I took a detour last weekend to visit the sculpture The Angel of The North. Created by Anthony Gormley (occasionally Gormless). As I live only a few moments drive away, the need has never arisen until now to visit this huge erection...until now. Having driven past it every day for over a decade, I decided it was time to view the old dear from a different angle. Anthony was quite hard to please when it came to choosing the spot on which this great icon would stand. He said: “That mound was the reason I accepted the invitation. Because I was quite snooty at the time. I said I don’t like motorway art”. Well, having looked at it a least twice a day for the last ten years from the motorway...I think that’s a bit of a bummer, like.
I remember the day when there was nearly an RTA whilst driving past. People were rubber-necking to see the funniest sight standing on Anthony’s mound. For there clad in a gigantic Alan Shearer no. 9 shirt was our very own Angel. That was in the 1998 FA cup final, when Alan was captain of Newcastle United. Over a decade later, perhaps a for sale sign needs hoisting up on it “For Sale...one Football Club...£100,000,000...ono, one previous owner, hardly used.” Oh! The pathos!
So, as I digress, I was saying how I felt the “urge” to view this 66 foot Messenger of Gormless close up. I needed to view this beast from a different angle...I’m always one to see things from a different point of view. I mean it was nothing to do with the fact that I saw a documentary on how it was made, and the only thing that stuck in my mind was that Our Ant had sculpted the Angel on himself. Ergo...every time I drive past The Angel Of The North...I see Anthony Gormley’s arse? Oh! The Irony!
I have a special place in my heart for my Angel. It is an icon and a beacon of hope to us Geordie folk. When I am coming back from the airport, having been abroad (i.e.: London), I feel my soul sing “I’m home”. For as Anthony Gormley indeed said himself...”It’s very, very much to do with the character of the North East, the fact that people are warm- hearted, open-minded, practical, get on with things..” Well. I divven’t Knaa aboot that, like!
I remember the day when there was nearly an RTA whilst driving past. People were rubber-necking to see the funniest sight standing on Anthony’s mound. For there clad in a gigantic Alan Shearer no. 9 shirt was our very own Angel. That was in the 1998 FA cup final, when Alan was captain of Newcastle United. Over a decade later, perhaps a for sale sign needs hoisting up on it “For Sale...one Football Club...£100,000,000...ono, one previous owner, hardly used.” Oh! The pathos!
So, as I digress, I was saying how I felt the “urge” to view this 66 foot Messenger of Gormless close up. I needed to view this beast from a different angle...I’m always one to see things from a different point of view. I mean it was nothing to do with the fact that I saw a documentary on how it was made, and the only thing that stuck in my mind was that Our Ant had sculpted the Angel on himself. Ergo...every time I drive past The Angel Of The North...I see Anthony Gormley’s arse? Oh! The Irony!
I have a special place in my heart for my Angel. It is an icon and a beacon of hope to us Geordie folk. When I am coming back from the airport, having been abroad (i.e.: London), I feel my soul sing “I’m home”. For as Anthony Gormley indeed said himself...”It’s very, very much to do with the character of the North East, the fact that people are warm- hearted, open-minded, practical, get on with things..” Well. I divven’t Knaa aboot that, like!
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