Whether its Teeside, Cleveland, or, the first projection in Yorkshire - Middlesbrough clapped for those on the Front Line

Boro turns Blue

While Middlesborough may be red, right now we are all blue - and backing those on the front line especially the NHS. Last night the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art had a projection of the Clapping Hands that have been seen around the country projected on it.

Art in Middlesbrough

Claes Oldenburg’s Bottles of notes also had it projected on it. The artist Ian Berry wants ‘notes’ to the health care workers and others on the front line with his initiative #iclapfor - he and his friends and projectionists would love to bring it back to Teeside.

The Road to London

Close by, Easington Colliery was lit up. This was poignant for the artist as his Grandma Mary Berry (no, not that one) was from the Coal mining village. Her married name was Elliott. ‘We are the Elliott’s from Easington. Ethrington in Billy Elliot!’ said Ian Berry

The Elliott’s of Easington

Artist Ian Berry’s may be from Huddersfield and now lives in London, but growing up he spent a lot of time in Easington the home of his maternal grandma, Mary Berry (nee Elliott)

‘I loved going up to the colliery and seeing relatives, sadly many passed now, my grandma’s sister Jean Elliott, Belle and her brother Hughie Elliott and wife Ivy - who’s son, also Hughie I visited in London, Canada, a few years ago but I believe to be well known in the Easington area. I’ve not been up for a long time, and was sad to not be able to go to a funeral lately, but it was great to see Andrew Hall project it there.’

Ian Berry

I often make out we are the Elliott family from Easington, and say my great auntie would get Japanese tourists knocking at the door asking to see the Elliott house, all true but... Obviously it is quite a local name up there - beside - it was more or less a made up story for the film!

His grandma moved to Huddersfield during the war where she ended up meeting her future husband Tom Berry, from East London, where Ian now finds himself.

Ian’s son is.. Elliott, named after his grandma Mary who was still alive for 9 months after his birth. He also liked the link with the Billy film and the link to his family heritage. It was also Elliott that was the catalyst for this project - as he loved the Hand Clapping on Thursdays and is being home schooled. It was even Elliott who suggested to put on their projector - leading to this movement being born.

‘One day I’d love to take him to Eastington and show him around. Perhaps the next time Huddersfield play the Boro. One of my favourite games ever was when Boro beat us 5-1 I beleive in 1997 with Ravonelli and Juniniho on the pitch. We scored a goal and were so loud, the Boro fans voted us the best fans that season (they were in the Premier, us the championship)

It’s a place that means a lot to me so I’m glad someone could project there - hopefully giving this positive message to those on the front line.