My home overlooks the Philharmonic Hall and some big American woman is visiting there tonight and staying in the hotel opposite so the place has been surrounded by police and protesters since yesterday afternoon and the road is closed off. I was really tired after going to 4 art events yesterday but was woken up early by police helicopters overhead.
I'm happy for lots of people from other parts of the world to come and visit our great city and attend a concert at the Phil but why can't they do it quietly!

Maintenance Engineer (Operations)
FACT
FOUNDATION FOR ART AND CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
£18K (Pro Rata, Per Annum)

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 maintenance engineer. You will be an excellent communicator, with pervious experience of working within a similar role and possessing strong maintenance engineering skills.

For more information and an application pack please contact:
Sheindal Cohen or Becs Ward
Email: recruitment@fact.co.uk
Tel: 0151 707 4444
Website: www.fact.co.uk

Deadline for applications: 7 April 2006
Interviews in Liverpool: week commencing 10 April 2006

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.

The NOISE blog is looking good. And nice to see a young animation student from Liverpool getting a praiseworthy mention.

"Ben Siwoku is a 20-year-old animation student from Merseyside. He demonstrates a knack for conveying realistic expressions and feelings in his characters, which is essential for successful animation. Check out elf2 in which the character’s steely persona is skilfully portrayed through her stance and expression. "

Yet another group exhibition by 2nd year Fine Art students this time takes me over to Birkenhead. The Wirral Metropolitan College students are showing their work under the title of 'Re:FILL' at the Pacific Road Arts Centre.
It finishes on Saturday April 1st. 2006 (10.00 -13.00).
Its quite a good venue, a large space formerly housing old buses and trams, there's a lot of work from the 18 artists. The whole event has been very well organised and publicised with plenty of information on the artists and the works which always pleases me (feed me - I'm an infoholic).
Some of the sculptures are particularly eye-catching, such as Sylvia Moss's Seed Pods and Jason Bold's coat-covered Tricycle. I also liked Mike Cunningham's gloss paintings of a hammer and pliers and Emma Oliphant's small collages.

"Re:Fill are a group of emerging artists who’ve self-curated, funded, publicised and organised an exhibition of vibrant, original and challenging art works.
The show promises to offer an eclectic mix of painting, sculpture, installation, print, photography and site-specific works that will challenge, entertain and most of all publicise the emerging artists of tomorrow.

Show participants: Carol Allen, Deborah Banks, Jason Bold, Stacy Buckenham, Mike Cunningham, John Dorning, Chris Edwards, Jane Finnerty, Diane Fraser Bell, Peter Frodin, Christopher Hanson, Debra Hamer, Jenny Hulme, Sylvia Moss, Emma Oliphant, Neil Partington, Robyn Woolston and Ian Yell"

This weeks show by 2nd year Fine Art students at 68 Hope St. is called 'A Breath of Fresh Art' and is another good one. There 7 artists again of various disciplines but all seemingly working well together. It finishes on Friday March 31st.
Artists:
Nicole Terry (installation hanging like a mobile from the centre of the room, has many film references); Daniel Garrett ('Who's Invading Who?' large work spread across 3 canvases, comment on war, east v west cultures etc.); Emily Mousdell ('What Place is This and What Kind of People?', large screenprint); Alison Drury ('Holes' video of storyboard drawings and ceramic figures, a work in progress, can't wait to see the finished animation); Helen Wherry ('Much Clown Love', 2 portraits with clown masks, representation of the masks we use to hide our inner selves); Phil Jackson (Life Drawing details using acrylic pastels on card) and Harry Lawson (Black and white installations using mainly black tape stretched across corners)

Engaging Arts are inviting applications to exhibit at Manchester Art Show 2006. The Show now in its fifth year, will take place at the stunning MICC-GMEX in the heart of Manchester from 26th - 29th October.

If you wish to apply to exhibit, please go on-line to www.manchesterartshow.co.uk and click on Exhibiting 2006, where you can either apply on-line or download the application form.

Valerie McNamara
Development Director
Engaging Arts

Manchester Art Show - the North's largest selling contemporary art fair.

www.manchesterartshow.co.uk

NOISE IS OVERWHELMED WITH SUBMISSIONS

(Closing date for Submissions is May 31st 2006)

NOISE, Europe’s first cross media showcase for creative talent 25 years and under has been staggered by interest and positive response to the festival in the first week of launch. This is ahead of a national marketing campaign to promote the opportunities for young people including a ‘Dreamjob’ project to work with top creative companies both UK and abroad, a design project to collaborate with leading international street artists and a whole range of other projects across fine art, documentary making and music.

The high level of interest in the festival suggests that for many young creatives there is a lack of a platform for their work and that they are now looking to NOISE to bridge the gap between their creative output and the exposure of their talent to the wider public.

NOISE has a host of industry figureheads to select the best of the work submitted to the website including Wayne Hemingway, Peter Saville and Mark Eley of Eley Kishimoto. Not only is this a rare opportunity for young people to have their work seen by a top professional but NOISE, in partnership with some of the biggest media channels in the country will showcase the best work across television, radio, online and print come October 2006.

www.noisefestival.com

Artworks Capital of Culture Collection and Print Club launch

Artworks is commissioning talented artists to produce a series of images to symbolise the cities spectacular cultural renaissance and transformation. The Artworks Print Club is a new initiative that will enable its members the opportunity to preview and purchase exclusive limited edition art.

Limited edition giclee prints featured in the Artworks Capital of Culture Collection will be available to purchase exclusively through the Artworks Print Club. Founder of Artworks Alex Corina says:

"The aim of the print club is to give members access to high quality limited editions at affordable and realistic prices. The Artworks Capital of Culture Collection is the first series of prints available through the club with more prints and collectables due for release in the run up to 2008 "

Launch Event

The official launch event of the Print Club and The Artworks Capital of Culture Collection takes place at Parr St Studios, 33-45 Parr Street on Wednesday, 29th March, 5-9pm. If you would like to attend please email artworks@activeprofile.co.uk.

Those attending the event will be given the opportunity to experience a first look at the exceptional images on display and will be invited to join the club.

Attendees will also entered into a free prize draw to win a special limited edition print of the iconic "Three Graces" by Alex Corina

For more Artworks information please contact Jo at Active Profile on 0151 601 8688 or email artworks@activeprofile.co.uk.

folly is offering a £3,000 artist comission to develop a piece of online work as part of the 10th Futuresonic festival of electronic music and media arts.

The submission will be used as part of Futuresonic 2006 in Manchester, plus it will be part of folly's touch screen development programme, for distribution across Cumbria and Lancashire in 2006.

Commission work will begin Monday May 1st after artist selection in late April, with work completion required for a Friday July 14th installation.

To download a complete brief and submission guideline document Click Here

Deadline for receipt of submissions by folly is 10am April 18th, 2006.

See http://www.folly.co.uk/fdotlab and http://10.futuresonic.com/ for further background.

All enquiries to Kathryn Hughes, Creative Director at T: 01524 388550 and E: kathryn.hughes@folly.co.uk

'Relentless Forms' curated by Sue Lucine is at the Urban Coffee Lounge in Smithdown Road until May 1st 2006.

This cafe is a bit of a relentless form itself, everytime I visit things have moved around, walls knocked down or put up. Now there's a very nice small Fair Trade shop in the back.
Mostly figurative works by local artists this is a good show. Karen Henley's small paintings of everyday life in bright colours welcome you as you enter.

Then Sarah Richards' 3 larger oil paintings Self 1-3 on the far wall really grab your attention. How can portraits look so energetic? They are in stark contrast to Joe Bramall's 3 Portraits which are simple and amusing black and white illustrations.

At the rear of the cafe are some etchings and prints by Pamela Holstein, I like the blue lino cut 'It could happen here' and landscapes or shorescapes by Alina Vila who likes to experiment with colour and texture.

Then there's that Fair Trade shop with its delicious coffees, gifts and soaps.

Always plenty of Art courses at the lovely Burton Manor on the Wirral.

"Art courses at Burton Manor cover a wide range of topics, including art history and art appreciation as well as practical art classes. The art history and appreciation courses often cover abstract art and Italian art (e.g. Rome) and art nouveau, new this programme is a course on 'Twentieth Century Arhitecture', and another on the art & architecture of 'China, India & Mexico' . Styles and media covered in the practical classes include: water colour, water mixable oils, line and wash, water soluble pencils, gouache, coloured pencils and pastels and china painting; seascapes, landscapes, portraits, botanical painting and wildlife painting."

See the website

From Moira Kenny...

Dear Colleagues

Bad news I am afraid. Purple Apple have had a serious offer on 24 Hardman street. So it's the end of the road for the Legacy for the City in that builidng I am afraid.

Will keep in touch with plan B
Moira

Nicola Fitzsimmons work is interdisciplinary but "sculpture" is probably the closest description. She says
"I use common materials such as adhesive tape, assorted paper/card and attempt to create pieces that are aesthetically stimulating yet conceptually challenging. I am very much interested in repetition and find that the use of repeated forms is a natural occurrence in my work and something I wish to explore further."

Senior Audience Development Manager

TEAM - the marketing and audience development agency for Merseyside's cultural sector - seeks a senior Audience Development Manager

This is a rewarding post for an experienced marketing professional who really wants to make a difference to the cultural life of Merseyside at a particularly exciting time, with Liverpool designated European Capital
of Culture 2008. It is a key role in TEAM: it involves understanding and communicating market intelligence; managing research; liaising with members; designing, creating, 'selling' and undertaking marketing/Audience Development projects.

The appointed person ...

* will lead a team of three Audience Development Managers and act as deputy to the CEO in his absence
* will share tasks with the other two and develop his/her own portfolio of projects
* will act as 'account manager' for one third of the members.
* will have a particular responsibility for data-driven services.

For the first year or so the SADM will be responsible for driving TEAM's side of the major Data Culture NW project (in collaboration with Arts About Manchester and ACE, NW) whilst having the opportunity to grow the role.

The post offers up to £27,500 depending on qualifications and experience, plus five weeks' holiday.

For full details write to Bernard Martin (Chief Executive), TEAM,
4th Floor Gostin Building, 32-36 Hanover St, Liverpool, L1 4LN or
Bernard.martin@team-uk.org

Closing date for applications 09.00 Mon 03 April, interviews Wed 12 April

NO tel calls, CVs or employment agency enquiries, please!

According to the liverpool08 website today there are currently 645 days to go until the Capital of Culture Year.
But if you look at the stavanger2008 website there's only 621 days to go.
Stavanger is the non-EU Culture Captial for 2008. I know there's a time difference but 24 days seems a bit excessive.
I'm too lazy to work out who (if either) is correct.

Click here for a full update on the upcoming major event at St Georges Hall during the 08 UK Squash Competition there, May 3rd - 7th 2006.
Contact Peter Worthington of South Bohemia Gallery for further information.

The Capital of Culture crown, which Liverpool has won for 2008, has created a huge renaissance in art and the culture of the city. Different themes have been used to highlight the many aspects of art and culture; this year the city is celebrating the themes of art and sport through performance. The Culture Company is promoting the sport of squash as a performance of culture in the prestigious St Georges Hall, one of the most beautiful buildings in Britain. To complement the performance of sport, the South Bohemia Art Gallery and it’s associate, Boho Dolls, are curating an art exhibition with performing arts to facilitate integration in the themes in one grand event.

The exhibition will in many ways express the performance of the sporting people of Merseyside and the musical and theatrical skills of the city, with the diverse talents of the exhibitors.

WANTED: LIVERPOOL LIVES
National Museums Liverpool project

Help is needed from Liverpudlians in an exciting National Museums Liverpool project recording the personal experiences of 800 living people, as the city prepares to celebrate Charter Year 2007 and European Capital of Culture 2008.

A unique concept, 800 Lives is inspired by the 800 years since King John granted Liverpool its first charter. National Museums Liverpool wants young and old people from all backgrounds and walks of life to offer their stories for this milestone venture.

The project aims to reflect a cross-section of the people of Liverpool - from its citizens and local characters to its celebrities and wealthy business figures. Some will be newcomers, others with deep roots in this amazing city - all helping to make up its rich history.

The aim is to compile 800 stories which reflect Liverpool's world-famous make-up as a living, vibrant city consisting of not just beautiful buildings but also a vast range of personalities with many diverse qualities and talents.

Everyone has a chance to be included in 800 Lives. The project records people's experiences and some are asked to donate an object to National Museums Liverpool's social history collection. It could be anything from a simple everyday object to historic family keepsakes, including photographs. But they must have significance to the people involved.

800 Lives will be a virtual exhibition on the National Museums Liverpool web site and in future Liverpool history exhibitions. You can see some of the lives collected so far, read more about the project or even nominate yourself to take part, on the website www.eighthundredlives.org.uk

The information gathered will be an educational and learning resource for future generations, a series of snapshots of Liverpool in 2007-8.

Jen McCarthy, project manager and head of social history at the Museum of Liverpool Life, says: "This is a great opportunity for people to come forward with their personal stories. We want to uncover little-known, moving and fascinating narratives that people can tell from their own memories.

"This is a remarkable and stimulating project which will give a deep insight into Liverpool's diverse communities. We are certain that many people will want to tell us their stories. 800 Lives will reveal the true heart of this renowned city - its exceptional people."

www.eighthundredlives.org.uk

Full details on the Biennial website www.biennial.com/?q=news

Visitor Programme Co-ordinator
£12k pro rata, 37.5 hours per week. 8 month contract to start as soon as possible

Internship to support International 06 programme team
From May 2006 for up to 6 months

Voluntary position; expenses up to £90 per week

Internship to support Marketing and Development team
37.5 hours per week. 6 month contract from May/June to November 2006.

Information Assistants to invigilate the International 06 exhibition
From September to end November 06.

Voluntary position; expenses up to £90 per week.

Production / installation technical support
Voluntary project based work (May to November); expenses up to £90 per week.

Exhibitions and events at World Museum Liverpool April- June 2006

Exhibition and events at the Walker Art Gallery and the Lady Lever Art Gallery for April- June 2006

The Walker Art Gallery

The Lady Lever Art Gallery

Paul Meeks is a young painter, illustrator who has recently relocated to Liverpool. He says
"As a painter I usually work back and forth between abstract and representational work with the abstract tending to be done in either oils or pastels, which I discovered for the first time a couple of years ago and have loved using ever since. My representational work is done in either oils acrylics or watercolours. I paint everything from Landscapes/Cityscapes to Still Life and animals. More recently I have begun to work more and more with portraits."
He has his own website at: www.insight-images.co.uk

It seemed like such a good marketing idea. The two No. 8 players in the Merseyside derby (Liverpool v Everton football match at Anfield today) were wearing special '08' shirts to help advertise the Capital of Culture.
Really, the only thing that could go wrong was for Steve Gerrard to be sent off in disgrace for an awful foul. And, guess what, that's exactly what happened after only 18 minutes.
Maybe that was part of the plan too, even more publicity, no such thing as bad publicity etc.

If you have any broken down old musical instruments and are wondering what to do with them you can always give them to Alex Corina. He's been into recycling unwanted items into artworks for a while now and his latest project involves flattening things like trumpets and trombones and putting them into rather splendid odd-shaped frames to be reborn as unusual works of art.
You can see some examples at Alex's gallery 'Slaughterhouse73' at 73 St Mary's Road, Garston.
Also on the recycling theme there are several pieces of glassware from bowls and vases to jewellery made by Energywise which is a Liverpool company specialising in recycling old bottles and window glass into some very nice products.
But the most striking works on show here are a series of paintings by Chris Vine which form part of the new Artworks 'Capital of Culture Collection'. They all have some (maybe several) references to Liverpool. There's the Liverpool Carousel which features the Liver bird, the Yellow Submarine, Stephenson's Rocket and many more. There's a painting of a large Liver Bird made from Meccano which, of course, used to be manufactured in Liverpool and a 'Trojan Lamb Banana' referencing the Trojan Horse story.
This Artworks Print Club collection also includes Alex's 'Three Graces' and more pictures will be released over the coming months.
The gallery is well worth a visit. You can also see the Capital of Culture collection at 3345 Parr St where there will be a special launch on Wednesday March 29th from 17.00 to 21.00.

'Made in Liverpool' at Slaughterhouse73 until March 31st 2006.

Alex Corina
Artworks Print Club
Energywise Recycled Glass

Via Daily Post...

VISITORS numbers to Liverpool museums have gone up by a staggering 129% since admission fees were scrapped.

The city topped a national poll showing how much venues had benefited from the free admittance policy.

It showed more than 1,589,500 people toured local exhibitions last year compared to 694,197 in the final 12 months of charging on the door.

David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool, said: "We strongly believe museums should be free to everyone, whatever their background, and should provide visitors with a great experience.....

Online Journalist, Marketing & Research, NOISE, Manchester

Position: Online Journalist, Marketing & Research
Reports to: Chief Executive
Date: March 2006 - March 2007

Summary:
NOISE is a cross-media festival for young people that will showcase the best in creative talent across television, radio, online and print. NOISE has recently launched a national call for submissions, encouraging young artists to submit their creative work to the website in advance of October's showcase month.

The advertised role is for an ONLINE JOURNALIST, MARKETING & RESEARCH CO-ORDINATOR. Responsibilities will include planning and implementing a comprehensive online marketing campaign to drive relevant traffic to the NOISE website, to use existing contacts and knowledge to build NOISE's profile within key online communities and networks as well as working closely with the website producers to move the current website from a 'call for submissions' stage to a finished 'showcase' website.

Other responsibilities will include writing, researching and maintaining the NOISE 'uber blog' that will act as a central reference for visitors to the NOISE website and syndicating content and creating RSS feeds to all media partners. Working closely with the NOISE team and partner organisations the role will require an editorial skill in cherry-picking interesting and relevant content for the NOISE blog as well as undertaking marketing activity that will raise the number of applicants to NOISE across a diverse and broad range of young talent and artistic skills sets.

The role would also include co-ordinating the logging and uploading of NOISE submissions that will be active through the submission period. Between 'gather' and 'presentation' stages there would a requirement for designing, programming, editing and moderating the NOISE website in html as well as ensuring the website at all times remains the main communication tool for NOISE festival.

The role is offered on a 12 month contract.

Skills and experience

* Thorough understanding of online media and marketing
* Experience of writing for online arts publications
* Passionate interest in contemporary arts, music and culture
* Competent computer skills especially HTML, Microsoft Office, Project 2000,
Visio, Photoshop, Premiere (or similar), Flash, FrontPage
* Excellent verbal and written communications skills and great people skills
* Creative and innovative, together with a strong attention to detail and a
hands-on approach
* Strong project management skills, combined with analytical skills
* Able to handle multiple tasks and demanding situations
* Motivated, flexible, enjoys working autonomously and as part of a creative team
* Extensive contacts built up within the online media industry and arts web
publications

Needed to start as soon as possible, full-time, Manchester-based, 12-month contract, fee £30,000+ depending on abilities. Applicants should send a covering letter and CV to info@noisefestival.com

http://www.noisefestival.com

Although I like some of Banksy's work and also like some graffiti as an artform you can't really defend the defacing of public buildings, transport and street furniture.
Banksy attempts to in todays Guardian.

"Melbourne is the proud capital of street painting with stencils. Its large, colonial-era walls and labyrinth of back alleys drip with graffiti that is more diverse and original than any other city in the world. Well, that was until a few weeks ago, when preparations for the Commonwealth games brought a tidal wave of grey paint, obliterating years of unique and vibrant culture overnight."

LINK

from liverpool08...

Liverpool 2008 Chief Executive appointed
The Executive Group of the Liverpool Culture Company Board today (Friday 24 March) announced the appointment of Jason Harborow as its Chief Executive.

36-year-old Mr Harborow has been the Culture Company's Chief Operating Officer for more than a year and will take up his new post from 1 April 2006.

Mr Harborow will be responsible for managing the delivery of a host of events and programmes between now and European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Welcoming Mr Harborow's appointment, Professor Drummond Bone, Chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company, said: "I'm very pleased that Jason has agreed to accept the unique challenges that go with this high-profile post. His strategic vision for the company alongside his proven ability to manage it on a day-to-day basis and his knowledge of the city will be a great advantage."

Cllr Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: "Jason has been instrumental in ensuring the Liverpool Culture Company is in the best possible position to maximise the opportunities 2008 represents. His ability to work with both the private and public sectors at all levels and his desire to succeed will be of immense benefit to the city for many years beyond 2008."

Jason Harborow said: "I'm delighted and honoured to accept this role. I'm particularly proud that we have such a good team in place for achieving the city's ambition of staging the best-ever European Capital of Culture. We're all firmly focused on delivering for Liverpool, the region and the UK."

Here's Pete Price and Ken Dodd signing up Liz McLarnon to be a Liverpool08 Ambassador.
I've signed up too of course!
Sign up online at the liverpool08 website or the 08Place or One-stop shops....

"The 08 Ambassador Programme has been created to engage all those people who love Liverpool and want to support our efforts to make the most of its position as European Capital of Culture 2008.

We would like your assistance in joining us to help tell the world about the great strides the city is making and why Liverpool will be the best-ever European Capital of Culture."

re-blogged from boingboing
I think FACT would be the perfect place for these.

"Recessed into a urinal is a pressure-sensitive display screen. When the guest uses it, he triggers an interactive game, producing images and sound. The reduced size of the “target” improves restroom hygiene and saves on cleanings costs (like the “fly in the urinal” at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport). It also makes a trip to the urinal “fun and games” – more than just a necessary nuisance. By projecting the game experience into the public space, viewers are treated to a new way of visualizing the abstract, and the entertainment value is boosted. The projection of the project into a museum space was conceived of as a critical-ironic measure, questioning the concept of art, but extending it at the same time. “On target” is an interactive installation with the functional purpose of improving hygiene."
Yankodesign.com Link

Digital Arts Manager Vacancy (Manchester)

Community Arts North West is seeking a DIGITAL ARTS MANAGER to take a lead role in the on-going development of a sustainable digital arts programme as part of CAN's participatory work with excluded communities. This currently includes the Exodus Refugee Arts and Urban Youth Music Theatre programmes. You will develop and
manage work across a range of collaborative art forms from V'jing to video diaries.

Salary 22,000 pro rata, based on 3 - 4 days per week.
Based in Manchester's city centre.

For a job description, and application pack contact Becky Dibben on 0161 234 2981,
or admin@can.uk.com

Closing date for completed application form (no CVs) 5pm, Thursday 20th April. Interviews Thursday 27th April.

We positively welcome applications from disabled people and all sectors of the community. CAN is an equal opportunities employer.

GOING NATIVE FINAL EVENT: CLOSING PARTY | Friday 24 March | 20.30pm-late | FREE
At Arena Gallery, 82-84 Duke Street, Liverpool (double doors down from The Monroe pub)

---
HEADLOC – knob-twiddling Wrexham electronica
THE WOMBATS – melodic pop with a twist
STUFFED LOVE – broody, driving, psychedelic rock
KINETIC FALLACY – Ninja Tunes-esque classical take on hip hop
Plus poetry and DJ’s
---
Over the last three weeks, the Arena Gallery has played host to our latest exhibition, )Bracket THIS( - Going Native.
Specially-commissioned pieces by international-but-Liverpool-based artists have jostled for elbow room with brand new quality poetics, North African drums, German comedians, Chilean guitars, Wigan electronica and freakin belly dancers.
Now it is game over, but not before one last blowout tomorrow night (Friday 24). If you’ve been already, then take the opportunity to say goodbye to it all, and if you haven’t made it yet, then this is your last chance...
---
FREE to get in, all the drinks are a quid, and we have heating now!
Check dis:
<http://www.myspace.com/headloc>
<http://www.thewombats.co.uk>
<http://www.myspace.com/kineticfallacy>
<http://www.artinliverpool.com/bracketthis>

The work of Neal Dawson considers the relentless transience and ebb of the everyday environment.

The extremities and subtleties of light are central to the images created.

The reaction light has on objects or the landscape and it can transform and dramatise are of particuler interest to the Artist.

“If Liverpool 2006 was a woman, what woman would she be like?”

This is the question that Mandy Romero, Liverpool’s own self-appointed Queen of Culture, needs you to answer.

Please circulate this email far and wide and mail your answers to: mandylaromero@hotmail.com

(Mandy is performing at various times in the Out of the Bluecoat in Paradise Street.)

Review of Ernesto Sarezale, ‘One rite and the concrete Poem’, Live Performance
Museum Man, Liverpool, Curator Adam Nankervis.
Saturday 11 March 2006
Written by Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney
Photograph by Tony Knox

I adore the opportunity to go and view other artist’s work and it is refreshing to take time out as an artist from my own. The chance to peruse different art forms, from the genres and canons heralded in the museums and art galleries where I escape for reflection in my own art. All the way through to the more contemporary art practices, which touch on the conventional and expand to more current technological artistic explorations. One of my passions being performance art and significantly thought provoking and insightful.

On Saturday 11 March 2006, I went to Museum Man, an gallery on the top floor of a Georgian house in Rodney Street, Liverpool. Advertised was the work of a performance artist/poet, Ernesto Sarezale, titled ‘One rite and the concrete Poem’. I had read earlier on the website for the gallery (www.museumman.org) that:

‘Ernesto Sarezale is the pen name of a Basque cognitive scientist, writer and performance poet based in London. His creative work includes: concrete poetry, body and performance art, multimedia (video, sound, word,...), and hypertext/web-based art and literature.’

The fundamentals of his work further outlined as:

‘Ernesto's work usually deals with the "queer body". In an attempt to fathom the paradoxes and complexities of sexual intimacy, his poetry, video and performance survey the pleasures, the pains, the metamorphoses inflicted on the flesh by sexual desire. He often chooses to incorporate his own body, exposed and vulnerable, as an integral part of his live acts.’

I remember having a discussion with an artist some days prior and who adamant stated performance artists are all self indulgent and only make art literally of and for the self. This had stuck in my mind and although as a performance artist myself I strongly disagreed with this commentary and assertion. Yet reading through the text above I wondered maybe indeed there is an element of this and such could be construed in my own work.

The night came and I was in the gallery with a group of others. We got ushered into the main communal area where the performance was staged and took our seats arranged along one side of the room. He, Ernesto Sarezale, commenced.

He was lying in the bed on the far corner of the room, covered with the duvet. He started to orate his poetry. His voice with a slight, but distinct Spanish accent. It was soft and captivating and as he spoke his verse, he gestured tenderly and intermittently with his hands. He then stood from the bed, exposed, bare flesh of a man, yet the tender timbre in his voice and profound verse hypnotised the audience the nakedness society would normally shun becomes one innate. The words explications of his own experiences, yet within a certain satire a reality of emotions we can all relate to. He walked across the room, still quoting his rhyme and then at the finale invited all the audience members to write their own prose or text on his body.

This performance was exceptional and enlightening. Provocative, yet consensual, to all whom observed and experienced the shared encounters and memories of Sarezale inscribed and orated in his poetry. If you have the opportunity to see the work of Sarezale I strongly recommend it! A beautiful, yet strong and germane performance. The captivation of Sarezale, although within the context of his own experiences, imbues a universality by the interaction and cognition he captures in his work.

www.museumman.org
www.sarezale.com

Another very good show of 2nd yr art students' work at JMU this week, finishes on Thursday (Mar 23rd).
The artists: Rebecca Doherty-Bone (2 abstract canvases); Ellen Gardner (Mixed media waves and contour shapes, 'New Wave' is particularly good I thought); Julie Keane (Interesting sculptures, 'Empty Inside' and 'I Trusted You With My Life' on the subject of child abuse); Michael Isted (H2S04 - the droplets are plastic hung from iron chains - 2 significant contributors to the creation of acid rain (H2S04)); Helen Taylor ('For Him?' 3 paintings of women in sexy poses. A statement (but not a negative criticism) about the portrayal of women in the media etc.); Jessica Quirk (A performance piece, 'When I Grow Up I want To Be A Waitress', highlighting the monotony and repetitiveness of the job); Arlene Weever ('Bed/Chair/Grass' a flat-bed trolley and chair seemingly sculpted out of grass 'subverting the norm')
 

My mother doesn't have an email address so I can't send her one of these e-cards from the National Museums Liverpool website.
LINK

Looks like Spring is here at last and thoughts turn to Easter and flowers and bunnies and best of all, chocolate.

BUNNY RUN FUN!
Easter holiday events at National Museums Liverpool

National Museums Liverpool calls all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed children to join Bunny Run, a fun Easter trail from Saturday 1 April to Sunday 30 April 2006.

Hop on board at Walker Art Gallery, World Museum Liverpool, Merseyside Maritime Museum, HM Customs & Excise National Museum or Lady Lever Art Gallery. Collect a Bunny question card and follow the trail around all five venues to hunt for the answers!

A golden egg sticker and a prize will be handed out at each venue for correct answers. Bunnies who collect all five golden eggs can then enter the Bunny Run Family Prize Draw and have the chance to win some fabulous prizes.

These include family day passes to Knowsley Safari Park, a family season ticket to the National Wild Flower Centre, including free lunch and a guided tour for the first visit, and a Divine chocolate goody basket. (that's for me!)

More details

Captivated at the Potting Shed …

Written by Jean-Paul Debuffet and Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney, Edited by Lucia Sweeney.
Photographs by associate artist.
Friday 17 March 2006

Walk the Plank, a theatre production company on a boat, has staged three events each known as the Potting Shed with separate themes. On the final night of these events (Friday 17 March 2006) , there was an array of performances by different artists, singers and performers. Two in particular Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney and George Lund bemused and enticed the audience with their individual, unique and thought provoking conceptual performances.

Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney presented ‘The Enlightenment – Les Cushion Belles (Part III)’. A performance derived from poem, ‘Les Cushion Belle' by the artist, writer and philosopher Kofi Fosu based in New York. The poem was attributed to the women he has creative and intellectual dialogue with on the subjects of gender, ethnic and sexual politics in post modern society. The performance artist, Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney, created a live intervention relative to the philosophical discourse between the two artists. The concept of the performance was adapted in context for Walk the Plank and variations previously explored at the Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool), 340 Old Street Gallery (London), the Liverpool Biennial and New York.

From the onset of the performance, Sweeney captivated her audience and even in the event of all the technical equipment failing, including digital projection and sound, which accompanies the live performance; she persisted and continued with the actions that imbue the concepts of the shared philosophies of her and Fosu. The audience was fixated as she moved between each integral stage of the performance. Dressed in men’s attire she removed the tie, rolled it up and put it into her pocket. She gradually unbuttoned the shirt to reveal her torso. Unzipping her trousers she pulled out a red lipstick and repeatedly went over her lips until exaggerated. From her lips she traced the lipstick down her chin, neck and wrote on her body ‘Woman created by Man born of Woman’. She removed the shirt and covered her head, securing it around her neck. With the lipstick she redrew her lips, the crimson imperfection vaguely denoting the features of her own lips underneath. She stood motionless, arms outstretched, as if to greet, a crucifixion or defiance. Through this entire performance the silence pervaded the air, not a mutter, but the audience intensely engrossed in each action and movement made by the artist. She departed the stage to a rapture of applaud, but many in the audience, accustomed to theatrical productions and not the more conceptualisation embodiment of performance art.

Then later on in the evening, George Lund entered with his antics and eccentricities as the Funkadelic Chicken. He danced and juggled, exposed his back side (one stitched to his chicken costume). This flamboyant and energetic character, his alter ego, a manifestation from his paintings and philosophical text of ‘Animal Utopia’. The performance and the persona one embryonic, a parody in dance and egg juggling, etc., enveloped in the satire and idiosyncrasy. Yet, we are greeted not by a jester, indeed no fool, but realise the revelry of the Funkadelic Chicken, as he struts through each move, arms flaying, legs kicking, intermittent squawks and scratching of feet; each action one to attainr the euphoria and the utopia we each so avoid in our daily conventional lives. The fundamentals of Lund’s artistic interventions overall, whether his writings, paintings or performances. He closed his performance on a crescendo of applause and laughing, not at him, but with him, as he touches on the aspiration for the ideal in each of us!

Two very distinctly different performances by Sweeney and Lund and each as provocative and bewildering to the audience! An exceptional evening!

www.gaynorevelynsweeney.co.uk
www.lundart.co.uk
www.walktheplank.co.uk

From the hub...

The dates for the hub training session have changed. The Liverpool one is now on June 22nd.
A one-day training course designed for those who would benefit from a comprehensive overview of the sources of funding available in the arts.

These new dates follow a series of successful hub training programmes in 2005.

See liverpool08 webpage for full story.

Liverpool Biennial 2006: International 06
Urban myths and the bittersweet success of regeneration are strong focal points in the International 06 exhibition for Liverpool Biennial 2006.

Inspired - in overview and in detail - by Liverpool's people, history and built environment, the exhibition promises 35 new commissions, half of which will be sited in the public realm, by some of the most exciting artists from across the world - a uniquely crafted 'total experience' of new art in a specific cultural context.

The personality of the exhibition will be as lively, diverse and quick-witted as Liverpool itself. It will be an extraordinary opportunity to see art engaging with global issues through the specifics of its cultural context.

Priscilla Monge's football pitch designed as an obstacle course carries a powerful emotional impact with lighthearted irony, whilst Rigo places cages around monumental imperial lions and Teresa Margolles engages with criminal violence by making pavements of shattered glass.

International 06 responds to the personal readings of Liverpool made by consultant curators Gerardo Mosquera and Manray Hsu. Both see art channelling energy into and within the city. Manray Hsu makes use of metaphors drawn from the Internet and from traditional Chinese medicine, while Gerardo Mosquera's 'reverse colonialism' returns the flow of energy along the city's historic geographic vectors to explore Liverpool here and now.

....

In addition to those mentioned above, artists currently in conversation towards a commission include: Matthew Buckingham, Paul Chan, Chen Chieh-jen, Esra Ersan, Carlos Garaicoa, Shilpa Gupta, Kingpins, Hans Peter Kuhn, Lee Ming-Wei, Kelly Mark, Gianni Motti, Mario Navarro, Lisa Oppenheim, Philippe Parreno, Amalia Pica, Jean-Francois Prost, Shimabuku, Hans Schabus, Julianne Swartz, Sissel Tolaas, Tsui Kuang-yu, Adriana Varejao, Humberto Velez, Matej Andraz Vogrincic, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Jun Yang.

'Elemental ' by Collidoscope group, finishes Friday March 24th 2006.
COLLIDOSCOPE was formed in 2005 by eleven North West Artists and this is their second show at LAA.
Based on the theme of the elements - earth, water, fire and air. Artists: Janet Cobbold, Dorothy Culshaw, Sylvia Garrette, Mair Griffiths, Ann Harrison, Gail Hayes, Marie McGowan, Simon MacBryde, Anita Varey, Sue Yoosawai
at Liverpool Academy of Arts - March 14th - 24th 2006

Two events tonight, first a reminder about the JMU 3rd year students (Limelight Arts) exhibition opening at 52 Roscoe Street starting at 19.00 with live music until late.

Also, late notice from 5aThegallery, St Helens...

The Society of Glass Technology and The Contemporary Glass Society present

100 Days and other stories at 5athegallery - St Helens first independent contemporary art and craft gallery

Dominic Fonde is a glassblower and story teller. Using a mix of blown glass vessels, engraving and original short stories he explores objects such as vases and bowls from the perspective of containers for thoughts and emotions. If you have not heard Dominic read his stories before this may be your last chance as Dominic is soon to leave the UK to take up a new job in Singapore!

Venue. 5athegallery 5a Bickerstaff St. Tues 21st March 7.00pm
admission £1

www.cgs.org.uk

Another day, another artist joins artinliverpool's directory.
Sarah Fleming is actually in Leeds at present, in the first year of the Graphics & Visual Communication Design Degree course but has been working on a Liverpool-based project.
"My work is wide and varied with much emphasis on visually creative solutions to design problems. Although currently studying a Graphic Design degree, I hold a strong interest in illustration (hand and computer generated) as well as the usual Graphic Design areas."

From Alex Corina...

Garston Cultural Village has the biggest artist in residency programme in the city just starting. 10 artists in residence in ten Garston schools. It is called the Spirit of Garston. The aim is to create a symbol for garston made out of recycled materials.

The context is the campaign last summer to get the Lamb banana back to Garston where it was originally made. They decided to make their own symbols.
We still need three artists.
If there are artists working in Liverpool with experience of recycling in art and have experience working with schools and interested contact Alex Corina on 0151 494 2566 or 0776 338 8509

Vacancy at Community Arts North West: Exodus Artistic Manager (Manchester)

An experienced and dynamic Artistic Manager is now sought to develop and manage a range of high quality participatory projects with Refugees and Asylum Seekers and other local communities from Manchester.

Two days a week will involve working as part of The Exodus Refugee programme with a main age range of 18 years upwards.

One day a week will involve assisting CAN's Youth Arts Coordinator in the delivery of CAN's 'Urban Music Theatre' project.

An optional half day per week will involve managing CAN's Refugee Arts Workshop Leader traineeship.

We are looking for someone that has high aspirations in terms of the processes and artistic outcomes that participatory arts can achieve with communities.

Applicants should have a minimum of three years arts project management experience and at least 2 years experience of managing projects in a culturally diverse arts context.

This is initially a 12 month fixed term contract Salary 22,000 p.a.y.e. pro rata, based on 3 days per week with an optional additional half day to run our Refugee Artist Trainee programme.

CAN is based in Manchester's city centre.

For an application pack: Contact Becky Dibben on 0161 234 2981, or email admin@can.uk.com

Closing date for completed applications: 5pm, Thursday 6th April; interviews Wednesday 12th April.

CAN positively welcomes applications from disabled people and all sectors of the community. CAN is an equal opportunities employer.

Abstract Paintings by Eric Orme at Unity Theatre until April 1st 2006.
Part of the fun of exhibitions at the Unity is finding all the pictures. I've never seen any in the foyer but they can be all around the stairs, the 1st and 2nd floor corridors and the bar areas. It just depends how much work the artist has to show.
Eric Orme has been quite busy lately, most of these works are very recent and spread around all of the first and second floors.
Eric finds inspiration in old things such as the small packages used in Lid 1 and Lid 2 which are those small boxes they used to send fancy wedding cards in. He has painted over it then scraped most of it off so the stamps, sellotape etc, are still visible. He is also very interested in symbols used in language and writing systems so a lot of the images are similar but not exact copies of Etruscan, Oriental, Phoenician, Greek... characters. Sometimes painted or drawn sometimes scratched into the paint.

There is a painting entitled 'Muromachi' after the Japanese 15th - 16th century period. Also a small blue painting is an 'Homage to Paul Klee'
So there's plenty to look at during the play intervals in this absorbing exhibition.

If you were passing Quiggins last Wednesday you may have seen this gang of youngsters painting on the wall. They had permission, of course, Zap Graffiti Arts is now based in the building and the proprietor Kieran Gorman was there to oversee the work.
The aim of Zap is to promote graffiti as a positive artform. They deliver workshops, courses etc. to schools, youth and community-based organisations. This particular session involved unemployed school-leavers on the Pops Graffiti Course supported by the Leasowe Development Trust.
Full details on the Zap Graffiti Website: www.zapgraffiti.com

Ron Davies is a professional photographer based in the Crosby area of Liverpool with over 30 years experience in the commercial, architectural, public relations, travel and portrait sectors of photography. Although based in Liverpool he works for a range of clients throughout the country.

There is a library of Liverpool and European images available on his website and he also produces a range of limited edition giclée fine art prints of Liverpool scenes, Antony Gormley's Another Place and other contemporary images.
Ron's own website: www.rondaviesphoto.co.uk

From John Fillis...

A new Art Gallery will soon be opening in Liverpool’s City Centre. Providing much needed opportunities for local artist to display their work.

The “Capitalists of Culture Co Ltd” have signed a three year agreement with “The Peoples Centre” to exhibit art at their new premises on Mount Pleasant.

With over 30 metres of wall space for pictures, as well as two plinths at the front of the building and a very large secure garden at the rear for sculptures. The gallery is hoping to undertake ten shows in the next twelve months, displaying the work of 80 artists.

The gallery will be purely an exhibition area open to the general public. Sales and support information will all be conducted through the internet site www.capitalistsofculture.com, which also provides a poetry section.

The name of the gallery has yet to be revealed, discussions are now ongoing with corporate sponsors. As the gallery will be named after one of them.

All services are provided free of charge to those artists and poets chosen for display. The gallery will be open to the general public in May of this year.

John Fillis, Managing Director of Capitalist of Culture Co Ltd. said. “We have been given a fantastic opportunity by The Peoples Centre, to support the development of art within the city. Our aim is to provide people with a sense of prestige and prosperity. Enabling them to view the dynamic diversity of talent that art provides.”

Bob Braddock, Coordinator of The Peoples Centre, stated. “It’s important that the voluntary sector delivers for 2008, despite the city council. We have had to face up to many difficult changes over the past few years. But we will never change our principles, to provide people with a platform for pride in our cities heritage.”

Contacts

John Fillis Managing Director
Tel : 07811388153
email : capitalistsofculture@tiscali.co.uk
The In Business Centre
9 Sandy Road
Seaforth Village
Liverpool
L21 3TN

Bob Braddock Coordinator
Tel : 0151 702 6926
The Peoples Centre
50 – 54 Mount Pleasant
Liverpool
L3 5SD

From Tony Bolland...

"I am in the process of completing a book about the local music scene in the 1970's, personal stories and photo's from local musicians, agents, DJ's and venues. Their influences from living in Music City in the aftermath of the Merseybeat era. I am looking for funding to launch and self publish the book, my website is www.pluginn.bravehost.com
Kind Regards
Tony Bolland"

Not visual art but there are some local artists involved...

Mendelssohn's ELIJAH Sunday 26th March 7.30pm at the Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street. with Andrew Keenan as Elijah. Andrew is a local boy made good, he is a world reknowned soloist and has been released by the New York Metropolitan Opera to sing with the choir which is made up of Birkenhead Choral Society, Formby Choral Society and Merchant Taylors' School
This promises to be a first class performance by excellent singers under the leadership of David Holroyd.

Tickets priced from £10-£20 from Merchant Taylors' School Box Office on 0151 949 9405 and the Philharminic Box Office on 0151 709 3789

Sarah Leanne Trappe is moving to Merseyside soon from the North East and says
"I adore the work of many ‘romantics’ and take influence from them along with the work of artists from varying genres however, Rothko, Pollock, the above mentioned ‘contemporary’ artists, Kahlo and a huge list of film creators, writers, musicians, photographers. So yes I take areas of romanticism but I won’t bind myself entirely to it.

I often use modern media such as film and photography to capture images for my work, something not used in the 18th century. "

Really quite annoyed with myself for completely forgetting to visit FACT yesterday for the 2nd Science week drop in thing.
At least there's more of the same coming up in the Media Lounge soon.
Check out the latest news of upcoming events here: http://www.artinliverpool.com/moreinfo/factnews.htm

Some strange Irish thing going on yesterday. What do people do with those stupid hats? Do they hang onto them for next year and do they think they look cool?

dot-art is currently seeking to recruit more artists for its ever expanding online gallery.

"We are looking for talented artists of any discipline based in Liverpool and the
surrounding area who wish to display their work on the dot-art website and join us as we prepare for the capital of culture year in 2008. as we approach that year our artists will have the opportunity to be involved in high profile events, exhibitions, competitions and much more."

to find out more visit http://www.dot-art.co.uk

or to apply, send some examples of your work and your background to lucy.byrne@dot-art.co.uk

David Lunt presents his dynamic and colourful paintings in the Bar at FACT as the second artist in the ARTEFACT programme. Taking inspiration from cinema, literature, magazine photography and classic paintings, Lunt uses computer manipulation to deconstruct and rework this imagery into distinctive abstract compositions. The paintings that he produces at the end of this process combine these hybrid elements with layers of pigment compressed between glass, resin and aluminium, resulting in complex and intriguing work.

David Lunt recently graduated from Loughborough University with an MA in Art and Design Studio Practice. He lives and works in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Acid Days Revisited (parts 1-3) Part 1: 'Standing in the light field'. Oil, Resin, Digital Print and Glass. Part 2: 'Morning Star'. Oil and Resin on Aluminium (mounted on MDF). Part 3: 'Are You There?'. Oil, Resin, Digital Print and Glass.

in the FACT bar area - March 12th - May 22nd 2006

Frank Moore is one of the artists based at 50 Parr Street. Painting predominantly in oils Frank says,

"Through representation of colour, form, line and perspective my work deals with human social behaviour expressing use of thought, feelings, emotions and memory to portray images of my own experiences of life."

I recently paid a visit to JMU's Fine Art building at 68 Hope Street to meet a group of about 20 artists known as the Bluecoat Printmakers. The name comes from the fact the print classes used to be run at the Bluecoat Chambers in School Lane until it closed for refurbishment early last year.

They were very fortunate and grateful to John Moores University as they were offered the space and facilities in the print rooms in the art school building. Some of the equipment looks pretty old but still works fine, they have to fit in with the University timetable but there are two classes a week - Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings.

Some of the artists have been on the course for quite a few years and they all seem to get on really well, in fact, they have a group exhibition coming up at the temporary Bluecoat space in 51-53 Paradise Street from April 20th - 30th 2006. It all looks like great fun though you have to be careful with that etching acid and the presses need a bit of muscle power.
They produce some really good work too, some of them are in the artinliverpool directory e.g. Carol Susan Traynor and Lyn Ben-Yousef

The next 10 week course starts on April 24th, details from Annie MacLean at the Bluecoat email annie@bluecoatartscentre.com phone: 0151 709 5297

Thanks to Alison Bailey Smith for bringing this organisation to my attention. Some interesting opportunities and another e-newsletter to sign up to.
Voluntary Arts Network

Personally, I find this very sad.

From Times Online...

Painting by numbers - 8,000 artists churning out Van Goghs
From Jane Macartney in Shenzhen

VAN GOGHS, Turners, Da Vincis and Klimts pour off the easels of China’s most unusual assembly line.
The owner of New Century Oil Painting is in high spirits. A day earlier, Si Gong packed up her latest shipment of oil paintings, dozens of replicas of works by Joshua Reynolds and of John Singer Sargent, for a customer in London.

British buyers favour what Ms Si calls the romantic classics and she is sure they cannot find better value for money than in her shop in a grimy corner of the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

Ms Si gestures to the walls of her shop where replicas of Canalettos jostle for space with a large canvas of Napoleon by David. “Our biggest customers are in America and Italy. The British don’t want so many, but they want the best,” she said

You need to email Mike Noon if you wish to attend, the limit is 150 artists.
See full details below...

Liverpool Independents catch-up meeting
The Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool on March 31st between 2pm and 4pm.
Those wishing to attend need to send an e-mail with the phrase "Liverpool Independents Information" in the title and their name included in the body of the message to mike.noon@artscouncil.org.uk . If they do this they will be automatically registered as an attendee (up to 150 artists can attend) and will be added to an electronic mailing list in order to receive future updates.

The two main agenda items will be

Arts Council Funding for Individual Artists to show work during the Biennial Independents
Support for Artists before, during and after the Biennial Independents.

Further information will be sent out via e-mail, or tabled on the day of the meeting. The agenda will be circulated in advance.

Please pass this information on to any interested colleagues.

Well, I found a bit more artwork in the Liverpool Met Quarter shopping centre. This is the entrance to the Gents toilet, quite a clever piece I thought and the toilets are very good too, recommended. Only problem is they're up on the 4th floor.
And if you think I just keep mentioning the Met Qtr so I get more hits from people searching for the Met Quarter, you'd be partly correct.

I'm a bit premature with this but I just wanted to note that Museums & Galleries Month starts on April 29th and there's already a nice website with lots of info.
http://www.mgm.org.uk
That's it really, look out for local events during May.

Closing date is April 21st for the competition organised by National Museums Liverpool as part of the 100% Cotton exhibition at Maritime Museum.
There was a children's workshop there recently and it seems very few went for the minimal look.
More details here.

The Royal Standard, is an exciting new artist run gallery, bar, and workspace situated off upper parliament street in Liverpool. We currently have a limited number of studio spaces available, and would like to fill them with a key group of Liverpool-based fine artists who are committed to furthering and developing their practice and would like to do so in a vibrant, friendly, discursive and open environment.

We will be holding informal interviews on Friday 24th March 2006, at which we will be looking at artists’ portfolios and CVs, and talking about studio membership.

To arrange an interview please email a brief outline of your practice to:
theroyalstandard@skylight-projects.com
(please specify what times you can be available. If you cannot attend on the 24th an alternative appointment may be possible.)

Studios range from approximately £30-£65/month and we have first floor and basement spaces available (the latter are half the price of 1st floor studios and may be best suited to photographers/artists working with video/sound etc)
If you would like to see the spaces before the 24th, you can arrange to by emailing the above address. To apply, you must be able to take up studio space asap, and before the end of April 06.

Address: 2 Grey st, off Winsor st, Liverpool L8 1XN

The Royal Standard is directed by: Paul Luckraft, Jim Buso, Sean Hawkridge and Eleanor Hawkridge.

Vision Statement:

Our vision is to establish a key community of artists producing the most interesting and dynamic new art in the north west, working co-operatively from The Royal Standard public house on Windsor Street, Toxteth, Liverpool.
We will endeavor to offer the city’s artistic and cultural community a location where meeting, talk, engagement and vitality are foundational. We will host exhibitions drawing from a field of potential that includes the most exciting emerging artists, established independent practitioners, local graduates and artist-initiatives nationally and internationally. We will make available a centre of excellence, showcasing the most innovative, exciting and promising art works, projects and events we can programme.
Through providing artists’ studios we will strive to create a home for a group of artists challenging their practices, their peers and their environment on all levels. We will also act as a social hub, providing ample space and facilities to act as a day-to-day launch pad for a wider membership of artists and practitioners and a location for a varied
programme of live events and social activity.

Philosophy:

The focus of our vision is on excellence in engagement and production, creating a solid environment propagating confidence, constructive criticism and opportunity, a cultural programme that is approachable, risk-taking and
accountable, striving for integrity and quality at every level.

Description:

The Project will be based in the former location of The Grapes public house on Windsor Street in Toxteth, renamed The Royal Standard. The ground floor will comprise a 35m2 dedicated gallery space, a 19m2 project space and a
social space/bar area at approx 75m2 with capacity for approx 80-100 people. The first floor will comprise 65m2 shared studio space spread over 4 individual spaces (which will accommodate approximately 12 artists), a
kitchen, bathroom and roof terrace. The basement comprises ample space for 6 artist’s workspace and storage.

Artworks invites you to come and try a series of taster sessions in various arts and crafts by qualified tutors, artists and crafts people.
Come and try a new skill or develop your practice in crafts including embroidery, collage, glass painting and jewellery making, or try T'ai Chi or a complimentary therapy.

Starting Saturday March 18th 2006 at Garston Urban Village Hall. Full details here.

For more information, or to book a place please contact:
Becca Backhouse
Development and co-ordination
07830 309 266
Beccafaerie@yahoo.co.uk

Great to see the Hive Collective back in the Box at FACT last night. Nice to chill out with an evening of the latest electronic music with good sets from Random Number and Jacques Malchance.
There's another Hive gig on Friday at Arena as part of the )Bracket THIS( thing. Scrubberfox and Tom Q will be performing there but the evening starts with a Film Showcase courtesy of Hope Uni.

That's 7 artists at 68 Hope Street. All seven are 2nd year Art Undergraduates at John Moores University.
This is a really good show, can't wait for their degree show next year. You will have to be quick to see it though, its only on for a couple of days - finishes at 16.30 on Thursday March 16th.
The artists: Elizabeth Caulwell, Paul J. Curran (his dripping paintings shown here contain strawberry ice-cream and barbeque sauce, which is why people keep sniffing them), Hannah Fray (one of 2 very nice large woodcut prints shown here), Jane Hughes (her painting 'Listen for the Voice of the Water' continues onto the wall and floor), Ann Marie Prior, Becky Swift (I really like this painted pink and green wood scene called 'Lets Play') and Jack Welsh.

With biogs and statements and labels for comments this is all very well presented, A+ I reckon.

I like a lot of the work I see from Liverpool-based Burn Everything

Award Winning Graphic Design Studio Seeks Marketing Co-ordinator 1 - 2 days per week (to be discussed) Fee to be negotiated

Burn is an award winning graphic design studio based in Liverpool.

We work in all areas of graphic design including the creation and implementation of corporate identity, the design and production of print, website & multi-media, interior design, environmental graphics and surface decoration, fashion graphics & print design and exhibition design. Our work has a strong creative identity and we have a growing national and international reputation. We are currently working on a number of exciting projects and are looking to expand.

We are seeking a dynamic individual with knowledge of the design sector to join our team. The role will include:
- To source and identify new possible clients in markets specified by Burn
- To contact and initialise a dialogue with possible clients
- To co-ordinate promotional materials to be sent to possible clients
- To schedule meetings with possible clients
- To attend/run meetings with possible clients
- To be involved in strategy decisions for best approaching possible clients
- To source and identify the best press agencies/media for Burn to utilise
- To press release Burn
- To generate interest in Burns=92 activities
- To help organise Burn related activities
- To help co-ordinate studio activities

For further information please contact:
T: +44 (0)151 707 6707
e-mail: info@burneverything.co.uk

http://www.burneverything.co.uk

Nice to see a large art competition for us oldies! If I was younger I might have the energy to enter.

50 over 50 - The first national visual art prize for artists aged 50 and over is now open for entries.

Visit http://www.50over50.org.uk for further details.

Deadline for entries: Friday 28 April 2006

50 over 50: the Celebrating Age Open Art Prize in association with the University of Brighton and Brighton and Hove Arts Commission will celebrate the best contemporary visual art by older British artists. Many UK art
prizes such as The Turner Prize, Becks Futures and BP Portrait Award are aimed at supporting younger artists – 50 over 50 will extend the same opportunity to older people.

Fifty artists over fifty will be selected to show recent work in a high profile exhibition to be opened by Sir Christopher Frayling, Chairman of Arts Council England, with £5,000 awarded to an overall winner. Selection
will focus on visual artworks that emphasise excellence, radicalism and innovation in the practice of older artists. Artworks must have been created since January 2004.

50 over 50 offers:
- the opportunity to showcase your work as part of the first national visual art prize for artists over 50
- £5,000 to the overall winner
- the chance for your work to be seen by collectors, gallery owners and the wider public
- the opportunity to sell your work

You can enter...
- if you are aged 50 years or over and living in the UK
- original works of art in any visual media which have been produced by you since January 2004 and since your fiftieth birthday

How to enter
- for full details and to download an entry form visit: http://www.50over50.org.uk
- complete and return entry form with your CD of images and entry fee

50 over 50 celebrates the vitality of the work of older British visual artists and provides an opportunity to showcase work within a national festival, where it will be seen by collectors, gallery owners and the wider
art-buying public.

Latest news from the Liverpool/Koln cultural exchange - Eight Days A Week...

in exposed areas

Kulturbunker Mülheim Berliner Strasse. 20 51063 Köln

Exhibition of Painting, Printmaking and Drawing by Pete Clarke and Neil Morris, Liverpool with Georg Gartz and Tine Wille, Köln also including video work by Margaretha Schoening, Liverpool.

March 12 – 26 2006 Exhibition opening times:
Mon - Friday 12.00 -16.00 pm and Saturdays 15.00 -18.00 pm

Private View: Saturday: 11 March 2006, 16.00 -19.00 pm

Opening speech: Dr. Martin Turck, Kunsthistoriker, Köln
Music: Songs and Improvisations by Alexandra Naumann, Stimme and Mathias Haus.

Artists’ discussion and public forum:
Sunday, 12 March at 12.00 pm
Liverpool, the European City of Culture 2008 and developing cultural collaborations and artists’ initiatives. Chaired by Jürgen Kisters writer and critic Kölner Stadt Anzeiger with presentations by Pete Clarke, Hans-Georg Brochhagen, Georg Gartz, Anne Stärk, Tine Wille and Walter Wolf.

Film evening: Monday 20 March 2006 at 20.00 pm
Artists films and videos from Liverpool by the initiative "Loop North West" curated by Margaretha Schoening and Helena Tomlin including work by Anne Charnock, Jean Grant, Jason Green, Tony Knox, Dinu Li, Geoff Molyneux, Kath Peters, Paul Rooney, Margaretha Schoening, Sara Snmith and Helena Tomlin.

Eight Days a Week facilitates artists from Liverpool and Cologne taking part in unique cultural exchanges through an ongoing programme of exhibitions, residencies, films, performances, discussions and publications. Eight Days a Week projects in both Liverpool and Cologne are the result of collaborations between artists working with a number of venues and sites, including galleries, colleges, artists’ spaces, civic buildings, alternative exhibition venues like community centres, the cathedrals and churches and the Internet. Since its beginnings in 1998 they have organised over 90 projects in Liverpool and Cologne and developed creative offshoots and networks in the UK and Germany with recent presentations on artists’ initiatives and cultural exchange projects in Poland and the USA.

In exposed areas explores the social and cultural climate for contemporary practice where different attitudes to painting can be seen as a form of critical and engaged dialogue. This Eight Days collaboration in the Kulturbunker developes artists’ initiatives, relationships and creative networks between the two cities The exhibition which shows work by two artists from both Cologne and Liverpool also includes Liverpool artist Margaretha Schoening who will show a Video Installation which extends the language of abstract color and composition in a cinematic form.

Pete Clarke is the Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston. His work explores the social landscape through the represention of history, these collage-like paintings include architectural fragments and words from everyday life.
Neil Morris is Senior lecturer and Head of the Printmaking Department at the Liverpool School of Art & Design, Liverpool John Moores University. His work combines the techniques of the painting with inventive printmaking to explore concepts of memory and personal history.
Georg Gartz studied free painting at the Fachhochschule in Köln. In his numerous European exhibitions he has worked in a variety of inventive ways including painting, installation and site related works. Georg and Jürgen Kisters developed the first "Eight Days A Week" festival in1998 and since 1999 he has worked collaboratively with the Liverpool painter Pete Clarke.
Tine Wille, Studied painting at the Alanus Hochschule of Arts in Alfter, Bonn 1989-92. She then developed a six month residency studentship in the "studio of individual development’ with Tomek Wendland in Poznan, Poland. Since 1995 her artistic actively has been based in Köln, including membership of the producer gallery "art gain" 1999-2001. She has made many significant European exhibitions exploring painting, printmaking and performance.

In exposed areas
Reciprocal exhibition May 12 – July 1 2006.
The Atkinson Art Gallery, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DH.
Tel: 0151 934 2110
Acknowledgements
Funded by the Liverpool Culture Company as part of the Creative Communities Initiative and the Art Council.
Kulturbunker Mülheim www.kulturbunker-muelheim.de
Der Oberbürgermeister Kulturamt, Stadt Köln
Atkinson Gallery Southport funded by Arts Development, (Arts & Cultural Services), Sefton Council - Leisure Services.
The University of Central Lancashire, Preston and Liverpool School of Art & Design, Liverpool John Moores University.

Contact: pclarke2@uclan.ac.uk or n.morris@livjm.ac.uk
www.eightdaysaweek.org.uk

Sounds good. I'll probably come out wanting to buy one!

Laser Scanning in Action

A talk and demonstration with scientist Annemarie La Pensee on Thursday 16 March at 1400 to 1500 hours in World Museum Liverpool's Treasure House Theatre.

Discover how National Museums Liverpool uses state of the art 3D laser scanners to record artifacts. The 3D images are used for a wide variety of things including 3D displays, touch replicas and study.

Try out a laser scanner and handle some replica objects.

Free tickets available at the information desk

Ship of Fools/The Radiator presents

Scott Thurston and Robert Sheppard
launching two new books with short readings

on Thursday 16th March at 8.00

Upstairs at The Fly in the Loaf pub,
Hardman Street, Central Liverpool

FREE

Full details on Robert Sheppard's Blog

FUTURE SHORTS LAUNCHES MARCH 06 PROGRAMME

Future Shorts’ March Program has the usual eclectic mix of the very best of short films and music videos from round the world. There is a decidedly musical edge to the proceedings this month with the beautiful ‘ La Apertura’ that explores friendship, love and tango. The seriously quirky ‘ The Lounge Bar’ from New Zealand, the evocative and stylish ‘Hock Hiap Leong’ from Singapore and much more. See and feel different cinema. Short film is where it’s at.
Picturehouse @ FACT
Thursday 16th March 8.30pm
Box Office 0151 707 4450

More info at

www.futureshorts.com.
info@futureshorts.com

Some nice new original pictures of Faeries for sale on ebay from our local Faery (or Fairy) artist Michelle Campbell.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZfaerywoods1

Faerywoods.com

Response to Dave Ward's Guardian article.
By Liz Lacey - Director of Liverpool Centre for Arts Development www.lcad.org.uk

On reading “City of Tattered Dreams” I cannot help but reflect that Liverpool can never quite get it right in the eyes of the media.
On the one hand we are, as the lazy cartoon images have it, a city full of maudlin, self-dramatising, squabbling, n’er -do wells. We have basket-case politics and enjoy tribal feuds, in the intervals of taking to the streets in order to riot and shoplift. Secure in our role of eternal victim, we loll bout helplessly on benefits while our children top all known polls for premature pregnancies and drug-fuelled ASB-ism. And that’s just the view from the Daily Mail.
It is unarguable that the European Capital of Culture title offers the best chance, certainly in my lifetime, to help Liverpool to change these perceptions, as Glasgow started to do in1990. No one expects it to be a cure for all the well-documented evils that Liverpool has endured. No one sensible in Glasgow did either. But as Christine Hamilton Director of the Glasgow Centre for Cultural Policy Research says;
“It was important to assess the original expectations when looking at achievements of 1990. The European City of Culture status had been one solitary year, and had never been expected to change the world, or indeed, solve all Glasgow’s considerable social and economic problems.”
What it did do was to measurably, visibly and tangibly accelerate the process of urban regeneration.
New venues and spaces for cultural activities were founded; community projects were kick-started, and more Glaswegians discovered the cultural life of their own city than ever before.

If you spend some time asking people in Liverpool what they think about the current state of play respecting the Capital of Culture, you will get as many different answers as you could wish for. Undeniably there are issues regarding the way in which the Culture Company has chosen to communicate with the city thus far. . David Fleming Director of National Museums Liverpool demonstrates his grasp of the local character when he says, “In a city such as Liverpool, if people are asking questions, you have to answer them.”
Liverpool people abhor an information vacuum, and a lack of substantial events that excite them will not go unremarked - upon. In fact, it has become something of a fashionable pastime for arty folk in the city’s cooler bars to meet and draw up “Fantasy Football League” style programmes for 2008.

The Henshaw –Storey business will be mostly forgotten by 2008; how many people outside a city find internal conflict between Council leaders compelling? Unless of course, Robyn Archer has plans to dramatise it as a part of the European cabaret tradition of political satire, her area of expertise? .
Liverpool now has a new leader of the council, Warren Bradley, a man who has gathered much goodwill in his short tenure, and Mike Storey is still on board in a Special Initiatives post. He will have responsibility for the city’s Capital of Culture and 800th birthday celebrations. This could be seen as an indication of a more harmonious relationship, ensuring continuity and stability. But that would not be very interesting news.
There is also a lively campaign to have an elected mayor. Whatever else is said about politics in Liverpool, apathy does not seem to be a matter for criticism.
David Ward refers to the “sad flags and failed ambitions; inauspicious signs” with reference to the cancelled Cloud, Will Alsop’s might -have –been- iconic building, and to the abandonment of the tram project. However, it is advisable to put this in context. In regeneration and revival, a high percentage of projects are not realised. The important thing is that the environment for new projects and ideas to continue to blossom is established, and Liverpool now has that climate. Not in all corners of the city, but enough to make the difference which brought about opening of the sophisticated Met Quarter to open yesterday, and will bring the multi-million Governor Project and the new Arts and Design Academy, into being. Whether one’s perception of culture is a high-art highbrow year of justifiably obscure opera and impenetrable visual art or a populist phantasmagoria with a face-painter stationed at every street corner, and compulsory drum –majoretting in all schools, the clear intention to be diverse will only encourage a natural tendency in Liverpool to demonstrate its many facets. It is a complex and curious place, not easily understood. Attempts to pigeonhole and stereotype it are as recurrent as they are fruitless. Liverpool’s 2008 Year as European Capital of Culture will be extraordinary. It is an extraordinary place, and elicits a strong response, one way or another. It has always had a cultural and artistic impact on the rest of the world, punching far above its weight intellectually and creatively in relation to its periods of acute decline. David Ward quotes Sir Jeremy Isaacs, during his stint as Chair of the judges of the 2008 bid, as saying that “There was a sense that the whole city is involved and behind the bid, when Liverpool won in 2003”.
And there is still a massive degree of interest and involvement; discussions of artistic and creative matters take place naturally in this city. At every level there are arts organisations, arts leaders, practitioners, business organisations, public and private sector institutions, talking about and planning for 2008, and beyond. David Ward’s article, of course, presents a superficial view of the build-up to 2008. It will be widely read and discussed in the city, and may be a salutary foretaste for all of us involved of what will be if we do not work together to confound predictions of failure and dysfunction which any mention of Liverpool seems to elicit even now. We live here. We can’t afford it to be a “complete cock-up”.
Liverpudlians will remain, (and many are starting to return here in ever-increasing numbers, from the Scouse Diaspora), with our particular culture and our peculiar wealth of talent, long after all the flags are tattered. Liverpool has come too far to regress. We will welcome the world here in 2008, and in 2012 they will come back again. People always do. Perhaps David Ward will accept a preview invitation, and see how the announcements of the death of something that has yet to happen are, in common with Mark Twain's obituary notice, premature?

Its Science Week, March 10th -19th (seems a week is 9 days according to scientists) so there's lots of things going on throughout the North West to promote and celebrate science.
Check out the website: http://www.the-ba.net/the-ba/Events/NationalScienceWeek/
At FACT there was a Fun Drop In event in the Box all day yesterday and there will be another next week (18th March).
'Mixed Hello' - Augmented Reality Installation consists of 6 software pieces by creative technologist Josh Nimoy.
Basically the computer reacts to your shadow as you stand in front of the screen. You can be surrounded by stars, make a ball bounce off your body, scribble a picture with your head and similar things.
Or you could just make good old fashioned shadow puppets like the guys here.
Great fun, I'll be back next week when I think its more sound-based interaction.

Josh Nimoy will be back with more Human Computer Interaction along with Caen Botto and Simon Poulter in the Media Lounge from March 31st to May 27th 2006.
www.hci-fun.org.uk/
www.fact.co.uk

Here is an excellent review from our latest contributor, Mark Langshaw. Note that the exhibition ends on Sunday, March 19th 2006

Review – Christian Jankowski: Everything Fell Together @ FACT

By Mark Langshaw

On the 20th January FACT proudly unveiled the first major UK exhibition of the work of internationally renowned video artist Christian Jankowski. Based predominantly in Berlin and New York, Jankowski is known for his penchant for collaboration and the unexpected. Handing creative responsibility over to his collaborators, ‘Everything Fell Together’ is a critical examination of the relationship between Art and Commerce, and a thought-provoking investigation into the public’s perception of popular culture.

The depth and variety of this exhibition is immediately apparent. Spanning across all three of the centre’s exhibition spaces (Gallery 1, 2 and the Media Lounge) and even spilling out into the foyer, ‘Everything Fell Together’ is one of the largest projects FACT has undertaken since its opening in 2003.

Although the Media Lounge is the smallest of the three exhibition spaces, it houses one of this show’s centrepieces; a video installation entitled ‘The Matrix Effect.’ Thankfully, this piece bears no relation to the criminally overrated movie franchise; its name refers to a famous exhibition featured at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. When Jankowski was commissioned by this institution back in 2000, he became particularly engaged in the ‘Matrix’ programme and contacted several of its contributing artists along with curator Andrea Miller-Keller and former director Jim Elliot. He presented each of them with a list of questions regarding their contribution to the ‘Matrix’ project, and later transcribed and edited these interviews to produce a script for a documentary. Rather than cast the artists themselves in the documentary, Jankowski enlists untrained children to portray the individuals involved in ‘Matrix’.

It is amusing and endearing to watch the children struggle to adopt the art world vernacular, particularly when they mistakenly refer to art ‘critics’ as art ‘critters’. Jankowski’s engaging sense of humour is clearly on show as he pokes gentle fun at the art world, but this piece is essentially a homage to his predecessors at the Wadsworth institute. The framed photographs which accompany this video installation beautifully adorn the Media Lounge, but the interactivity usually associated with this space is nowhere to be found.

For anyone who enjoys public humiliation or a good sing song; the highlight of this exhibition is to be found in the largest of the exhibition spaces, Gallery 1. Inspired by Korean culture, ‘The Day We Met’ sees Jankowski assume the role of a karaoke video actor, collaborating with Tajin Media, a professional karaoke video team. Visitors are invited to sing along to four short video clips featuring Jankowski. The song selection is vast and wide ranging, including everything from the Beatles to the Beastie Boys. With a sadly high percentage of contemporary video art being esoteric, it is refreshing to see a piece that a universal audience can interact and connect with.

Surrounding the karaoke booth inside Gallery 1 are an array of photographs and a single monitor which collectively make up a piece entitled ‘Shamebox’, in which the artist invited passers by to sit in a storefront window and express their personal shame via large placards. Many of them are thought-provoking, although the monitor and several of the photographs could have been more prominently positioned within the gallery.

Also in Gallery 1, ‘This I Played Tomorrow’ consists of a multi-screen casting video and a 35mm film. Inspired by Italy’s equivalent to Hollywood, Cinecitta and the aspiring actors who congregate outside its gates hoping to one day be discovered. Jankowski interviewed these budding actors, presenting them with questions pertaining to their hopes, dreams, ideas and ambitions. As with the ‘Matrix Effect’ piece in the Media Lounge, the artist produced a script based on an amalgamation of their answers and cast the actors themselves in the resulting movie. All of the set and costume design was based around the responses and the movie itself was shot on the set of the 1966 film, Francesco d’Asisisi inside Cinecitta.

Adding some visual aesthetics to Gallery 1 are two vintage film projectors, one of which beams the UK premier of ‘16mm Mystery’ onto a wall. In this recent work, Jankowski handed his fate over to two special effects masterminds, The Brothers Strause, who have previously worked on such movies as Titanic and The Day After Tomorrow. The Brothers Strause, handed the perfect opportunity to flex their creative muscles, do so in style treating us to an exploding skyscraper. Although this comes across as slightly self indulgent, ‘16mm Mystery’ is extremely proficiently shot and gives us the rare opportunity of seeing an old style projector in a new media art gallery.

Gallery 2 houses several of Jankowski’s earlier works, dating back as far as 1996, as well as more recent pieces such as ‘The Holy Artwork’ which also appeared at TATE Liverpool. This piece is a record of the artist’s unscripted encounter with a televangelist during in a live sermon, the outcome of which was left entirely to chance.
Composing a piece of video artwork through the televangelist’s reactions, Jankowski feigns a collapse on stage as though possessed by the power of the sermon.

Older works such as ‘My Life As a Dove’, ‘Director Poodle’, and ‘Flock’, also on show in Gallery 2, are testament to Jankowski’s engaging sense of humour as well as how far he has come as a filmmaker when juxtaposed alongside his recent work.

On the whole, visitors are treated to an eclectic mixture of various ideas throughout the exhibition, but common threads are prominent, such as the relationship between the public and contemporary art. Thought-provoking and cleverly thought out, this retrospective exhibition really underlines the profound contribution Jankowski has made to new media today.

By Mark Langshaw

ZAP GRAFFITI ARTS & THE LEASOWE DEVELOPMENT TRUST:
AS PART OF THE POPS GRAFFITI COURSE.

Monday 13th March and Wednesday:10-3(Weather permitting.)
A group of 10 people will be showing off their graffiti art skills in the production of a large mural promoting the ongoing QUIGGINS campaign on the outside of building on School Lane, Liverpool.

Come along and have a look!

For further info on the courses available through ZAP GRAFFITI ARTS held at our premises in Quiggins and through outreach for schools, youth and community groups please contact us on:

0151-637 0618
0771-6548 629
www.zapgraffiti.com
info@zapgraffiti.com

Ah, more lovely bright paintings to brighten up this wintry day.
Micheline Robinson, originally from Canada, now living on the Wirral currently has one of her paintings (Le Rendez-Vous) in the Domino gallery. She says,
"I have been producing commission work for the past 12 years with a few group exhibitions here and there, all whilst raising 3 children.

I love producing work for others as I feel as I'm partaking in fulfilling a dream but have been focusing more on my own works in the past 2 years.

All my paintings make use of vivid colours and I work mainly in acrylics and watercolours. "

Latest addition to artinliverpool's artist directory is John Monaghan
A splendid collection of oil paintings. John says "Watching and waiting. This series of paintings is an exploration of false memory syndrome. It portrays the misinterpretation of events in childhood that can lead to a sense of isolation."

Only time for a quick visit to Polished T before the exhibition closes. Its a display of various bits and pieces linked to the launch of the second issue of the Burst magazine.
Burst is a bi-annual publication, which provides opportunities for local communities to interact with Liverpool Biennial’s International 06 exhibition and process. Burst is part of International+, Liverpool Biennial’s Learning and Inclusion programme.
More details on the Biennial website

Full report on the 100 shirts awards evening that took place at Microzine last week is now on the 100shirts blog.

Review of Wednesday nights gig on the BracketTHIS blog.

The Art Organisation will be holding a fundraising event
at 52 Roscoe Street
on Sunday the 9th of April, consisting of
an Art Market from 12-4pm,
silent films with live music from 5.30
and performance and bands from 8pm.
all fully accessible by rickshaw courtesy of Liverpool Culture rides.

This is a call for artists/makers who may be interested in selling work at the market.
Free spaces (artists are asked to bring their own display equipment) but asking for 20% commission on any items sold.
Setting up from 10.30am and taking down between 4 and 5.30pm.

email Beccy Williams: info@theartorganisation.co.uk

'Ed' is curated by Simon Bendi and is on show at Egg cafe until March 19th 2006.

According to Simon "The theme to the show is 'on me ed son' and represents some of the insouciance of Liverpool art and diversity of networks around Liverpool. It is a show where the common notion of p.c. is deliberately accosted. All the artists in the show are men and have for one reason or another had their voices emasculated, this show gives a focus for the quotidian reality of men in todays culture."

Will Curwen is a Liverpool photographer, his Head one and Head two look like sculptures of heads, they are actually plastic milk bottles turned upside-down. Will likes to use such flotsam or detritus in his work.

Edmund Piper has two large film stills, one of someone working in a porn shop but not looking too comfortable in his work. The other is in a burger bar. If you look up to the upstairs area you will see two sets of four poster-style portraits by Samuel Weisemann, all bold colours and influenced by Samuel's East German roots.

Paul Finnan's 'Beginners Guide to Plastic Surgery' as well as being a comment on the fact that more men are having 'beauty' treatment, relates to boxing with its blood and scabs. His 'Confessional box' I believe is a statement of his dislike for his catholic upbringing.

There is a minimal sculpture by Tommy McHugh (unusual for him). Just a simple, small head stuck onto a solid block of sandstone.

'Heart' is a painting by Adam Nankervis (Australia) from 1997 and relates to 'Maledom', he has a work here entitled 'Bubbles' and also appears in one of the 'Head 3' by Marko Stepanov from Latvia which consists of 3 double sided portraits, the face on one side and the back of the head on the other. They are suspended from the ceiling so they rotate slowly one way and the other.

Simon Bendi's own works on display include two sets of small single-covered canvases entitled 'City Head Buildings' and 'City Head Shores'. Both resemble a waterfront city scape with the buildings reflected in the water. If you look closely you will see that the buildings collection is textured similar to the surface of buildings but the shores series is more fluid or wavy.
Another of Simon's works which may at first seem controversial, even distasteful, has four black and white pictures with black on white or white on black faces and the words 'Black Racist Bastard'. The order of the words is important here. Simon is simply keen to remind us that, as there are undoubtedly White Racist Bastards, Blacks can be racist too.

In yesterday's Guardian David Ward used the same old excuses to produce a two page negative report about Liverpool's Capital of Culture plans.
Its a sure sign that a journalist is struggling to justify their slant when they turn to rent-a-whinge Peter Kilfoyle MP for a quote, he's never got a positive thing to say about anything.
There are some good points in there though, Lewis Biggs in particular is a voice of reason and optimism.

Read the full article at http://arts.guardian.co.uk/cityofculture2008/story/0,,1726789,00.html

City of tattered dreams

When Liverpool was named the European Capital of Culture for 2008, everyone rejoiced. But, three years on, with feuds rumbling and projects abandoned, there's still no sign of the major events promised. David Ward reports

Thursday March 9, 2006
The Guardian

The Mersey waterfront in Liverpool is both a world heritage site and one of the draughtiest places in western Europe; today a biting east wind is bullying the 16 flags that line the path from the maritime museum to the Pier Head.
Look closely and you will see that each flag announces that Liverpool will be European Capital of Culture in 2008 - but also that each flag is ragged and grubby. To your right lies an empty Porsche car showroom. By now it should have been flattened to create a spectacular site for the Cloud, a shimmering building designed for this space by the architect Will Alsop. Plans for the Cloud stirred up huge controversy, not least because no one seemed to know what was going to go in the building, but they helped win Liverpool the culture title. Now it will not be built because the money for it has already been diverted to other, less iconic, projects......

Having watched all 3 evenings of animations at FACT last month I'm quite pleased with the result of the awards announced last night.
There were so many great films and 'rabbit' and 'who I am and what I want' were certainly amongst my favourites.
From animate!

Rabbit wins 2 Top Prizes in British Animation Awards 2006

Run Wrake's animate! commission Rabbit won two major categories in the British Animation Awards last night - Best Short Film and Best Film at the Cutting Edge.

David Shrigley & Chris Shepherd's animate! Who I Am and What I Want shared the Public Choice Best Short Film Award with Gaelle Denis' City Paradise.

The two other finalists for BAA Best Short Film were Damian Gascoigne's animate! commission Careful and Osbert Parker's Film Noir. Ossie is currently making Head Over Heels funded by animate!.

British Animation Awards is biennial and brings together the highlights of two years of British animation.

Last Saturday Who I Am and What I Want won Best Animated Short at the Kino Manchester International Film Festival.

Read interviews with Run Wrake and Osbert Parker at Channel 4 Ideas Factory:
http://www.ideasfactory.com/art_design/features/artdes_feature73.htm

Rabbit: http://www.animateonline.org/films/rabbit/
Who I Am and What I Want: http://www.animateonline.org/films/whoiamandwhatiwant/
City Paradise: http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=2760&page=2
Careful: http://www.animateonline.org/films/careful/
Head Over Heels: http://www.animateonline.org/films/headoverheels/

John Moores 'Spotlight' Fine Art Auction to raise funds for this years JMU Fine Art degree show
at JMU's Myrtle St Art Building
on Monday March 13th
at 18.00 onwards
Support the Students.

The Pool Project (readvertisement)
Development Manager

The post is offered initially on a one-year freelance contract. £12,500

The Pool Project is a Liverpool based not for profit organisation. Utilising the arts, the project seeks to explore, reveal and celebrate the origins of the city of Liverpool.

Are you highly skilled and able to manage the administration of this exciting project? Working alongside the Creative Director, you will be responsible for fundraising and budgetary control. You will have at least 3 years relevant experience. Experience of managing arts based projects useful but not essential

Closing date for applications Friday 24th March 2006.
Interviews will be held in Liverpool on 6th April at 9.00am 2006

For full details visit www.poolproject.co.uk or contact 0151 727 1074

A bit disappointed with the public artworks in the Met Qtr shopping mall that opened this morning. Its ok but I thought there would be more. Overall the developers seem to have done a good job though, nice furniture. The muzak is crap naturally, didn't actually venture into any of the shops. Maybe one day.

I do like this installation by Tobias Rehberger which has just appeared in the Liverpool Tate's cafe. Its certainly brightened the place up. Took us a while to figure it out but it says "Together a new Liverpool" which is nice.

HCI@FACT -- Drop in fun for all ages
Celebrating National Science Week

FACT offers you an unforgettable experience of interactivity and usability, proving that direct communication with a computer, without a keyboard, mouse or even the joystick is now possible and lots of fun!

A preview of the Human Computer Interaction exhibition that will take place at FACT from 31 March - 28 May.

Saturday 11 March 11.00 – 4.00pm
FREE – Just turn up
Artist Josh Nimoy (US) will guide visitors through his Mixed Hello. Have great fun using your own shadow to play games on a projected screen, move shapes across the wall or dance with stars – all without the slightest click of a mouse!

Saturday 18 March 11.00 – 4.00pm
FREE – Just turn up
Explore a virtual landscape by using your voice and movement; an experience for the senses that will allow you to become a part of a giant hyper-instrument! Caen Botto (Ar) has created this virtual space where your voice is transformed into image and your movement into sound.

Both events in The Box
FACT (Foundation for Art & Creative Technology)
88 Wood Street
Liverpool, L1 4DQ

Further information:
Karen Hickling, +44 (0)151 707 4408, hickling@fact.co.uk
David England, +44 (0) 151 231 2271, d.england@livjm.ac.uk

Made possible by a Partnerships for Public Awareness grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

2 Day Conference (£35 per day) April 4-5 2006

DIFFRACTION: CONNECTING ART, INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION international conference at FACT, Liverpool, 04 and 05 April 2006

An unmissable networking opportunity for leaders in art, academia, industry, regional development, research and policy fields
DIFFRACTION is bringing together representatives from the arts and industry sectors, leaders in the field of cross-disciplinary innovation from the UK and abroad, to present case studies of previous projects, debate challenges and identify opportunities for collaborations in the future.

DIFFRACTION will look backwards, sideways and forwards at the various ways in which artists interact with practitioners from different environments and disciplines in the common interest of innovation.

ITEM (Institute for Technical Exhibition Management), FACT’s pilot research and development programme for the exploration and development of new media tools for exhibition and exposition, will disseminate its findings and features as case study for the conference. ITEM will showcase and present the commissioned research and launch the ITEM publication, which features detailed reports and documentation about each of the ten projects supported to date.

DIFFRACTION will also launch a new international network for organisers of residencies and placements to develop good models of practice across art and industry borders. The website http://www.diffraction.org.uk/ will be the platform for debate and discussion about this emerging area of practice.

Speakers will include Barbara Steveni of the Artists Placement Group and Organisation & Imagination; William Latham, early computer art pioneer; Gordon Knox of the Montalvo Foundation in California; Roger Malina, astrophysicist and executive editor of the Leonardo Publications at MIT Press; Clive Gillman, founder of ITEM and director at Dundee Contemporary Arts; Arantxa Mendiharat, project coordinator of Divergentes 2005 and Disonancias 2006 - Art & Innovation; Liliane Lijn, an early pioneer in crossing art and industry boundaries, semiconductor who just returned from their Art and Space Science International Fellowship at UC Berkeley, USA; Jen Southern artist involved in ITEM, exploring the use of GPS as communal drawing tool, Paul Gerhardt, project director of the BBC Archive and many more.

DIFFRACTION is supported by Arts Council England as part of its Artist Time Space Money agenda. ITEM is supported by NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and Art) and Arts Council England.

For more information about DIFFRACTION please contact DIFFRACTION Conference Assistant Amy Goring by phone under +44 (0)151 707 4422 or email under diffraction.org.uk For more information about FACT please go to http://www.fact.co.uk

Callum Moncrieff's 'Recent Works' is a chronological numbered series inspired and influenced by an exaggerated awareness of the visual world that is fed from architecture, painting, sculpture, conversations, materials and the position of ordinary things.

When asked to comment on the nature of titling his work (they're all Untitled), Callum states "A title is an investment of what follows. It is not a thing that is there at the time of making. It can falsify the experience of making. I do not intend to use contrived titles such as 'blasted tree'. If I want to paint a blasted tree then I will do that."

At Cornerstone Gallery until Friday March 24th 2006

If you have seen the Bracket THIS exhibition or events at Arena why not tell us what you think. email your reviews, moans, ideas and low-res images to info@artinliverpool.com and I'll post them to the bracketTHIS blog.

You can also add comments to the blog by clicking on the 'comments' link below each posting.

Looking forward to the Fiction gig tonight, see you there.

Posted on biennial.com on March 6th - Closing Date March 10th. Don't make it easy do they?

6th March 2006
ADMINISTRATION MANAGER (MATERNITY COVER)

£16k - £22k pro rata, 37.5 hours per week. Salary dependent on experience. Contracted from 24 April 06 to end November 06.

Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s international festival of contemporary visual art and a major platform in Liverpool’s offer as European Capital of Culture 2008.

We are looking for a candidate with proven experience to provide and maintain an effective administrative infrastructure for the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and other Biennial staff.

Further information and application form email: jobs@biennial.com

Applications close: 10 March.

A professional storyboard artist, animator who posts his pictures on a blog.
How cool is that.
mattjonezanimation

The Liverpool Culture Company are producing a special calendar for 2007 - Liverpool's 800th Birthday and are looking for 12 images from local artists.
Briefly...

2007 is Liverpool ’s 800 th birthday. There will be 12 months celebrating eight centuries of remarkable heritage culminating in the official birthday celebrations on 28 August 2007 .

Objective
To bring together 12 images (one per month) for a 2007 calendar with the possibility of using some of the images on the merchandise range for 2007 while allowing the opportunity to showcase the work of local artists (names of artists will be included on each piece of artwork).

Calendar Target Audience
Visitors to Liverpool
Local people shopping in 08 Place
Online shop buyers

Possible Subject Matter for consideration
Liverpool World Heritage City - includes that part of the city which is both authentic and relates strongly to its historic role as a commercial port.

6 areas of distinctive townscape character:
1. The Pier Head,
2. The Albert Dock Area,
3. The Stanley Dock Area
4. The Commercial Centre of Castle Street/Dale Street / Victoria Street/Old Hall Street ,
5. The Cultural Quarter around William Brown Street , and
6. The area of warehouses and merchants' houses around Duke Street . 

The Three Graces (The Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool buildings)

Grade 1 Listed Buildings etc. etc.

Finished size of artwork to be approx. 30cm wide by 20cm high

£500 flat fee per piece of artwork.

Initial Submissions by 20th March 2006

Check out full details HERE.

Neil Campbell is playing at Domino Gallery this Saturday, 11th March!

come along and enjoy some cool jazz/classical guitar with cello accompaniment from Nicole Collarbone
8pm til late

£10 admission including a bottle of wine per person

tell all your friends!

Please RSVP Felicity Wren felicity.wren@fsbdial.co.uk

Tenants Spin to the Top

“Hey Mum, I can see you on the telly!” This is a very real scenario for those living in South Liverpool as Tenantspin TV is on the air. It is transmitted live over the internet to Arena Housing tenants, the majority of whom are elderly, vulnerable and isolated but now, thanks to this initiative, are able to contribute to the fabric of society. Everything on the channel is developed by these elderly high-rise residents, trained by the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT) in studio management, video editing and presentation.

Such is the success of Tenantspin, that it has been short-listed in the national eWell-Being Awards. The Awards, run by Sustain IT, and supported by BT seek to uncover pioneering projects that identify and promote the benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

One of the key breakthroughs within Tenantspin’s format is the breadth of participation that it offers, from front of camera to sound operation, from chat room typing to video editing, from interviewing to supporting from home. Subjects range far and wide from care in the home, Motor Neurone Disease, the pensions system, e-democracy, tenants’ rights, faith, anti-social behaviour, sadness, to the paranormal, cloning, high-rise living, social exclusion, affordable homes and community television. The use of web streaming technology has also opened new opportunities and responsibilities for tenants to discuss issues in a balanced and accountable manner that is subsequently archived.

Alan Dunn, the Programme Manager is rightly proud of the project saying,

“The creation of an electronic discussion forum such as Tenantspin has revitalised social housing tenants’ belief that they have a say in their surroundings. Tenantspin has, through cultural projects, engaged isolated residents to the extent that they have become integral, listened-to and respected members of their community.”

Just been playing with the noisefestival home page. You can draw things on it or move things around, great fun.
But more inportantly, of course, if you are 25 or under and creative you can submit your artwork, music, fashion design, whatever and you may make it onto the showcase later in the year.
Deadline is May 31st 2006 and you can submit up to 3 pieces.

"For a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and
talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love... Truth is so hard to
tell, it sometimes needs Fiction to make it plausible."
Francis Bacon.

Fiction @ )Bracket THIS( - Going Native, Arena Gallery, Duke Street Wednesday 8th March 7:00 till 10:30 FREE
Fiction is back for a mini-session in the Arena Gallery, hosting another night of brand new quality poetics, tunes and crooners to mince about and hold your glasses up to. Wine and dine your missus on. Drag your bloke to.
Sit and smoke to.

A year in the making, the new )Bracket THIS( - Going Native exhibition opened on Thursday to shitloads of acclaim and bravado. Come and check it out....

Fiction @ )Bracket THIS( - Going Native, Arena Gallery, Duke Street Wednesday 8th March 7:00 till 10:30 FREE

featuring:

Ayo Ogolo - Nigerian-born Toxteth poet, author of multimedia children's
publication Aku's Chair.
"Tailor-made for success", Daily Post

Mana Bozho - expert African drum troop

Gonzo and Noni Jackson Twist - German cabaret!

plus: Nafe Jones, Nick Holloway and Dave 'Dave' Bamford.

please arrive early, we don't have all night.
x

for more info call 07949162814

The didgeridoos are just some of the many things available in the World Museum's Fairtrade shop, the photo is of some of the staff playing (well pretending to play) the instruments.

National Museums Liverpool is hosting two special events as part of Fairtrade Fortnight from 6 to 19 March 2006.
World Museum Liverpool, the first UK museum to have an accredited Fairtrade shop, is hosting a shopping evening on Wednesday 15 March 2006 between 1700 -2000 hours. Shoppers can browse through an extensive range of unusual gifts including a selection of delicious confectionary, tea and coffee, stunning hand-crafted jewellery, wooden musical instruments and eye-catching textiles such as silk bags and cool cotton t-shirts.

Guests intending to shop till they drop can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and Fairtrade nibbles. There is also 25% off cotton t-shirts and a chance to win a Fairtrade hamper.

At the Merseyside Maritime Museum Shailesh Patel, a member of Agrocel Pure & Fair Cotton Growers Association in the Kutch region of Western India, is delivering a half hour talk on Wednesday 15 March at 1330 hours. Patel’s talk focuses on the benefits of fair trade to small-scale farmers in India.

The talk takes place in 100% Cotton, an exhibition that reveals the history of cotton and includes a section on fair trade. It runs until 4 June 2006.

Representatives from the Liverpool Fair Trade Schools project will be displaying their fair trade banner.

You'd think they would have a decent website then, but no. (http://www.finchltd.co.uk/)

Liverpool based agency Finch have been appointed to produce the first national advertising campaign promoting Liverpool as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The agency won the business after a five-way pitch to the Liverpool Culture Company.

The campaign follows extensive independent research conducted throughout the UK that highlighted that although the perception of Liverpool was improving, most people knew very little about the city and the breadth of its cultural offer.

The campaign focuses on a series of themes ranging in subjects from Liverpool's world-heritage waterfront to some of the city's more hidden treasures.

The tightly-targeted media includes key outdoor positions in the South East and North West of England including busy London underground stations and TV sponsorship. The campaign will break in May 2006.

Kris Donaldson, Marketing Director of the Liverpool Culture Company, said: "This is a really important step towards building momentum towards 2008. Finch's creative thinking was refreshing and demonstrated a clear understanding of what makes Liverpool unique in the people and the place.''

Tim Crutchley, Joint Managing Director of Finch, said: "This is a really significant win for Finch against some tough national opposition. It comes with a lot of prestige, but more importantly a responsibility to deliver a first-class campaign. Being based in Liverpool encouraged us to go the extra mile whilst understanding the key issues.''

Newly appointed Creative Director, Paul Brown added: "This is a fantastic win for the team at Finch and underlines the strong creative talents that Liverpool has to offer".

The national campaign will be backed by an extensive local campaign throughout Merseyside detailing how the Capital of Culture will benefit the region, now and in the future. An extra 1.7million visitors are predicted to visit Liverpool in 2008, spending £200m. The city is currently undergoing a £3bn culture led transformation creating 14,000 new jobs.

South Bohemia Gallery are organising an 'Art Gallery Grand Exhibition' at St Georges Hall during the Liverpool 08 Open Squash Championships from May 3rd to 7th 2006.
The squash championship will be a major event in association with Sky Sports.
There will also be live music and other entertainment.

Artists/Performers should contact Peter Worthington peterworthington1@yahoo.co.uk for further details. There a various criteria and a fee for entry.

Organisations interested in sponsoring the event are invited to attend a sponsors preview at the Town Hall tomorrow - Monday March 6th at 15.00. rsvp Brian Viner b_viner@hotmail.com

Last one for today I think. They're coming in thick and fast.
Angela Salt is a very experienced illustrator with many notable clients. She is also a part - time tutor on the BA (HONS) Graphic Design Course at The University of Salford and has her own good website at www.angelasalt.com

Another excellent local artist - Susan Brown. Oil, acrylics and a mix of oil and ink.

Latest addition to the artinliverpool directory is Jeanne-Marie Kenny.
She works mainly in oils, digital and ink and says...

"Through my paintings and drawings I explore various archetypes of beauty and femininity and how they permeate popular culture via advertising media. I am interested in transforming meanings of certain images as they are presented to the public by eliminating contextual elements and introducing alternative settings or by cropping and significantly altering the scale. Thus, images which are created for the purpose of selling clothing, products or lifestyles are altered and combined to create a window into a completely different realm where materialism becomes inverted. "

 
I recently visited Tommy McHugh at his home in Birkenhead, as you can see from the photos, he has used all his walls as a canvas or gallery. One bedroom is a studio and the kitchen is where he chisels away at his sandstone sculptures.
Here's the story...
-----
Tommy McHugh was born in Liverpool. He worked as a builder, and had a history of violence and class A drug abuse. His only interest in drawing was in scrawling tattoos on his arms whilst serving time in prison. Since suffering a stroke in 2001, Tommy has felt a need to create, and has experimented with painting, drawing, writing and sculpting, dealing with themes relating to his 'split-mind', which Tommy states has changed his personality.

Tommy's stroke was caused by two small bleeds in both sides of his brain known as subarachnoid haemorrhages. Surgeons repaired the bleeds using a clip and a coil. His stroke appeared to unlock his creative side. This phenomenon known as "sudden artistic output" is extremely rare.

The London based artist, Marion Kalmus (www.marionkalmus.co.uk) is currently writing a book about Tommy. They have exhibited together at Liverpool’s Eggspace Gallery.
-------

After looking round the house for quite some time and listening to Tommy's explanations of the works I watched part of a video that was shown on German TV which featured Tommy. There has also been a similar documentary shown on Japanese TV. The crew from Japan had spent several days shadowing Tommy during his exhibition at Egg last Autumn.
His work is currently on show at MuseumMAN in Rodney Street.

So after Microzine and a quick visit to the Tea Factory it was onto Arena gallery for the last hour of the opening party of the )Bracket THIS( - Going Native event.
I have started yet another blog to cover this exciting event and hopefully the Mercy and Fiction guys will provide us with lots of pictures, news, updates etc.
Didn't have a lot of time to take it in but it looks really interesting and as in the previous event during the 2004 Biennial there will be live music, poetry and film things during the 3 weeks, followed by a closing party on March 24th.
Apparently it had been really busy earlier on with lots of people looking like tourists as they studied the large A1 map of the gallery.
Just a reminder of what its all about...

"We are going to build on the success of Nov 2004’s first )Bracket THIS( showcase with a brand new concept, featuring artists from the various and varied communities and disciplines across Liverpool, which earned it the title ‘The World in One City’.

The first show consisted of a showcase of as many artists as we could find who were good enough. You might even have been one of them. It was boss, but now the intention is to represent more fully the range of artistic production that exists within Liverpool."

Keep checking the BracketThis blog for further news/pictures

Couldn't stay long at Blackburne House as I had to be at Microzine for 18.30. The awards evening started at 19.00 but I was on the judging panel and we still had to decide on the final 3 winners of the 100 T Shirts design competition.
It was very difficult of course but we managed to avoid fisticuffs and it was a really good evening with drinks provided by Sabai and an after party at the Tea Factory.
I will leave it to the p-ornithology guys to officially announce the winners. Here's a pic of Robbie making his speech and thanking all the judges, partners, artists etc.
I really enjoyed being part of this project which involved hundreds of artists from all over the UK and I'm looking forward to the next one.

The always excellent LEAP Dance Festival from the Merseyside Dance Initiative is now on. Here's brief info of upcoming shows..

Chaturangan 4th March Unity Theatre, 0151 709 4988 8pm

New Moves 6th March Hope University Cornerstone Campus 0151 7088810 8pm (Julia Griffin, Sarah Black, Jacqueline Jones, Jessica Murray )

Don’t Ask The Blond 7th March Unity Theatre, 0151 709 4988 8pm

Manmade: 9th March Unity Theatre, 0151 709 4988 8pm

Capital Nights: 10th March Unity Theatre, 0151 709 4988 8pm Featuring dance artists from Patras, Greece)

Leap into the Dark 11th March Unity Theatre, 0151 709 4988 8pm

Moving Cultures: The Royal Court 0151 708 8810 7.30pm

There is also a dance card available 5 shows for £30 – contact MDI 0151 708 8810 (all shows except Henri Oguike)

Full details on the website.

I tried my best to get to 4 events last night but only made it to 3 so apologies to Polished T who were hosting the launch of Burst No.2. I'll call in soon to have a look.

First stop on the tour was Blackburne House for an exhibition of photographic portraits by Elsbeth Linnhoff, originally from Switzerland but now based in Manchester.

Elsbeth has travelled widely over several years and taken many delightful pictures of the people she has met in places such as Cuba, Vietnam, Morocco, Thailand, Yemen, India etc..

In the Conservatory there are half a dozen monochrome portraits then in the corridor by the Main hall there are eight colour pictures of children, mostly smiling and laughing, this is my favourite group.
In the Cafe/Bar there are another 14 photos of interesting and colourful characters. Some of these works have come very close to winning some major awards, they are all for sale as limited editions and are on show until March 31st 2006

www.elsbethlinnhoff.co.uk

Launch of new Network for Creative Women in Merseyside

CREATE NETWORK is a new network for women working in the Creative Industries in Merseyside. Create is being launched at an event at Blackburne House, off Hope Street, Liverpool on Wednesday 15 March from 4pm. The launch will provide an opportunity to network, to hear motivational speakers, give access to support agencies and provide the chance to join the network.

Create Network aims to give women working in the arts and creative industries in Merseyside peer and group support, information sharing, problem solving, opportunities for collaboration including fundraising, showcasing and
exhibiting, access to training and trading opportunities.

If you are interested in attending the Create Network Launch on Wednesday 15 March or would like further information please contact the Create Co-ordinator, Liz North by email to create@liznorth.wanadoo.co.uk
or telephone 07967112052

NOTE: You can now apply to take part in the art06 x.change event in Preston. See below.

art06 e-newsletter - 1 March 2006

Welcome to the first edition of the art06 e-newsletter brought to you by Arts Council England, North West.

What is art06

art06 is the third annual spotlight on the arts in the North West and will take place in Preston on Thursday 8 June 2006.

As with art04 and art05, in Manchester and Liverpool respectively, art06 in Preston promises to exclusively showcase the diversity of the arts in the region, with an exciting programme of events, all packed into one unmissable day.

art06 is an Arts Council England event, held in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency, supported by the BBC and Preston City Council.

art06 awards

Every year the Arts Council presents two prestigious awards, each worth £10,000, for outstanding achievement in the arts in the North West. This year, there are two brand new categories: Arts and Communities and Children and Young People which have been chosen to reflect the excellent work which is on going across the region, often at grass roots level, and to reflect Arts Council England's own core campaigns.

Only one week remains if you wish to nominate yourself or an individual, a project or an organisation for these awards. Please follow the link to the website for more information.

Announcing the launch of art06 x.change

The art06 x.change will take place on Thursday 8 June 2006 in Preston as part of art06, Arts Council England, North West’s annual event for the arts in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency and supported by the BBC and Preston City Council.

This year's art06 x.change arena builds on the success of the event at art05 held in Liverpool, where over 80 exhibitors took part with hundreds of visitors.

The x.change arena is a fantastic exhibition opportunity for artists, organisations involved in the arts, local authorities and others. The x.change will have a sharp cultural sector industry focus; with activities to attract visitors from across the country to what is the premium event of its kind.

The range and diversity of exhibitors and activities will surprise!

The x.change will utilise open spaces in Preston’s historic city centre, near to the Harris Museum and Art Gallery.

The x.change will be in themed sections, each offering a different look at the arts in the region and nationally. Alongside this will sit professional development seminars aimed at artists, arts workers and arts officers such as a Grants for the arts seminar and Planning for Public Art amongst others.

The x.change is a fantastic opportunity to promote organisations or individual projects; a place to launch new ideas and initiatives and to spot new opportunities for creative and business collaborations.

The art06 x.change promises to be bigger and better than previous events with more exhibitors and located in open city centre public spaces accessible to members of the public.

The art06 x.change is free to take part in, however, demand will be high so there will be a selection process to ensure that a range of arts activities are presented.

Find out more about last years x.change and those who participated by visiting the webpage.

For an information pack on the art06 x.change which includes an entry form, please visit the x.change home page.

art06 x.change entries should be returned by 7 April 2006.

For more information on art06 follow this link.
www.artscouncil.org.uk/art06

Don't miss the chance to submit your moving image artwork to the BBC to be shown on the Clayton Sq. Big Screen.

See my original blog posting.

Walker Artwork of the Month - March , 2006
'Astronomical Clock', by Thomas Barry and James Moorcroft

Gallery Talk
Free gallery talks Tuesday 7 and Thursday 30 March, 1pm, Room 7

About the artwork
The clock has three dials on different faces. The first gives the time and the phases of the moon, and has shutters in the arch above showing the varying length of day and night. The second face gives the date in the form of a perpetual calendar, with automatic adjustments for leap years. Above it is a dial giving the movements of the principal stars. The third face shows the orbits of the moon and the six planets then known.

This extraordinary clock shows the ambition and technological expertise of the South-West Lancashire horological industry in the late 18th century. No other clock of equal merit is known to survive. An Astronomical clock at this period represented the summit of achievement as it was a combination of scientific and artistic challenges

LINK

Lady Lever Artwork of the Month - March , 2006
'Snowdrift', by Edward Onslow Ford

Gallery Talk
Free gallery talks Thursday 9 and Thursday 23 March, 1pm, Main Hall

About the artwork
'Snowdrift' was Ford’s last work. Shortly after his death, aged 49, in late December 1901, his friend and obituarist, Frank Rinder, entered his studio and saw the almost finished clay model, still soft and with the hand marks of the sculptor still visible:

"What more aptly than this Snow Drift could symbolise those ‘thoughts hardly to be packed into a narrow act’, the ‘all I could never be’, of a life which closed before the fiftieth milestone had been reached? It is a figure born of snow flakes - snow flakes which thus congregated retain much of that intangibility, that airy grace, that happy abandon which they possess as in myriads they pass, wind-driven, before our eyes. An inscrutable fate has cast this personification of snow drift - numbed, but surely with breath still issuing from the parted lips - upon some lone shore."

LINK

Here is the latest news from Moira and Callum at 24 Hardman St, the former Trade Union Centre.
Click on the image to enlarge.
NOTE: The building will be open for viewing on Saturday March 4th at 13.30 prompt for artists and creative industries to have a look at the facilities.

Contact Moira or Callum at lccac@hotmail.co.uk