That's sad. Caulfield's 'Stll Life: Autumn Fashion' (1978) is one of my old favourites from the Walker. I think it was the first art postcard I bought from there.
Here's what the Walker says about it....

The bold and colourful work of Patrick Caulfield can be termed 'pop art' because of his use of highly unconventional techniques and the ironic position that he adopts towards high art.

The thick outlines of the objects make them stand out as if they can be touched. Yet not all of the objects are complete, suggesting that an artist's work is only truly completed once it is viewed

Link to news item in the Guardian

Oh, this is a tough one. Don't think I'm sophisticated enough. Someone else will have to take it on. Good luck!

Head Of Development
FACT
FOUNDATION FOR ART AND CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
£30-£35K (Dependant on experience)

Based in Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008, FACT is dedicated to the support, development and presentation of artists’ work in film, video and new media.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced development professional wishing to work at a Senior Management Level. You will be a highly literate and media-focused individual, possessing exceptional communication, negotiation and networking skills. We need someone with a sophisticated understanding of the different funding sectors, who will be able to deliver maximum impact for FACT and will be able to plan strategically across the organisation.

For an application pack please contact:
Sheindal Cohen
Email: recruitment@fact.co.uk
Tel: 0151 707 4444
Website: www.fact.co.uk

Deadline for applications: 24 October 2005
Interviews in Liverpool: Week beginning 31 October 2005

We welcome applications from any individual regardless of ethnic origin, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. All applications will be considered on merit.

That must have been an awful big suitcase Adam took to the Berlin Art Show. He's sent me a list of the artists he's showing...

September 30-October 6 2005 The Arena Eichnerstrasse 3 Treptow The Glass House Berlin
aus
LIVERPOOL
Jill Rock co-curator
Artists-
David Medalla John Dugger Laden Fur Nichts Uwe Karsten Gunther George Lund Gaynor Sweeney Roberta Kravitz Colin Serjent Tony Knox Simon Bendi Neal Brown Charlotte Moth Sico Carlier Richard Wilkie Riley and The North West Artologists Kate Fallon Cousins Jill Fallon Cousins Gary Sollars Marc Patzold Peter Schnaake Simone Weigelt BRAIN CELL Jessica Wilkes Sara Galaxia Association Carte Blanche Turkish Foundation For Wate Products CZLovecraft Jacques Vilegle Rita McNamara The Duplex Planet Jose Roberto Sechi MARINO Baraba Shkyn walking picasso The Big Cheeze B.SAVEDPOST RAZ Jenny Pringle Ofar Quarson thisdildoismadebyblackanddicker Mr Mike Mosher Jo Derbyshire Jo Gough Sergio Monteiro de Almeida Stephen R Olivier S.Finn Domenico Severino Vincenzo Ceccato Rafaella Losapio ZEROTRE Alexander Hempel Suzi Roewer Cyril Lepetit Cian Quayle Ruby Lynn Reyner Andrew Reyner Calum F Ker Deborah Wargon Kitty Redford Laura Cristin Liz Edgar Gulsen Bal Geraldine Gallavardine Hans Christian Lotz Klaus Kampner Loretta Fahrenholz Sue Milburn KENJI Janne Schaffer Kristine Agagaard Mona Wehr MOTHMAN Nicole Mollett Jessica Wilkes Sandra Hetzl Reynolds Kristin Posehn Nino Ruju Ryosuke Cohen Jenny Pringle Catherine Redford Jerome Chazeix

adam nankervis
www.berlinerkunstsalon.de
www.museumman.org
www.artinliverpool.com

Full details on the liverpool.gov.uk webpage

A Welcome Award
Staff who provide the warmest of welcomes to Liverpool are in line for awards

The Academy Ambassador Awards recognise staff in the city's retail, hotel, leisure and tourism sectors who provide excellence in customer care, and create a positive impression of Liverpool.

The awards are run by Liverpool's Academy of Excellence in Customer Care which has been set up to develop excellent standards of customer care.
This year they are being sponsored by Cains Brewery.
.....

Arts/Cultural Staff: For those staff, not represented in the other categories, who are working in the arts and cultural sector i.e. museums, art galleries etc. including front of house, box office etc.

Closing date October 31st 2005

To mark Black History Month the Museum of Liverpool Life is hosting a small display of artwork produced by some of the region’s most innovative and original artists - local children. Produced for a competition to celebrate Refugee Week 2005 (June), the vibrant work will be on display from Friday 30 September to 28 October 2005.I nearly didn't make it to the launch in time. I passed Waterstones book shop on the way and there was a huge queue of people waiting to meet Cynthia Lennon who was signing her book in which she spills the beans about how John wasn't such a wonderful guy after all. Oh no, and we just named our airport after him!
Then I passed WH Smiths and there was an even bigger queue of people waiting to meet Robbie Fowler who was signing his book in which he spills the beans about how Gerard Houllier was a bit of a back-stabber to say the least. Oh no, didn't we all say he was marvelous when we won about 20 trophies in one season?
And you know how us Brits love queueing, in fact Roman Ondak has made it into an artform but I resisted the temptation and made it to the Museum of Liverpool Life in time for coffee and cakes and the presentation of the prizes to the children in the presence of proud parents, teachers etc.
Its only a small exhibition of the 10 prizewinning entries in a corner of the room on the first floor, you can see images of them on the NML website and here is Felix Leyland from Abbots Lea School who won 1st prize in the Key Stage 3&4 standing next his picture.

Merseyside ACME and Partners Secure £3m Support Package
Merseyside ACME, the Music Development Agency (MDA), Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Creative Partnerships Merseyside have collectively secured a package of funding and resources worth nearly £3m, to deliver a programme of support for creative businesses based across Merseyside called Creative Bias Creative Advantage.
See their website

LOOK AT ME
Liverpool community group in national exhibition
Self-portraits, produced in workshops held at National Museums Liverpool have been selected for display at the National Portrait Gallery, London. The self-portraits will be included in the exhibition, Look at Me, running until 19 March 2006.

Working in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery and various galleries and charities around Britain, National Museums Liverpool commissioned local community group Sola Arts to run a series of workshops at World Museum Liverpool and the Walker Art Gallery. They worked alongside professional artists who gave advise on portrait drawing, and used the some of the paintings from the collections at the Walker as inspiration.

The six-month long project was aimed specifically at groups like the homeless, asylum-seekers and those with mental health issues to help them engage with the arts by creating their own self-portraits. In turn, the work produced offers an insight in to the diversity of people living in Britain today.

The work of one of the participants, Raymond Matisko, was of such a high standard that the National Portrait Gallery used his portrait to front the advertising campaign for the exhibition.

Raymond, 23, a first year student at Manchester Metropolitan University, came to Liverpool from war-torn Uganda three-and-a-half years ago as refugee, after his family abandoned him as a child. Alone and neglected in a strange country, he almost turned to suicide. However, he used this adversity as his inspiration.

“I used colours to represent different things I have experienced. The blue represents all of the difficulties and bad times that I have been through in the past, and the red in my eyes shows the terrible things that I have seen during the civil war in Uganda," says Raymond.

“But, the yellow is positive and represents all my hopes and aspirations for the future, like completing my business and economics degree and getting a fulfilling job at the end of it.”

The fledgling artists will be travelling to the National Portrait Gallery in London on Thursday 29 September to see their work.

Look At Me is part of a three-year community exhibition programme at the National Portrait Gallery called Reaching Out, Drawing In and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Sola Arts work specifically with asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in order to promote social integration in communities via arts and heritage projects.

From our friends at FACT.....

Artefact is a new opportunity for local artists and designers working in response to technology to exhibit their work in the FACT Centre.

Selected artists will present their work in a solo showcase in the Bar area of the FACT Centre for a 3 month period. The Bar area is a prominent position in the building and work will be seen by a huge number of visitors and run alongside shows by internationally renown artists in Gallery 1 & 2 and the Media Lounge.

Work can be in any 2D medium (painting, drawing, print etc) and have employed the use of technology at some stage of its production. The work needs to have been made in the last 3 years in the Merseyside area. There is no size limit on individual works but please be aware of the exhibition wall space of 5.4m wide x 2.3m high. If selected, work will need to be submitted ready to hang with appropriate fixings (works on paper framed, paintings with mirror plates attached etc)

To apply please submit the following:

• Maximum of 10 images in either slide, digital images on disc (300dpi+) or emailed digital images (300dpi+) format.
• Current CV
• Short Artists statement
• SAE for return of material (without this FACT cannot guarantee return of work)

Deadline for submissions 21 October 2005.

Please send entries to:
Paul Luckraft
Exhibitions Coordinator
Artefact
FACT (Foundation for Art & Creative Technology)
88 Wood Street
Liverpool, L1 4DQ

A reference to chickens and eggs I suppose. This is another exhibition by 'The Long Journey Home' group of artists. They've had a few in the Liverpool galleries over the past year or more.
I don't have a full list of artists but there's a large ink on paper work by Louise Taylor, textiles and chalks by Carolyn Sinclair, an oil figure by Annie McLean, photographs by various people including Elizabeth White, Karen Henley and Jo Derbyshire, abstracts by Jazamin Sinclair and Pete Mallon's tiny 'Pixiemobile'.
There are several more I haven't mentioned. It runs at Eggspace until October 14th 2005

It costs £5 so its worth signing up for the 2 for 1 offer...

Manchester Art Show, the North's largest selling contemporary art fair, website is now live and updated with all this year's exhibitors www.manchesterartshow.co.uk

The Show takes place from 27th-30th October at the stunning MICC / GMEX in the heart of Manchester City Centre. With over 90 exhibitors from across the UK and beyond, showing the work of over 500 artists and with everything from the cutting edge to the more traditional there really is something to suit everyone.

So don't miss your chance to see, buy and enjoy the widest range of contemporary art all under one roof.
For further details about the Show and to receive a 2 for 1 ticket voucher visit www.manchesterartshow.co.uk and join our mailing list.

Ooh these are nice, I like these. Sort of fantasy art I suppose, involving mythical looking places, swans, dragons, a green man and such like. Mostly watercolours with a lot of fine details and intricate patterns. The green man is a large acrylic (I think) on wood (possibly a cupboard door!). Some nice pictures of flowers too.
Linda Cathrall has been exhibiting in Liverpool for many years and plans to take this exhibition on to other European cities soon.
Runs until mid-October at the South Bohemia gallery. Some prints are available.

There is a drugs rehabilitation scheme based on the Wirral called Arch Initiatives and they run an arts and crafts social enterprise scheme entitled Creative Initiatives. This is for people who have overcome problems with substance misuse and are aiming to move back to work or further education. The project, funded by the European Social Fund, gives its members hands on experience of running a small business coupled with training opportunities in a supported environment.
Because of the nature of the scheme the artists are anonymous, there is a lot here and some of it very bright and colourful. Ranging from large and small canvases, several light boxes, batiks, mosaics to a cabinet full of various ceramics.
Normally we'd say 'reasonably priced' but actually these are downright cheap! Do take a look.
Runs at the Liverpool Academy of Arts until Friday October 7th 2005.

Strategic Business Plan 2005-2009 might not sound very exciting but I can't help getting all hyper when I read about the future plans for culture in the city. Its all still a bit unspecific of course and it may not all come off as planned but I'm going to be here to enjoy it. In fact I am already, it just gets better every year!
Download the documents and read all about it on the liverpool08 website here

Love of Learning Workshops - Starting October 1st 2005

Rotunda Community College will be running throughout the coming autumn term a new and exciting initiative - Saturday Workshops - providing a range of creative arts and complementary therapy courses, which they feel will be of great interest to school staff and students studying at GCSE level or for those students involved within the Gifted & Talented programme. All courses are a full day ( 10 am – 3 pm ) costing approx £35 including homemade lunch and materials, where appropriate. Discounts will be available for group bookings.
A few examples: Felt Making, Wire Bead Jewellery, Silk Painting, Tai Chi, Candle Making and Dyeing in an Ice Cream Box (eh!?)
Full Details

The Big Draw is an annual national event - now in its sixth year - encouraging people to put pen, pencil, crayon or even charcoal to paper and get drawing! With 1,500 events being held nationwide in schools, colleges, museums, galleries, shopping centres and other heritage centres, its aim is to challenge popular perceptions of drawing, make it accessible to people of all ages and stimulate creativity.

National Museums Liverpool is hoping to unleash the artist in all of us throughout October by holding a programme of activities as part of the Big Draw 2005. First event is October 8th 2005

Should be fun and here is the obligatory photo of a couple of cute kids getting in some practice before it starts.

Full list of events here or on the NML website

In the Anglican Cathedral is the BIG Art Project 2005 organised by Big Issue in the North and Liverpool CVS.
'Art is For Everyone'
Yes, indeed! The project was established so homeless men and women could access art and take the opportunity to express themselves through a creative artistic medium. Art is offered not only as a communication tool but also as a therapy and welcome diversion from the mundane stressful existence that many homeless people lead.
Art workshops, gallery visits, walkabout art days and a street art film where amongst the activities and the results are on display here.
I was a bit spooked by the lifelike dummy in the sleeping bag (at least, I think its a dummy) but its good. There's also plenty of info about the Big Issue and other projects.
I believe it finishes here on Wednesday 28th Sept Friday 30th Sept. but may be moving onto another venue.
UPDATE: It finishes at the Cathedral on Friday 30th. They are still looking for another venue and are also trying to raise more funds to continue the project which they believe has been a real success.
If you can help with ideas for venues or funding please contact Amanda Lynch at the Big Issue office on 0151 709 7030

Terry Duffy is leading a group exhibition 'British ART Salon' at the Berlin Art Show (or Forum or whatever) later this week and I see a few local names in the list. And, I believe Adam Nankervis of MuseumMan will have several works by Liverpool artists (including Colin Serjent and Sue Milburn) packed into his suitcase as he too heads for Berlin.
Meanwhile Duffy announces the closure of his London gallery
Here's the blurbs....

340 Old Street is now closed as a gallery/project space. It was an interesting 3 or 4 years but it is time to move on. The plan is European and the first place is Berlin. You will recognize some of the works being shown, new work will follow.

I will nevertheless be opening in October a more discreet project/research space just off Great Eastern Street.

British ART Salon

ARTISTS:Joe Bampton, Andrew Curry, Terry Duffy, Brandon Fix, Eric Hewitson, Neal Munro Peebles, Ritasays, David Stokes, Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney, Brian Williams

The British Salon, “land of hope and glory”, a show of controversial British art presented by der Erste Stock in Friedrichstrasse. Led by the artist Terry Duffy, this group of London based independents show work from the sublime to the controversial, from the subtle to the acerbic. Continuing their reputation for quality and controversy this show challenges what Duffy sees as “global uniformity and predictability”. This is a dynamic of how artists can function and communicate internationally.

British Salon includes “the pubic hair of Charles Saatchi” by Brandon Fix; the socio-political “Perverted Effigies” miniatures by Munro Peebles; the “Allegory” canvas’s criticising War in Iraq and the “Venus Conspiracy” life and death of Diana; the Holocaust as Tourism works by Williams and Duffy; the infamous “Voyeur project” including live performer “Ritasays” (star of Bad Girl and Stalking Amanda), disturbing dvd’s by Williams, female crucifixion by Gaynor Sweeny; fascinating useless (?) products by Stokes; the “Queen Mothers Swab” by the subversive Hewitson; amazing kinetics by Curry; minimal ultra-violet works by Joe Bampton and the unique, renowned abstracts by Duffy.

British Salon is no ordinary show, “no compromise”, says Duffy. This is British art pushing the boundaries, sheer temptation for collectors, adrenalin for artists, stress for critics and a joy for the public.

A creative tour de force that will be the buzz of the festival.

From the Biennial guys.....

You are invited to our UPDATE evening on
Friday 7 October from 18.00 - 21.00 at Liverpool John Moores University

UPDATE is an information sharing event for artists, curators and arts professionals in the region to share plans for Liverpool Biennial 2006.
It will include talks on plans for the four exhibition programmes(International 06, Independents 06, John Moores 24 and Bloomberg New Contemporaries) and events taking place during the Biennial.
There will be wine and a chance for discussions after the main presentations.

Keep an eye on our website for up to date information.

Please feel free to pass on this invitation to others you think would
be interested. You do not need to confirm your attendance.

The Venue:
Liverpool John Moores University
School of Art & Design
68 Hope Street
Liverpool

Last night was the live performance part of the 'stands' exhibition at the Arena Gallery. There were 6 activities at various locations. Seems not many people could be bothered to come along which is a shame but your intrepid blogger braved the windy weather, camera in hand and completed the rather tiring circuit, returning to Arena for refreshments but no seats! My poor weary legs.
As soon as I got there people kept telling me I should visit the toilet before setting off. I saw why when I got there as the first 'piece' by Rosie Farrell was a toilet attendant who welcomes me and later passes me the soap and towels and offers me a lollipop!
Meanwhile in the ground floor gallery space The Fine Art Service Industry was performing as The Modern Quartet. There's only 1 person though, the audience are invited to pick up an instrument and join in. He's quite an accomplished guitar player.
Next was the derelict and unsafe-looking 50a Duke Street where Kim Simons was lying on the floor with an old door resting on top her. She wasn't moving but would cough occasionally, probably because of all the dust.
The Pier Head next, I'm sure a few people didn't make it that far and I bet the artist Natasha Morris was wishing she'd chosen somewhere warmer too. She was sitting at the entrance to the ferry terminal wearing very summery clothing and reading a book. I'm told that the whole outfit, book and all, were items she'd claimed as free gifts from magazines during the month of August.
Up to Seel Street car park now and in a side alley Becca Thomas is knitting a multi-coloured scarf in the gloom. She'll have to stop soon, its getting too dark. The scarf stretches for about 50 metres through the litter and puddles.
Normally I wouldn't recommend a performance artist to sit on the steps of St Lukes late on a Friday night as they are likely to get mistaken for a dipsomaniac and get moved on or worse. But the road-works have made this area an impenetrable fortress so Llana Mitchell was quite safe as she handed me some peanuts. She explained before she opened the peanut shell that I would see something I'd never seen before and once I'd eaten them they'd never be seen again. Very profound (and tasty).
So that was a bit of fun and good exercise too. There will be an exhibition of the documentary traces in the gallery from Wednesday Sept. 28th until Oct. 12th.
More photographs here.

A truly awful idea, I hate it, its not even a nice or interesting picture. Still, good to see a local gallery on national TV. Why wasn't I invited??

Rolf on Art - The Big Event BBC1
Sun 25 Sep, 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm 60mins
Thousands of amateur artists responded to Rolf's recent appeal for volunteers to paint the next People's masterpiece - a portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger. More than 100 of the lucky ones will be meeting the challenge in Trafalgar Square and at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Rolf will have his own challenge leading a team of absolute beginners whose only experience with a paintbrush has been decorating the bathroom ceiling. Will the task be completed and will Henry once again gaze down upon his subjects?

Gosh! Look at the list of Talks and Discussions coming up at Tate Liverpool this Autumn.
Where am I going to find the time - and the money (£3/4 a throw)?
Even Matthew Collings is coming up to tell us all about Sarah Lucas.
There's also loads of (free) talks at the Walker, Lady Lever, World Museum etc. etc.

Lunch Time Lectures: Artists and Practices Tuesdays 27 September to 6 December 2005
Curator's Talk: Cuauhtémoc Medina Tuesday 18 October 2005
Jonathan Harris and Julie Sheldon in Conversation Wednesday 19 October 2005
Open Sesame: Making Histories Visible Thursday 20 October 2005
SciArt Café Tuesdays 1 November 2005 to 10 January 2006
Surreal Legacies: Sarah Lucas and Dawn Ades in conversation Tuesday 1 November 2005
Critical Forum: Place, Modernity and Representation Friday 4 November 2005
British Sign Language Interpreted Talks Sundays 6 November and 4 December 2005
Single in the City: Sarah Lucas Sunday 20 November 2005
Matthew Collings on Sarah Lucas Thursday 24 November 2005
Link to Tate page.

Unity Theatre is 25 years old! Hurrah! Well done Unity. Here's what they say about this exhibition...

25 years in photographs
unitytheatre has been presenting and producing performing arts in Hope place for 25 years.

For the first time in one exhibition we present a selection of photographs from our archives and those of Liverpool photographer Robert Cook, who has had a long association with the building and the companies that have worked in it

I like the live action shots presumably taken during rehearsals.
Runs until December 3rd 2005.

Meanwhile over at Blackburne House there are some lovely inticate artworks made from textiles by Hannah Baer. They are in the Conservatory area. In the cafe there are white abstract sculptures by Chris Pollock. I don't have any other information except they are due to end on October 1st.

There is a new questionnaire on the Liverpool08 website for children and young people to give their opinions and views on the Capital of Culture, what it means, how they'd like to be involved etc. Its called Be Heard.
All very good, I look forward to a similar exercise for us adults :)

The work of 3 artists on show at the Kif is a strange mix of styles and types, there's no overall theme. But hey, this is the Kif where anarchy rules, he-he.
There are photographs by Bob Iddon who is an experienced local photographer of live events and local views. I think these were all taken at the recent G8 summit, or rather, the nearby demonstrations. So we have the police looking dark and menacing all lined up in their riot gear and opposing them there are the brightly coloured, hippy-like, soft-and-cuddly, peace-loving demonstrators. Hmm, i think I can guess where Bob's coming from.
Domo Zone's paintings mostly fall into 2 styles. There's the ones with the paint laid on thick then scratched but only lightly and in several hundred small strokes. The other type has the vertical stripes of acrylic paint which are so watery they are transparent and the brush strokes become a feature.
Then there's James Pagella's small sketches for recent posters, flyers, cd covers etc. for bands such as Bexy Sitch, Pop Levi and his own band Zukanican. All in James' style which regular visitors to Kif will recognise.
Runs until October 14th 2005

I should mention some of the other items at Editions. They specialise in prints and have an in-store framing service. In the second floor gallery space at present is a collection of original oil on canvas paintings of Jockeys on horses by Geoff Price. Just in, are these beautiful wooden bowls, vases etc. by Oxton woodturner Jeremy Watson. Also new, to me, is the jewellery of SilverSeaShells which really is real sea shells coated in silver, very light and delicate. Then there's also our own favourite local jeweller Alice In Wonderland.

No its not a self portrait! Its a caricature of Ken Dodd which is one of many on show at Editions in Cook St. by John Minnion. John has worked for several national publications during the past 25 years such as The New Statesman and The Listener. Its amazing how a few simple lines can produce such instantly recognisable faces and I do recognise most of them from TV shows, politics or films. Most are black and white but there are few colourful ones such as the collection of TV gardeners which always raises a smile. There are also a few originals amongst the otherwise open edition prints and there are some of John's books for sale such as 'Glued to the Gogglebox' and 'Uneasy Listening'.
Runs until October 8th 2005.
John Minnions Website
Review by Philip Key for the Daily Post

Billy informs me that 'gelatin', the artists group responsible for the giant pink rabbit on the Italian mountain were involved in the first 2 Liverpool Biennials. He's rummaged about in his archives and found this picture and review by Souab Khan of their 'armpit club' installation on Duke St. in 2002. I thought it would be good to re-post it here just for the record.

Hedonistic artists have recently been pushed aside by the business-savvy culturepeneur hanging out at Groucho's with pop stars. In bringing Gelatin back to Liverpool, the independent has proved the dream is still alive. Imagine, if you can, the coliseum set indoors; late 70s New York meets 20s cabaret the size of a paddling pool. Add to the picture 200 sweaty people clambering up and down carpeted steps, with two tall Austrian men dressed in Mickey Mouse leotards, with their testicles out and entertaining the crowd. To finish the scene, add in the occasional banana fight, pole dancers and Dr. Strangelove let loose on a synthesiser. This was The Armpit, at the back of LBK on Henry Street, which, in its four days, became a mythical place. This is fairly normal for Florian, Wolfgang, Tobias and Ally, the four members of Gelatin. Their previous work has included masterpieces such as 'The Oesophagus'. This involved visitors paying to be covered in baby oil, climb a 20-metre tower, and stand over a tube lined with 25 obese people also covered in baby oil. Then they were slowly forced through the pipe, squeezing past the oily flesh to be dumped on a mattress at the bottom. The visitors would go again and again. You sense that Gelatin still have a childish sense of awe about life. Ally will jabber about the transvestite in Arizona who asked them to house-clean in the nude. Tobias, at seven, paid for a prostitute to undress for him. In their work, they project the comfort of their own sexuality onto strangers, who in turn feel at own with their own. The lucky few who got to The Armpit, some of whom had never been to an exhibition, have now been to one they will remember. What's any of this got to do with art? Gelatin is punk music, guerrilla cinema - using wood, rails and bits of old carpet.

Souab Khan

Excellent! I think I'll propose a soft toy version of the Super Lamb Banana to go on top of Moel Famau. On a clear day we'll be able to see it from Liverpool. Do you think there'll be much of an outcry at all?

Via Ananova...
An enormous pink bunny has been erected on an Italian mountainside where it will stay for the next 20 years.
The 200-foot-long toy rabbit lies on the side of the 5,000 foot high Colletto Fava mountain in northern Italy's Piedmont region.

The giant rabbit is expected to remain on the mountain side until 2025

Update: There's more on this in the Guardian blog. They remind is that in the Dorset Countryside the Cerne Abbas giant is a huge chalk carving of a "naked, sexually aroused, club-wielding giant".

The latest exhibition at FACT, 'Rock the Future' consists of 3 works by Japanese artists. They are entirely separate pieces but there is some commonality, for instance, the use of the latest technology. I was able to talk to the artists before the show opened and I have to thank Minako Ueda for transcribing and translating the conversations. Any inaccuracies are entirely due to my not listening properly and even forgetting what questions I'd asked.
All images are copyright Brian Slater.

So first of all we have extra! by Ryota Kuwakubo in the Media Lounge.
I'm standing in a small dimly lit all blue room with no shoes on and up to my ankles in small bits of paper. A note floats gently down from the ceiling. I manage to catch it and it tells me 'Next gen DVD rivals fail to agree'. A minute later another says 'Civilian police staff on strike'. OK, what should I do now? Seems I can do what I like, its one of those interactive artwork things. Visitors are encouraged to take the slips of paper away with them or tear them up, leave them on the floor or (as I did with childish exuberance) collect as many as you can hold and throw them into the air.

The artist is known for making electronic gadgets such as Bitman (1998) and alternative toys and games for companies such as Sony. This installation involves less mechanics than his usual works partly because of the worry of maintenance issues as it has to run non-stop for 8 weeks and he's only here for the first day. All the gallery staff need to do is climb up to the ceiling space to install a new roll of paper each day. The intention is not to clean up the fallen notes but to let them build up or flow out the door or whatever.

The idea came from a mental image of one piece of paper falling from the sky. There's a story form the Edo Era (1603 - 1867) when the working class were protesting about poverty and the hierarchy. Then a piece of card containing a religious message fell from the sky. The person who found it disregarded its instruction and died. Naturally people thought his death was a punishment from heaven and thought they'd better behave themselves and be more faithful.
Now we are all swamped with information and its far more horizontal, its a web, a net, the TV and radio. Kuwakubo is attempting to make it vertical again by dropping the same information that we normally deal with mentally from above on slips of paper will we deal with it differently? The messages are all phrases from news websites (via RSS feeds) but at first glance can look like a line of poetry. Have you noticed the BBC normally use 5 words for their headlines?

In Gallery 1 we have 'ikisyon 15' by ressentiment.
ressentiment wish to remain anonymous and they were still setting up their show until the very last minute before the preview started. In July they asked the local public to donate everyday objects to be part of the exhibition. These could be small items such as pens, cups, CDs or bigger ones such as plants, musical instruments, tv etc.

As you enter the gallery you are led along a winding path surrounded by these objects. This room is totally white and there is a large round lamp in the middle like a brightly burning sun. Amongst the objects are carefully placed rotating cameras and microphones recording not only the objects but also the movement and sounds of the visitors. At the end of the path is a doorway through to the other half of the gallery. Here you can watch a large screen showing the film of the items in the room. The voices of the people has been distorted so you needn't worry that others will hear what you said but still its a bit disconcerting to know that you may be part of the artwork but that's part of the point - more interactivity, this time between audience and viewer. There's also manipulation of the images as some are overlaid with others, these sequences must have been pre-recorded and repeatedly mixed in with the live pictures. Some of the objects are interesting in themselves and have been arranged and juxtaposed by the artists with some humour.

Finally in Gallery 2 is 'Shikakunomukuo (On the Other side of Vision)' by exonemo.
Exonemo is a pair of artists, Kensuke Sembo and Yae Akaiwa who have been collaborating for a few years on projects involving the internet, computer software and live sound performances.
We have another slightly disturbing interactive audience/viewer thing going on here. There is a room painted in broad black & white diagonal stripes, there are 3 computers with graphics tablets. You are invited to use the stylus to draw a picture or doodle or write something but as soon as you apply pressure the lights go out and a brief but loud and strange noise is blasted from the loudspeakers. So the combination of striped walls, lights going on and off and weird noise excites the senses whilst you are trying to draw. Its meant to, also, being able to see as you draw can be restricting.

The word Mukou has 2 different translations: Null(void) and beyond. So this is the void bit - as you draw things disappear. Then beyond, in the other room the last strokes that you made are being displayed on the 3 large screens.
Each screen shows the last few minutes worth of drawings from the 3 pcs but they are not still, they float around and change size and shape. As you watch you can see what people inside are drawing, though if its busy you won't know who drew what until they come out and say 'Hey, there's my picture! Cool!' or some-such.

The images are also available online at www.exonemo.com/mukuo but if you access it from home you may have to install some java vm nonsense. I did but promptly deinstalled it as it was interfering with other stuff.

So overall, I really enjoyed the whole thing. Its interesting, fascinating even and fun. Normally I'm not happy about being part of the artwork but this is quite subtle, liberating rather than irritating. Of course I like the techieness of it and the spirit of play. Worth visiting 2 or 3 times at least.

If you can read Japanese you might want to take a look at Toyoko Ito's review/interview on her excellent Fogless website
And Also Minako Ueda's report on the cool Japanese based website all about Liverpool - scousehouse.net

From the Capital of Culture guys.....

08 culture plan launched

Liverpool unveils £94m budget to pay for 2008 celebrations
2005-09 business plan aims to deliver best ever European Capital of Culture
90% of funding secured to lay foundations for lasting legacy

Liverpool is to invest more than £35m in to the city's arts scene for its year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The investment is one of the biggest financial packages for the arts ever announced in any city in the UK - and a further £11m will be spent on community arts projects.

The funding programme has been outlined in the Liverpool Culture Company's Business Plan for 2005-2009, published today (Tuesday, September 20).

And in a major boost for the city's 2008 preparations the plan reveals over 90% of its overall budget of £94.9 million has already been secured.

In the budget £26m is to be spent on buildings and improving venues to stage events, while £12m is to be spent on marketing the city to a national and international audience.

It is estimated that the city's European capital of Culture status will help generate 14,000 new jobs, attract £2bn in investment and an extra 1.7m visitors.

The Business Plan explains how the company is positioning itself to deliver the thematic activities in each year leading up to 2008, including the 2007 Liverpool 800th Birthday Celebrations, it also details how it will increase the quality and range of annual programmes to strengthen the city's ability to stage 2008.

The 40-page document also states key aims and objectives, such as:

Deliver an exciting, innovative and dramatic programme of arts, events and creative activity through collaborations, co-productions, and commissions.
Work with the city's communities to increase participation in creative activity and develop audiences.
Invest in cultural institutions, events, and festivals which will strengthen and sustain beyond 2008 and to develop capacity to produce and present work well into the future.
Improve the Liverpool Welcome experience to improve perceptions of the city and region as a place to visit, increasing the number of visitors to the city.
Measure the impact of 2008 through an ambitious and integrated research strategy which has never been achieved by any previous European Cities or Capitals of Culture.

Another key aim of the Liverpool Culture Company is to ensure there is a legacy from 2008 centred on people and participation and a stronger cultural infrastructure.

The plan states the city has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve a sense of pride, a better physical environment and a more attractive destination for visitors and investment.

It makes a nice change sometimes to see an exhibition of good quality non-abstract drawings and paintings of landscapes and seascapes. David Shiers was born in Liverpool and has exhibited at several local venues over many years and now has this solo exhibition at the Domino Gallery for the next month.
Mostly local scenes such as the docks, Mersey sunsets etc., some fine pencil drawings and several oils including striking images of Skiddaw and a Highland scene. All for sale at very reasonable prices.
There are a lot more examples of his work on the website www.davidshiers.co.uk

The Indigo art prize 2005 is up and running, closing date is October 31st....

Now in its second year, the Indigoart Prize is an exciting contemporary art competition aimed at professional artists whose work is contemporary and or abstract in style, with strong commercial appeal. All forms of work will be considered including paintings, prints, photography, collage, digital art etc.

All entrants will be considered for a publishing contract with the competitions sponsor Indigoart Ltd. The winning artist will receive a cheque for £2,500

Full details on their website

Off topic I know but Cardboard Citizens asked me to publicise their theatre training courses which run in London and Liverpool between November 2005 and March 2006
Briefly...
Cardboard Citizens –Theatre of the Oppressed Professional Training Courses

With Augusto Boal and Adrian Jackson

November 2005 – March 2006

As leading practitioners of Forum Theatre, Cardboard Citizens is hosting specialist training courses in the Theatre of the Oppressed from November 2005 until March 2006. 

The courses will be led by Augusto Boal and Adrian Jackson, with the participation of members of Cardboard Citizens, the UK’s only homeless people’s professional theatre company.

Full Details...

Don't bother applying, the job's mine!

CULTURE CAMPUS DIRECTOR
Salary £45,000

Culture Campus is a new organisation formed as a partnership between Tate Liverpool, the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

Culture Campus is envisaged as an international centre providing an environment for learning, incubation, research, development, participation and expression in contemporary visual, media and popular culture forms.

The appointment of a Director provides an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to drive the project forward. We are looking for a highly experienced arts professional with a passion for contemporary culture to work in partnership, developing links between the sector and HE.

The Director will bring a mix of academic and sector specific experience, will be a leader in the field of contemporary culture with excellent strategic and managerial skills and a proven record as a good communicator. You will have the ability to develop a strategy for taking forward this innovative partnership and co-ordinate its activities with key regional, local and national partners. You will represent the partnership at local and international meetings and will be an effective fundraiser able to attract additional funding for the project.

This is a full time post on a two year contract in the first instance.
Job share applicants will be considered.
For more information please contact: Sheindal Cohen.
Email: mailto:recruitment@fact.co.uk
Tel: 0151 707 4444.
Website: http://www.fact.co.uk

Deadline for applications: October 17 2005.

'A Growing Concern' at the University's Art Gallery in Abercromby Sq. is an exhibition examining Liverpool’s first botanic garden, which was founded by William Roscoe and opened in 1803 and located between Myrtle Street and Crown Street (there are blocks of flats there now).
Roscoe was born in 1753 in the 'old bowling green house' on Mt Pleasant, presumably near to where Roscoe St. is now. There is a hand-coloured engraving of the house in the exhibition.

Roscoe studied law and became an Attorney, he was a keen abolitionist and along with James Currie wrote the poem 'The African', they helped establish the Athenaeum Club which is still in Church Alley and co-founded the Botanical Gardens. Roscoe wanted to contribute to 'Renaissance Liverpool', we could do with more people like him now.

He was especially interested in Monandrian (single stamen) plants so many of the pictures of this type but there is a wide range of botanical art, contemporary documents and publications, including a selection of the City Library’s original watercolour drawings for Roscoe’s great monograph of the ginger family, Monandrian Plants of the order Scitamineae. Other items of note include rare botanical printed books, including Roscoe’s own copy of William Roxburgh’s Plants of the Coast of Coromandel, and Hexandrian Plants, by Elizabeth Bury.

In 1816 Roscoe was declared bankrupt after investing in a bank that collapsed. The gardens became somewhat neglected and were moved to Edge Lane in 1830.
The exhibition runs until December 16th and there is a slide lecture by Dr John Edmondson on November 4th at 13.00

The leaflet advertising the next exhibition ('Changing Eight 2005' Sept 30th - Oct 28th) at the Cornerstone has such a splendid map on the back I just had to bring it to your attention. Its created by Give Way Ltd., I don't know anything about them or how much they charge to produce these.

Back from London, lots to catch up on and a busy Autumn ahead I reckon. Spent most of the time just chilling in North London but spent a nice afternoon on the South Bank. As the London Design Festival had just started I thought the Design Museum would be buzzing but seems most of the events are happening later this week. Still there was an extensive display of surf boards!
Then walked along to the Tate Modern passing the Clink Prison, the Golden Hinde and Shakespeare's Globe on the way. After several visits I finally remembered to make use of the Tate's membership room with its terrace overlooking the millennium bridge and across to St Paul's Cathedral, very nice. Didn't bother with the Frida Kahlo exhibition, I'm not a fan and didn't have a lot of time anyway. Also a shame there's no installation in the Turbine Hall at the moment.

Going to London for a few days so it may be quiet round here.
I'll miss the viewings at the University tonight and the Kif tomorrow. If anyone out there goes you're welcome to write a few words about it and email them to me for posting to the blog.

From Frances MacMillan for the Pool Project....

SEA CYCLES
Sunday 18th September, 11.15am
A flotilla of people-powered, marine-inspired craft will parade along
the route of the historic tidal pool, Liverpool's namesake, which
flows underneath the city's modern foundations to this day. We will
meet at 11.15am outside Liverpool World Museum and follow the route to
arrive at the Albert Dock in time for the launch of the clipper race!
Come along to celebrate Liverpool's past and present! For more
information visit www.poolproject.co.uk/seacycles

TIDAL DREAMS
Thursday 22nd September, from 5pm
Come along to join in the conversation at the