A Homecoming Of Sorts

I spent the past few days on the other side of the country, in the North East of England, where I grew up.

It's always a little strange going back: I'm amazed by how much everything is changed, but strangely still the same. I somehow get this inner feeling of "being home", despite the fact that I haven't lived there for almost seventeen years.

I visited my home town of Middlesbrough for the first time in over ten years, and while the shops may have changed and the roads moved around, it was as if I'd never left.

One thing that particularly struck me was the growing trend toward public art and sculpture in the North East.

I was already familiar with Claes Oldenburg's Bottle Of Notes, mainly because I was married in front of it, but newer pieces like the Spectra-txt (right), a stainless steel tower covered in lights which passersby can change by sending a text message to it, were quite a revelation.

Most importantly though, it was just nice to hear some proper accents and get some decent fish and chips.

More details on public art in the North East can be found here.