In March I posted a short post on CrIB about the Surface Unsigned festival. Following questions in the comments I extended this post with some speculation about an item in their terms and conditions. CiB was contacted by someone at Surface demanding the post be removed from the internet citing the printing of an excerpt of their terms and conditions as copyright infringement. We’ve replaced the quote with a paraphrased version but the post itself will stay up.
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On Saturday semi-serious (i think) art group Digital Is Dangerous will be hosting a debate on digital technology’s role in the creative process. Conformed speakers include Robin Giorno, Jonathan Green, Keir Williams and artist and researcher for Wolverhampton uni Robert Grose (cant find a website sorry).
Event starts at 3pm and goes on till 5pm with D.I.D providing “a wonderful selection of edible digital nipples” and this all goes down at Jibbering Records in Mosley. I’ll be the one in with the long hair and mouth full of nipples.
Last Wednesday I went to the imaginatively titled Local shorts Film Club, which I previously talked about here. I was pleasantly surprised to find a large turnout (a quick head count of around 80) maybe its because of by passion for social media and indoctrination into the cult of blogging that made me presume that a poor web presence, and equally poor advertising automatically means low attendance.
The night is ran by Nigel and Sabine of It’s About Time Productions and chatting to them before hand I was interested to find out that updates, the forthcoming programme, submission requests and basically all the functionality of a blog is actually carried out by a mailing list, of which over three hundred people are signed up too. They explained this lo-fi attitude is partly intentional as not to appear to exclusive. Unfortunately this attitude also means that the LSFC is one of the best kept secrets of the film community in Birmingham. Speaking to a local video artist we both remarked how frustrating it was that this event was happening 200 yards away from where we were doing our degree with other student film makers, yet we never heard about it.
The event itself was very informal and friendly with the quality of the films varying widely. Standing out from the pack was the short film written and directed by Lewis Arnold called <i>Long Standing</i>. An engaging, warm, and very funny but ultimately melancholy study of old age and a mans emotional redemption through human contact. Lewis seems to be very talented capable of producing slickly finished pieces on almost no budget that are both humorous and visually interesting. I can’t help but see big things for him.
As for the night, the relaxed setting, friendly atmosphere and question and answer session after each film are much to the organisers credit, although the community itself does seem kind of small. The event has recently secured funding from Screen West Midlands so will using the money to develop a wider film making audience and the next night is scheduled for late July.
to get on the mailing list e-mail your address, theirs can be found here.
Stuart Whipps is a local independent photographer, who, amongst other things, documented the closing of the Longbridge Rover plant and its subsequent move to China. The exhibition of this work will be at The New Art Gallery Walsall and runs from April 4th to June 1st with the private view on Thursday 3rd April which open to all.
This exhibition brings together photographs of both the Longbridge and Nanjing plants. Though relating to a very specific context, these images speak volumes about the transformation of heavy industry in the 21st century and its wider implications.Taken from flyer
Local Shorts Film club is a free semi-regular showcase of locally made short films, which include a Q and A session with the film makers. The closest thing to a web-site I have found is here, but contains all the relevant information, with details how to submit a short film here.
The lack of web-site, ropey flyers and naff names aside, The next night is on April 9th with the title “Super Eclectic Mix Night” and is at the Library Theatre near Central Library.
I saw the first one of these yesterday.
By the the rag markets, I’m not sure how successful this was because half the keyboard didn’t work and it was almost meloncholy to see a once intricte and loved object abandoned in the street.
A programme of events around the theme Endurance starts on the 24th of April and runs until the 26th at Vivid.
Endurance is a three-day programme of screenings, performances and exhibition exploring the physical and mental limits of human endurance
There really are a lot of events to investigate, even if you can find the performative and body-art aspect of this sort of work a bit challenging (which, if you ask me, is even more of a reason to go), there should still be something of interest. a timetable for the events can be downloaded here.
I think I will at least try and make it to the William Hunt (pictured) piece on the Thursday night.
Enigmatically I just got sent this in the post,
(click to embiggen)
no explanation or anything, just the invite. But after a quick dig I came up with this,
This new body of work is centered on notions of broken narratives. The work spans drawing, photography, video and sound, and is very much a departure as the show will not include any painting. The focus of my practice is on the process, and the documentation of the processes involved in making art, something that has developed out of my painting practice.
I am currently studying for an MA in Fine Art at the University of Wolverhampton.
Might be worth a look, although the 22nd is Saturday, the web site says the show starts on the 24th which is next Monday.
 Edit: been contacted and the private view is definatly monday 24th
