Created in Birmingham

Will Buckingham, the dude behind the Birmingham Words blog, is moving on but isn’t letting the site die. It’s to be taken over by the National Academy of Writing at BCU and will be run by students studying there.

Running Birmingham Words over these five years or so has been a huge amount of fun. But now that we are reaching the end of this particular funding period, it seems time to take stock. As editor, webmaster and general power-behind-the-kitchen-chair at Birmingham words, I am feeling like a change of scene, both for the good of site and also because I myself am planning to move on to other (although not necessarily greater) things.

As a result, I have been in discussion with the National Academy of Writing at Birmingham City University, and they have expressed a strong interest in stepping into the breach and adopting Birmingham Words as an on-going project for students at the Academy. This would, I hope, give a new impetus to the site, and would not only secure a longer-term future for it, but would also give allow it to continue to grow and develop.

More details on the change.

Audiences Central has a big press release for a new International Dance Festival taking place in Birmingham between 28 April and 24 May 2008.

It will bring outstanding dance from across the globe, showcasing the work of world-renowned dance companies including Kirov Ballet and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, alongside specially choreographed commissions and large-scale participatory and site-specific performances. Akram Khan MBE presents his new collaboration with National Ballet of China, bahok, as one of the Festival highlights.

Featuring some of the world’s greatest choreographers, International Dance Festival Birmingham promises to engage established audiences and newcomers alike through the sheer diversity of its programme.

With host venues scattered across the city centre from The Birmingham REP and Town Hall, to Birmingham Hippodrome and IKON Gallery’s Eastside venue, there will be lots of opportunities to see and participate in dance activities. The Festival will also take over outdoor locations in the City Centre and shop windows in the stylish retail heart of the City, really bringing dance to the people!

The Fused kids were at the Brilliantly Birmingham launch last night and report on some stuff that caught their eyes.

Brilliantly Birmingham, the annual showcase of contemporary jewelery, runs from now until January 13th with numerous events, exhibitions and fairs across the city.

All the information is in this press kit or you can just download the a PDF of the catalogue.

Vamos Bien is an exhibition by Junc at the Jibbering Records Gallery in Moseley. Here’s the private view invite.

And there’s some blurb on Whatoninbrum:

If you’re into UK hip hop, you’ll be no stranger to Junc’s slick design work. As part of the illustration team responsible for animating the thought provoking Braintax music video, “Syriana Style”, Junc has literally been carving a name for himself. Collaborating with Overthrow Productions on the artwork for the forthcoming YNR release, “The Packaged Food EP” only cements that fact.

Junc was involved in the 1st exhibition, at Jibbering, 18 months ago and sold all 8 pieces from his collection! He’s taking on the whole space this time, check it out quick – his art sells fast!

This, the 10th exhibition at Jibbering, is ever exciting, over the nine weeks it will showcase Junc’s latest collection- Vamos Bien. Original work, limited runs of prints, skate-decks, t-shirts and much more will be available for purchase from Jibbering and at jibbering.co.uk.

Can’t find a website for Junc. Any links are welcome.

The next 7 Inch Cinema night is this Sunday November 25th at the Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath. Amongst the usual oddities is work from local animators The Brothers Mcleod, a DIY flip-book challenge and work from the back catalogue of American animator Don Hertzfeldt. Here’s one of his shorts to whet the appetite.

Starts at 7pm, £4 on the door.

Picked up a rather strange looking flyer the other day for an exhibition at the Central Library called More Captioned Pictures by Robert Geoghegan.

It’s on the 3rd floor in the Arts and Lit dept and runs until the end of the month.

Nick Booth has organised a get together for Birmingham bloggers. Details are on Facebook but if you’re not that way inclined here’s the skinny.

Thursday, January 10, 2008, 5:30pm – 7:00pm at the Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath. Then on to the Hare and Hounds. All are welcome.

“First chance for Birmingham bloggers to get together for a yack. No formality, no agenda – we’ll have plenty to talk about!”

Richard Kaye has been posting some interesting photos up on Flickr using the slit-scan technique. A full description is at that link but if you think about the effect produced by moving a document over the glass of a photocopier as it’s making a copy it’s a sort so similar thing.

Here’s a few of his photos taken from this set with his explanations.

The moving car appears shorter than the stationary cars!

A more complex image formed using the slit camera by rewinding the film and simultaneously panning the camera. Vertical lines are formed by irregularities in the rewind. Horizontal lines are by irregularities in the panning.

The car moving right to left appears incredibly long (I had to look at it twice to recognise it as a car at all) whereas the vehicles moving left to right are shortened.

Here’s the camera Richard used to produce all these:

Click on it for more details and notes, but it’s a pretty simple operation. I may well try it myself!

D’log draws my attention to a short film, Birmingham: The Creative City, focusing on two artists who benefited from the Equal: The Last Mile program which helps creatives turn their art into a business. If you filter out the shiny-happy aspect there’s still some interesting stuff in here.

The film was put together by Creative Compass who have more stories and testimonials on their site.

ClickforArt.com are holding their first Birmingham show in the run up to Xmas.

It is with great pleasure we announce our next show at 100 Holloway Head, Birmingham. Running for three consecutive weekends from 22 November until 9 December. Opening Friday, Saturday & Sunday of each weekend.

We will be transforming an old furniture salesroom into a splendid big old art gallery to exhibit work from our 50 international Artists. Work will be available to buy from the Show in time for Christmas.

Additionally we have teamed up with the restaurant and karaoke bar ShanghaiYE for a number of special promotions including our Opening Night Party.

The opening night is tomorrow, Thursday 22nd, from 7pm. See the flyer for details.

Artist on show and for sale include: Nik Ainley, Lucy Allen, Rachel Allsop, Morten Andersen, Eugene Artsebasov, Adhemas Batista, Marcos Beira, Jeroen Callewaert, Jamie Carter, Chuck U, Si Clark, Liz Clements, Dist, Tim Drake, Drawcaliber, Neil Duerden, Ede, Fired Ink, Fran, Geraldine Georges, Susan Graham, Mike Harrison, Ben Hewitt, Olly Howe, Huebucket, Alys Jones, Vicky Jones, Simon Kenworthy, Magnus Kjall, Yee Ting Kuit, Ku u be, Daniel Hyun Lim, David Mascha, Stephen McCarthy, Guy McKinley, Chris Miller, Miss Lotion, Mistershrew, Perttu Murto, Mopa, Neryl, Nitrocorpz, Peter Nowacki, RA 909, Rubens LP, Sheesh, Sumeco, Rourke Van Dal, Jamie Wengradt, Dawn Williams and Wooper.

They just keep coming. The latest nomination to grace Catherine O’Flynn‘s What Was Lost is the Costa Book Awards where she’s in the running for best first novel. The Costa’s were previously known as the Whitbread’s and are pretty well respected in the book trade for bridging the gap between high-falutin literary and populist.

Lest we forget Catherine is also up for Brummie of the Year.

news via Audiences Central

Later: Post article.

Later again: Tindal St press release.

Anyone thinking of doing an MA in History, Film and Television at Birmingham Uni should pop along to the open day on Wednesday December 5th. Details on this poster.

Lewes Herriot has been consistently uploading art to his Dark Inventory blog for months now and deserves another mention. This one’s title’s The Gilded Mountain:

His artwork is for sale and he welcomes inquiries for bespoke design for album sleeve, book cover design and posters.

Scratch Club is a hip hop night that takes place in London and Birmingham, the latter at the Yardbird, with a nice open and social attitude.

Scratch Club was born just over a year ago at a club in Camden town. It was founded by DJs Disco Steve and Captain Crunch with MCs Leon P, Kingpin and The Leano to provide a stage for MCs, DJs and Beatboxers to perform in a live environment. Now Scratch Club has grown further and runs in 2 cities – London and Birmingham. Scratch Club runs twice a month on a fortnightly rotation on Tuesdays at the Yardbird Jazz Club in Birmingham City Centre. Besides a headline live PA at every event we hold 2 open mic sessions and an open deck sessions for people who aren’t on the line up to get up on stage and show the crowd their skills. if you are a Scratch DJ, Beatboxer or MC come and join us at the Yardbird one Tuesday. You might start getting the recognition you deserve, Have a laugh, Get drunk and meet some serious players in the UK hip hop scene. A stage is waiting…

Congrats to Capsule whose yearly Supersonic been named Best Festival of the Year in the December issue of Plan B magazine, up against such greats as ATP, Sonar and Green Man. Here’s the article. Click on it for a readable PDF.