Byker Phoenix: Stepney Western Special

A dual function publication created on the occasion of the exhibition of Harry Lawson's film Stepney Western at Newcastle Contemporary Arts/Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival in early 2025. The publication is both a selection of materials from the original Byker Phoenix community magazines (active regularly in the 70s and 80s) as well as an exhibition booklet featuring commissioned texts for Harry Lawson's film.

The archive of past Byker Phoenix issues (held at Ouseburn Trust) is a phenomenal treasure and epitomises why we think printed community magazines still make sense. The different voices and stories featured over its span of issues tells a more varied story of Byker than many other mediums could ever dream of. The reach and possibility of conversation across neighbourhoods is genuinely thought provoking - and so clearly different from what’s possible on Facebook etc. We are truly appreciative of the effort put in by anyone who contributed to the original Byker Phoenix in its heyday.

The Stepney Western Special is very much a big piece of time-warping collage with specially made elements including puzzles made with young riders at Stepney Bank Stables as well commissioned texts by Alex Niven, Silvie Fisch and Kathryn Scanlan. Drawings by kids from Hotspur Primary School in Newcastle alongside photography by Harry Lawson, Sirkka Liisa Konttinen, Dave Pearson and many more.

The publication was launched at a special event as part of the exhibition Stepney Western at Newcastle Contemporary Art on Weds 16th April 6-7.30pm.

32pp risograph printed in HD Black, Red, Blue.
Saddle-stitch bound in a edition of 300
Papers: Context Natural 100gsm, Context Yellow/Flint/Salmon 110gsm