Switch-Foot by Andrea Allan
If you’re around Newcastle this Christmas, check out Andrea Allan’s exhibition at the Trent Gallery (19 December to 29 January), which celebrates the rich surf culture around Tynemouth Longsands.
“The exhibition is a result of a project I started while studying photography at Sunderland University,” explains Andrea. “I was interested in the positive impact the surf community had on the area, and discovered that Tynemouth was awarded Blue Flag status after SAS campaigned to clean up pollution and improve water quality. In addition, surfing has been a pull for tourists, directly improving the local economy and invigorating the area culturally too.
I chose my subjects – actually, targets would be a better word – by simply asking surfers coming out of the sea if they would mind having their picture taken. I whittled these down to a series of photos that I hope explores the relationships between surfers and non-surfers using the beach, and causes people to reflect on how we each find and create communities based on our shared passions.”
