Janine Wiedel
Vulcan's Forge
Bluecoat Press
Book launch at Mac Arts, October 8th
Renowned observational photographer Janine Wiedel’s 1977 project, Vulcan’s Forge, a unique documentation of the insides of heavy industry in the West Midlands, its people and culture, is out now from Bluecoat Press, the acclaimed publisher of collections of British photojournalism and from social documentary photographers.
Vulcan’s Forge was originally shown at The Photographers’ Gallery in 1979, and was instantly hailed by critics as one of the most important collections of its era. Containing over 300 images, Bluecoat Press’ Vulcan’s Forge is an exquisite and beautifully produced, 250-page monograph to the men of steel from a largely bygone age. It's a heavy addition to any home, depicting the working conditions largely unseen by the families (or any of us) of the men who toiled—often all of their working lives, in heavy industries, building the regions wealth, by day and by night.
"Before going down the mines people had told me that today mining was like going down the London underground! This common myth couldn’t have been further from the truth. The conditions were dreadful. The work was backbreaking, filthy and exhausting. The miners were continually facing physical danger as well as long term medical problems. Yet the comradery amongst the men was strong despite or perhaps because of the fierce battles and strikes." - Jane Wiedel
To celebrate the Bluecoat Press publication of Vulcan’s Forge, Janine Wiedel will be in conversation with Rachel Segal Hamilton at the Mac Arts Centre in BIrmingham, on Thursday October 8th at 7.30pm. Tickets are free but Advanced booking is necessary.
Janine Wiedel’s reputation as an observational photographer had been established by her late 60s work documenting political and social activism in the US. She had photographed the police occupation of Berkley in response to the establishment of People’s Park on derelict university land there. Janine later worked with the Black Panther movement too, before moving to the UK. Most recently Janine has added her candid photographs from the London’s Pro-Palestinian peace marches to her website, here.
Rachel Segal Hamilton is a Contributing Editor at the Royal Photographic Society Journal and has published several books of photograph, notably with Hoxton Mini Press. In 2019, Rachel moved to Birmingham, immersing herself in many creative art initiatives across the city.
“It is important to me that my work does not confirm a stereotype of what I expect to see. Instead I like to observe and listen, with the aim of discovering and then capturing what emerges. Quite often the earlier photographs get discarded. Photography is always a two-way exchange, and with trust and time you get to see and learn more.” Janine Wiedel
Janine says “In 1977 when I was awarded the West Midlands Arts Bursary to spend a year documenting the 5 counties of the area however I wanted. I decided to concentrate on industry. The area was known as “the industrial heartland of Britain”. I wanted to discover how much of this still existed and to document those working lives that were in danger of disappearing.”
Images ©Janine Wiedel
Essential Information
Janine Wiedel’s Vulcan’s Forge is available from Bluecoat Press here.
Advanced Book Launch tickets from the Mac here
Janine’s website is here
Janine at Outsideleft here
Rachel Segal Hamilton's website is here
