimmy Forsyth] Albert Smith, Laurie Wheatley & [Mary Gillens]
Juchitan Graciela Iturbide
Jungle Portraits Isabella Jedrzejczyk
NOW! Exhibitions
Hartlepool Women – Working for Change? Hartlepool Women’s Group
Glimpses of Change in the East Mark Power, Paul Lowe, Ivo Gill, Lubomir Stiburek
Poll Tax Exhibition Steve Conlan
Nicaragua Libre Mik Critchlow
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions
At the following venues: Longbenton People’s Centre, North Tyneside; Concordia Sports Centre, Cramlington; Blyth Sports Centre, Blyth; Thermal Syndicate Ltd Staff Canteen, Wallsend; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead; Park View Sports Complex, North Kenton, Newcastle; Preston Hospital, North Shields; Northern Arts, Jesmond, Newcastle
Step by Step Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Nicaragua Antonio Turok
Edgar G Lee
Below the Line Eugene Richards
Seacoal Chris Killip
Let Go Peter Fryer
South Africa David Goldblatt
Cumbrian Landscapes John Davies
1991
Major Exhibitions
The Writing in the Sand Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Robert Doisneau
Meadow Well: An English Estate Steve Conlan
American Mining Communities Russell Lee
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions, Tyneside
At the following venues: Walker Library, Newcastle; Longbenton People’s Centre, North Tyneside; Blyth Sports Centre, Blyth; Park View Sports Complex, North Kenton, Newcastle; Temple Park Centre, South Shields; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead; Preston Hospital, North Shields; Northern Arts, Jesmond, Newcastle
American Mining Communities Russell Lee
Consett News Pictures Tommy Harris
The Writing in the Sand Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Reindeer People Marja Vuorelainen
Jungle Portraits Isabella Jedrzejczyk
Juchitan Graciela Iturbide
Mauretania various photographers
The Untrained Eye Albert Smith
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions, Durham
At the following venues: General Hospital, Bishop Auckland; Civic Centre, Crook; Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope; Library & Community Centre, Esh Winning; Abbey Sports Centre, Pity Me; Dryburn Hospital, Durham City
Working the Landscape G Dodsworth, J Greenwell, R Grassick, P Maddison
Weegee’s People
Wheatley Hill Mary Gillens
Let Go Peter Fryer
Below the Line Eugene Richards
Easington Bruce Rae
1992
Major Exhibitions
Images from the Side Collection
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions, Tyneside
At the following venues: Walker Library, Newcastle; Longbenton People’s Centre, North Tyneside; Blyth Sports Centre, Blyth; Park View Sports Complex, North Kenton, Newcastle; Temple Park Centre, South Shields; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead; Preston Hospital, North Shields; Side Gallery, Newcastle
Dream On Steve Conlan, Richard Grassick and Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Belmont Group Day Out Graciela Iturbide
Daily Herald James Jarche & others
Changes in the East Paul Lowe, Mark Power, Lubomir Stiburek
Portraits & Dreams Wendy Ewald
Vickers from the Side Collection
Working the Landscape George Dodsworth, Pete Maddison, Richard Grassick & Jane Greenwell
The Unrecognised Villages Peter Fryer
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions, Durham
At the following venues: General Hospital, Bishop Auckland; Civic Centre, Crook; Wolsingham Library; Community Centre, Bear Park; Abbey Sports Centre, Pity Me; Dryburn Hospital, Durham City; Belle Vue Leisure Centre, Consett
Step by Step Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Consett News Pictures Tommy Harris
Juchitan Graciela Iturbide
Building the Tyne Bridge
Ramar Goodbye Richard Grassick
Reindeer People Marja Vuorelainen
Mauretania from the Side Collection
1993
Major Exhibitions
Side Collection Show various photographers
South African Health David Lurie
Side Collection Show various photographers
The Russians Dana Kyndrova
Shipbuilding on the Tyne Bruce Rae
My Finnish Roots Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
SIDESHOW Exhibitions, Tyneside
At the following venues: Walker Library, Newcastle; Longbenton People’s Centre, North Tyneside; Blyth Sports Centre, Blyth; Whitley Bay Playhouse; Temple Park Centre, South Shields; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead; Preston Hospital, North Shields; Side Gallery, Newcastle
Ramar Goodbye Richard Grassick
South African Health David Lurie
Quayside Graham Smith & Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
The Russians Dana Kyndrova
Mothers’ Day Off Grace Robertson
Wheatley Hill Mary Gillens
Peaceable Kingdoms Peter Fryer
My Finnish Roots Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions, Durham
At the following venues: General Hospital, Bishop Auckland; Civic Centre, Crook; Wolsingham Library; Community Centre, Bear Park; Abbey Sports Centre, Pity Me; Dryburn Hospital, Durham City; Belle Vue Leisure Centre, Consett; Nissan Factory Sports & Social Club, Washington
Eastgate Cement Works Dave Thomas
The Unrecognised Villages Peter Fryer
Keep the Banner Flying various photographers
Portraits & Dreams Wendy Ewald
Nowhere Called Home Peter Bialobrzeski
Daily Herald James Jarche and others
Paris Streets Robert Doisneau
The Writing in the Sand Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
1994
Major Exhibitions
Give My Regards to Elizabeth Peter Bialobrzeski
Ramshackles Dave Thomas
Guns & Butter John Heartfield
From the Centre Nick Hedges
Juchitan Graciela Iturbide
Unclear Family various photographers
Letters from Ernestine K Stefan Dolfen
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions, Tyneside
At the following venues: North Tyneside Business Centre, North Shields; Walker Library, Newcastle; Blyth Sports Centre, Blyth; Whitley Bay Playhouse; Temple Park Centre, South Shields; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead; Preston Hospital, North Shields; Side Gallery, Newcastle
Ramshackles Dave Thomas
Guns & Butter John Heartfield
Tees Estuary Ian Macdonald
Keep the Banner Flying various photographers
Nowhere Called Home Peter Bialobrzeski
Images of Youth in Cumbria John Rigby
Martin Chambi of Cuzco
Seafarers Mik Critchlow
SIDESHOWS Exhibitions, Durham
At the following venues: General Hospital, Bishop Auckland; Civic Centre, Crook; Wolsingham Library; Community Centre, Bear Park; Abbey Sports Centre, Pity Me; Dryburn Hospital, Durham City; Belle Vue Leisure Centre, Consett; Community Centre, Fishburn; Town Hall, Market Place, Durham City
A Little Piece of Land Richard Grassick
The Russians Dana Kyndrova
From the Family Album Stefan Dolfen
My Finnish Roots Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Can I say Shalom Miriam Reik
Sovinec Jindrich Streit
Italians Anna Arnone
Meadow Well Steve Conlan
1995 to 1999
The touring policy came to an end with Unremembered Lives a major Amber retrospective looking at its photographic engagement with community. Between then and 1999 Side Gallery continued presenting exhibitions on an increasingly limited budget. Some new work, such as Dean Chapman’s Karenni was shown, but the programme drew mostly on the resources of the Side Photographic Collection. In 1998 a group was set up to look at the future of the gallery. It brought together Amber members Murray Martin, Richard Grassick and Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen with photographers Peter Fryer and Dean Chapman and writer Graeme Rigby. This led to the regeneration of Side Gallery and photographic production in 1999.