Co-produced by VIVID & Fierce, this Saturday, 5 March, will see a public intervention held by artist Eitan Buchalter, from 11.30am – 3.30pm on Heath Mill Lane.
Buchalter will be expanding on his current body of work exploring how we flow through and interact with public spaces and what happens when aspects of our environment are disrupted
Not revealing what the full nature of this ‘intervention’ will be, he’ll be targeting the pedestrian traffic en route to the local derby between Birmingham City FC and West Bromwich Albion, with vouchers for free beer at a local pub. A quick flick through of his past projects and he seems to do a lot of standing… Perhaps that’s something to look out for?
‘Veer’ will also be broadcast live online at This is Tomorrow, from 11.30am.
As an In Association With … artist at VIVID and a Fierce Festival 2011 artist, he’ll also be featuring at this years Fierce Festival, with a talk, workshop and intervention.
Dave Piper is a Birmingham based photographer, who works mainly in fashion and portraiture photography. Though they may have been given a glamorous finish, you might recognise something familiar about these two photos, they’re taken from a shoot he did at the Hare & Hounds pub in Kings Heath.
Having also recently shot his first cover for FACE ON magazine (image below), he’s now branching out into hosting nationwide photography workshops.
The Birmingham dates are set for 29 and 30 September, at the Calumet Store, so plenty of time to get a bit of practice in if you’re interested. The two day course ‘What is Digital Light? – A Theoretical and Practical Digital editing course’, will cover the following;
This workshop will challenge and inspire. There are no rule books, there are no wrong answers – nor right ones. However, there are other theories and other ideas.
This course is not only about Photoshop, it’s about how to pull apart and re-bild your photos using a post-production style designed to really enhance your work.
For this workshop, the confident use of a DSLR and some experience of Photoshop is neccessary. The course will push and explore the ideas to enhance and finish your photography, including a study on the importance of self-critique.
Prices are TBC, and there’s also a beginners course to follow – any questions can go to Dave@davepiper.org.uk
‘Doing it the hard way: Setting up an Animation Studio Outside the Capital‘ is the follow-up to Animation Forum WM and BSeen‘s last event back in January.
The event is taking place tomorrow, 1 March, at The Studio, and is being presented bu Niel Bushnell, who runs award-winning Newcastle-based animation and VFX studio Qurios.
Niel will be sharing his experiences of establishing an animation business with practical tips on how to set up an animation studio from scratch.
There’ll be opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talk, plus the chance to chat with fellow animators in the fantastic surroundings of the The Studio’s city centre bar and restaurant.Directions to the venue can be found here.
For more information, take a look at the Facebook event page, or sign up via Eventbrite – it’s also free to attend, open to animators and designers of all levels, or anyone interested in establishing a studio-based business, and includes free drinks.
On 3 March, two films by Creative Leap artists will be screened from 5.30pm – 7pm at Ward End Library.
The Door by Benjamin Pinnock – a live action and animation drama short set in Erdington and Aston shown through the eyes of a lead character who discovers he has the ability to alter time.
Experimental Urban Morris Dance by Mark Essen explores the similarities and connections between urban street dance and British folk dance.
There will also be a Q & A session with film-makers Benjamin Pinnock and Mark Essen, along with advice from industry practitioners Katy Woods and Tas Bashir.
The event is free admission.
RoguePlay members Kim Charnock and Lorna Meehan are bringing the trials and tribulations of working as an actress to the stage, taking ‘Portrait of An Actress…‘ on tour around Birmingham.
Portrait of An Actress As… explores the relentless struggle between artistic integrity and agreeing to underpaid roles just to add to the CV through a shamelessly bitchy collection of comedy sketches.
Along with the three date schedule, they’re also hosting a comedy improvisation workshop in conjunction with the show, with a session of ‘whose line is it anyway’ type games, providing hints and tips for great comic performances.
Follow the links below to book tickets for the following dates and for more information;
Rhubarb Rhubarb‘s one day artist development event, The Crossing, is being brought to Birmingham, after the success of it’s London event back in October.
The Crossing: WM will be taking place in The Theatre at The Custard Factory on 26 March, and asks photographers one question – “Are you going to stay where you are, live in the past, or cross over into the new world offered to you through technology, tenacity and a mind shift around money, dependency, what is possible and how it can be achieved?”
With speakers including London based agent David Birkitt, mobile media maker Christian Payne, photographers Ed Clark and Michael Donald, and Benjamin Chesterton & David White of DuckRabbit, the event will cover sessions on ‘Cashing In…Not Selling Out’, ‘Shifting Terrain’ and ‘Photography Still Moving’.
Tickets can be booked online, and are £10 for West Midlands attendees, with transport provided if you’re traveling from Wolverhampton, Walsall, Coventry, Stoke and Hereford. For outside attendees it’s £20.
Dee Patel‘s photographic series ‘Land of Hope & Glory‘, is a non-political piece aiming to remind us that immigration is not a 21st century phenomenon, it’s been occurring for hundreds of years, bringing with it opportunity and diversity.
Behind each immigration statistic lies a story and with it, a human being. Throughout the series, Dee photographed and listened to stories from the people in Handsworth communities, where 170 of the world’s countries are represented.
I sat down with each individual asking questions to get an idea of their roots. I laughed with them and we shared coffee. This opportunity enabled me to look into their lives, into their histories, listen to their hopes and fears and to share a moment at some deeper level.
‘Land of Hope & Glory’ is currently on display at Handsworth Library until 18 March. From there it will join Anna Fields in the Creative Leap Exhibition at The Drum , opening 25 March until 14 April.
Handsworth Library is open Mon/Tues/Sat 9am – 5pm; Thursday 12 noon – 7pm.
‘The Woods’ is a performance project currently on at mac, created by Jane Packman Company and developed locally at Highbury Park and mac.
It’s been on for a few weeks already, and has attracted over 4000 visitors so far, with a free installation exhibition open throughout the day, along with a performance which tuns until 27 February.
The installation allows visitors to explore the sensory space of The Woods, influenced by woodland and the architecture of the gallery. With its provocative nature, the space offers space to invert or project your own narratives or scenarios.
Influenced by an autumn spent under the trees, nature writing and personal stories of letting go, this brave and moving performance tells a story of loss and transformation.
The Woods is intense and poetic – using narrative and gentle audience engagement to create an immersive experience which takes you deep into the richly textured world of the woods and the imagination.
Performances run daily until 27 February, tickets can be booked online via mac’s website.
Take a look at the trailer, filmed by Chris Keenen.
The Woods Trailer from Jane Packman on Vimeo.
