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and blogging his notes.
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Russ L’s monthly roundup is as essential as ever and particularly notable for the use of the word “blettum”. Many have tried to slip that in, only Russ succeeds.
Archive for February, 2008
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Another gem from Dave Harte. Contains such observations as “Kids are great and way more talented than grown-ups. But they don’t get enough culture and are a bit fat.”
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I report on these because I reckon, at a stretch, it counts as some kind of interventionist performance art, or something.
On the plus side we’ll all be able to track the culture articles on the Birmingham Post’s website much easier when their new site launches next week. On the downside that means these links will probably be broken next week. Ah well. Here’s my picks from the last fortnight or so.
A director who lets the play do the talking
Director Paulette Randall talks to Terry Grimley about the social issues underpinning Roy Williams’ new play.
Katherine revives a humble craft technique of old Birmingham
Terry Grimley meets the Barber Institute’s sculptor-in-residence.
Oratory blurs glorious Cathedra sound
Maggie Cotton reviews Ex Cathedra at Birmingham Oratory.
Heard the latest news – Editors are back in town
Jon Perks speaks to Editors frontman Tom Smith.
More reasons to celebrate our talent
Peter Bacon’s Jazz Diary
Nicola keeps to a tough schedule
Only just out of her teens, young violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti is philosphical about the rigours of a jetsetting career, writes Terry Grimley.
A young composer who takes success in her stride
Birmingham Conservatoire graduate Joanna Lee talks to Christopher Morley about her new commission for the Orchestra of the Swan.
From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success
Harborne’s Moorpool Players got more than they bargained for when they presented themselves as the Reformation Players and unleashed an evening of dramatic disasters under the heading of Coarse Acting Strikes Back.
The idea for these button badge mock-ups came as a result of a number of experiences since I moved to Birmingham. The theme: the oddities of interpretations of place names in Birmingham derived from typos, spell-check suggestions, mispronunciations and adolescent mischief.
The full set, should you want to turn them into badges yourself, is here.
via BiNS.
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“Wolverhampton’s Light House Media Centre will play host to the first Disability Film festival to be held in the city from 18th – 20th April 2008″
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A list of pop-tastic classics with connections to the West Mids that are at times obvious, tenuous and downright inspired.
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A handy summary from Spaghetti Gazetti
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Marc Reck starts his new-ish blog with a big catchup post chock full of linky links.
Matt Murtagh’s photos from Project X Presents’ XLAB:VL are up.
Lovely as ever, but shame about the irritating Flash-based gallery. On the plus side, Matt has a blog.
RobotGirl is an art project by Ana Benlloch: a series of performances where the audience interact with the character in various guises.
Sometimes RobotGirl is a person trying to be an android; sometimes she lives in text; sometimes she is a doll or an animated character.
Some Insectoid videos have been brought to my attention after the recent post.
Here’s a nice piece of recently uploaded glitch entitled Class: Insecta:
And here’s a recording of them on the green at 2006′s Artsfest:
More on the Insectoid Hive Mind channel.
Over on the Ikon site there’s a 1hr45m recording of a symposium on printmaking that took place on Feb 20th.
Ikon and Birmingham City University School of Art co-hosted a lively roundtable discussion about the nature of contemporary printmaking. The implications of digital technology were considered not just in terms of production, but also its possible impact on the meaning of printed artwork.
Ikon’s Director, Jonathan Watkins was joined on the panel by artists Tim Maguire and Christiane Baumgartner, Tessa Sidey (Curator, Prints and Drawings Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery), Frank Bordas (studio Frank Bordas) and Jeremy Lewison (Independent Curator).
Can’t find a download link so you’ll have to listen to it from your computer but this is a fantastic development for Ikon.
Pic taken from Ikon, labeled “Tim Maguire Studio. Work in progress”
Paul Geary introduces King Alfred Promotions, a new-ish outfit run by David Bunn and Anthony Harper for whom he did the following:
They launched last April and are apparently working on establishing themselves a bit more in the city. The MySpace, it be here.
The Birmingham St Patrick’s Festival has a new website, proudly launched last month.
Given that this represents one of the major cultural celebrations in the city, one which has been claimed to be one of the largest outside of New York (if I remember rightly) I’d be interested to hear what you all think.
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23 minute audio interview with Mike in Mono from 2005
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Deb the gardener goes to the Tim Maguire show at the Ikon and reports at length. via D’log.
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A live music reviewer who’s using this blog to archive his work for a variety of outlets. Met him at the blogmeet last week and he’s rather keen (and rather tall).
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A Ten4 magazine feature from 2006 featuring Brian Duffy of Modified Toy Orchestra and Lisa Meyer of Capsule. Still pretty relevant. Via D’log.
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D’log digs up some websites that “might be useful for artists starting to think about the possible public art benefits in the city centre”
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The third of the Birmingham Architectural Association’s talks on what it means to be a second city looks at what we can learn from Milan. 4th March, free entry.
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Opens doors on June 28.
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Ben Neal reports on Billingham’s talk at his alma mater Halesowen College where “he talked about his early paintings, and the photos of his family, urban exteriors and zoo photos and videos”
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A nice photo by Bill Phillips pretty much succeeds.
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The infrequent blog of the Crescent Theatre’s production Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick By Terry Johnson which starts on March 15th
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Russ L reviews Capsule’s ATP gig
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The Baron reviews Friday’s Kamikaze gig at the Rainbow
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Dave Harte makes another impenetrable report slightly more penetrable. “This is all about counting and about how for all these years we’ve been doing the counting the wrong way.”
Another of Kate Beatty‘s portraits of local creatives has surfaced, this time of the Mama Feel Good DJs, Bobbalin’ Hot and Sister 45.
A film by Scott Johnston and Pram.
Filmed around Highbury Hall and Moseley Private Park, according to About My Area. via Jez
