Thirty One

Group exhibition celebrating 30 years of Globe Gallery

Thirty One marked an important moment for Globe Gallery, celebrating over three decades of artist led activity, creative risk taking and community connection in North Shields and beyond. More than an anniversary show, the exhibition reflected the relationships, friendships and shared belief in the value of art that have sustained Globe since it first opened its doors in May 1995.

The exhibition brought together an intentionally diverse group of artists whose practices, personalities and histories with Globe spoke to the breadth of the gallery's programme and the communities it continues to engage with, from established cultural figures to emerging voices at the very beginning of their journeys.

Wilfred Barton Sears, a North East based sculptor and Newcastle University graduate shortlisted for the National Trust's Emerging Artist programme at Delaval Hall, presented The Tree, a large scale, adaptable sculpture built from repurposed timber and stone gathered over four years. Designed as a modular, flat pack structure that shifts in response to each environment it is installed in, the work reflected labour, reuse and collective effort, its base encircled by a carved quote attributed to Konstantin Josef Jireček referencing resilience and the complexities of labour and value. Constructed from materials originally destined for the skip, the piece quietly echoed Globe's own long standing belief in transformation, care and creative possibility.

The exhibition also included work by Chris Donald and Simon Donald, whose unwavering support of Globe over more than 30 years, through exhibitions, collaborations, friendship and humour, reflects a shared belief in the importance of creative spaces within working communities.

A selection of paintings by Stephen McGinty, generously donated by the McGinty family following his passing, were also shown. Alongside painting, Stephen was a writer and poet whose work spoke openly about his experiences of living with schizophrenia, though the exhibition presented his paintings first and foremost as the work of a committed and instinctive artist, shaped by imagination, experimentation and a deeply personal visual language. Proceeds from selected works, auctions and print sales supported the ongoing development of the McGinty Room and future wellbeing and community focused activity within the gallery.

Virginia Bodman, whose exhibitions with Globe have long brought joy, warmth and visual energy to visitors of all ages, presented a selection of recent works from her series Walking on Water, known for their large scale canvases and bold use of vibrant fluorescent colour.

Together, the artists in Thirty One embodied the spirit of Globe Gallery, a space built not simply around exhibitions but around relationships, generosity, experimentation and a belief that art can meaningfully connect people across generations, backgrounds and experiences. The exhibition also reintroduced core Globe projects including The Blossom Tree and launched the McGinty Room, a dedicated space for community engagement, as the gallery's programme continues to explore themes of grief, memory and shared experience.