Goodyear images rekindle sparks of old factory life
These impressive photo-artworks depicting Wolverhampton's historic Goodyear plant have been released by former workers as they reflect on its closure.
The images, created by Cannock artist Mike Pearce, were first put together back in 2015.
They were put together to reflect the workers' fears over what the plant may look like if it was shut down.
Now, former worker Wayne Devaney, aged 54 of Wednesfield has put the artworks back in the public domain.
The works were put out on Twitter after Mr Devaney closed the Facebook page relating to the former campaign to save the Goodyear plant.
Mr Devaney said: "When these artworks first came out, to me they represented upset, fear, the emotions we all felt when the news broke that the plant would be closing.
"Mike really seemed to reflect what we were all thinking and feeling at that time.
"When I closed the campaign page down recently, I decided to put the images back out there as they seemed to be so prophetic and poignant now that the plant has closed it doors.
"I didn't want the artworks to be lost too, so I tweeted them out there in hope it would make people think about Goodyear again."
Mike Pearce, aged 57, created the images by first taking photographs of the plant and enhancing them artistically using photoshop.
Speaking of his creations, Mike said: "I took the photos initially when the Building 44, known as 'Passenger', was knocked down in 2008. The building was known for making commercial tyres. As soon as it came down, I think people began to get a feeling that it would close eventually. The final image,, with the black/grey sky, that was done in 2013.
"I was a key operator at the firm for 28 years. There were around 5,000 working at the plant when I started. When I left, it was around 300 people. The closure of the factory had such a massive impact on the town and the wider area. I think these images seem to speak to people of that impact really."
Now, Mike is a real estate photographer for a lettings agent.
He said: "It's funny really how things turn out, because I've always had an interest in photography. Now I get to do it for a living. But my time at Goodyear was so important to me and many others - the people that were left there when I departed had been at the firm for more than 20 years. It was a big change."
The iconic factory closed on December 20 last year after 89 years.
A total of 37 people still work at the site to prepare for final closure which will take place in June this year.
Artist Mike Pearce was unavailable to comment.
