The Bold Street Project Blog; The Street, The Art, The Research, The exhibition, The Community.
Over the course of the past six months many people have expressed concern and interest in what the future holds for Bold Street. Having transformed from residential street to wealthy shopping avenue, ghost town to haven for independent traders, the street has constantly evolved. On June 26th 2007, local filmmaker John Scotland hit the street to find out what the people think lies next ahead for Bold Street……
Click here to watch
Filmmaker Emily Voelker has been collaborating with tenantspin tenants over the last 4 months on a film entitled Mind Drift. The film is a collection of 14 sets of images taken from the point of view of a consumer walking down Bold Street.
Themes covered include shopping, dirt, architecture, people and poetry. Brash, beautiful and funny, the film captures the sheer range of activity, personality and function the street has to offer.
Click here to watch.
Myra Smith worked in a hairdressing salon on Bold Street between 1947 - 1955. We interviewed her in May 2007 - she spoke in great detail about post-war Bold Street, famous clients and finger waves.
Myra’s interview is available in six installments in the Media Lounge and online here.
Doreen Preston got in touch with us after she had heard a ready call on Radio Merseyside appealing for Bold Street stories. In May of this year we traveled to interview Doreen who had worked in Clay & Abraham Pharmacy on Bold Street in 1945.
Doreen is a born storyteller and recounts in vivid detail her work at the shop, the clientele, the surrounding shops, interior décor and nannies with silvercross prams. Doreen’s interview is available to watch in the media lounge and online here.
Many thanks to Doreen for her time and wonderful stories.
Another amazing Bold Street interview with News From Nowhere; the unique independent book shop on Bold Street Liverpool. Click the image below to play.
All our audio interviews are also available via the Bold Street Project Podcast (Audio Edition) in iTunes. Click here to subscribe.
Laura Yates, who has been researching Bold Street talks to the ladies who work in Foners; the exclusive lingere shop on Bold Street, Liverpool. Hear tales of the history of the street; and what it was like to shop there.
Laura talks to the staff at Looks Leather Goods on Bold Street, Liverpool. The building has been a wool shop, Radio Rentals, a tea rooms; and has seen all sorts including Bold Street’s infamous Christmas Eve fire.
Laura interviews the fabulous Fireside World. Hear of the 22 year reign of the store on Bold Street and hear how one of Liverpool’s Musical heroes is rumored to have been involved in setting the place on fire!
All our audio interviews are also available via the Bold Street Project Podcast (Audio Edition) in iTunes. Click here to subscribe.
David from David’s Hair Design talks to Laura Yates about his shop, the street, and the ladies that come for their hair fashions…..
Recently FACT was visited by a group of 30 European delegates from Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. The delegates are Gallery Educators and for many it was their first time in Liverpool. Sensing an opportunity to get a unique view of Bold Street we armed the group with digital cameras, mini-disc recorders and video cameras to capture their first impressions of the street. The content created will be available in the exhibition.
It was really fantastic to capture these first experiences and many in the group were struck by the street’s architecture and vibrancy. If you were one of the delegates please get in touch with your comments.
Have you recently visited Bold Street, what were your over-riding impressions?
We’ve been interviewing some interesting Bold Street characters over the past few weeks including Doris Mercer who worked on Bold Street between the 1930’s and 1960’s. Doris worked in the La Kabala, Sissens and Fullers during Bold Street’s glory days as a hot spot for the wealthy. The interview will be available very soon.
If you worked in any of these establishments or know Doris, please get in touch.
Jegsy Dodd visited us at FACT today and read his poem (and song) “3am on Bold Street”, to the thoughtful tenantspin audience. then joined Laura in conversation on the sofa for an ‘edgy’ chat on the contemporary feel of Bold Street.
Today we’re working in the Box at FACT with the tenantspinners; we’re filming a Bold Street conversation. Laura, John, Dolly and Vera are chatting about Bold Street, scrubbing steps, radishes, cleaning, first cups of coffee, and hats bought on Bold Street.
The Bold Street Project offers many ways in which anyone can contribute to the project. If you have a memory or story about Bold Street, we’d love to hear it, and to include it in our exhibition and Bold Street ‘archive’. So, there are various ways you can get in touch. We’ve even got our own phone number! Call 0151 324 1555 to leave your message.
