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Posted by Editor on 22nd August 2009 at 09:37 PM

Marge and Steel - Irlam's sculpture reconsidered

Presented by Tracey Keymer Blay
Camera: Tom Rodgers

The 'Marge and Steel' public artwork was erected in Cadishead in 2007.

Costing £75,000 and funded by a government regeneration fund, the 12ft steel momument commemorated the service of the two major employers of the 20th century in the neighbouring towns of Irlam and Cadishead.

The margarine and steel works opened in 1919 and 1913 respectively, at their peak together they employed 20% of Irlam and Cadishead's total workforce.

This, the first public art on a roundabout in Salford, was designed by artists Marcela Livingston and Liam Curtain who interviewed local Cadishead residents to define the theme behind the intended sculpture. Children surveyed wanted a superhero-themed sculpture, but the winning candidate was to celebrate the industrial heritage of the towns and emerged as the 'Marge and Steel'.

To represent the tea dances where margarine factory workers met socially, individual paintings of men and women are stencilled around the faces of 'Marge and Steel' supposedly for drivers to see the men and women 'dance' as they drove around the roundabout.

So what do local residents think about the sculpture two years on? Tracey and I took to the streets to find out.

Councillor Barry Warner, Lead Member for Culture at Salford City Council was invited to participate in this interview but has so far declined.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by tracey  28th August 2009
That marge and steel at the end of Cadishead way is the biggest waste of money i have ever seen in our district and the thought of the way it looks now just reminds me of the Margerine works gone! why when they spend that sort of money on something can they not up keep it and make it look nice with some flowers rather than weeds but to me it just sums up Salford city council crap! This comment was sent by email by Mrs Bloore



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