In between the closure of the Walsall's old Museum and Art Gallery and the opening of the New Art Gallery, artists were commissioned to make artworks in public spaces around the town.
Dower grew up in Walsall and was aware of the historic music culture associated with the region. Bands such as Black Sabbath, Slade and the Drum and Bass artist Goldie had connections with the area and Dower had been in local bands as a teenager. Curious to know what the music culture was like in 1999, he began looking for fly-posters, checking out local record shops and reviewing the submissions to a local music festival. Dower chose 3 local bands who were producing original material and collaborated with them to produce a set of billboard posters. The aim was to give the bands some control over how they were represented and provide them with the kind of coverage normally afforded to artists with major label backing. The 3 bands subsequently performed at a local music festival.
‘To be continued >’ was curated by Deborah Smith + Kate Fowle
