Eye of the Storm is a digital project that has started off in Birmingham with involvement from Sandra Hall from Friction Arts. Voila le blurb:
What do a human statue, a divorce lawyer, a buddhist and a recovering drug addict have in common? The invisible connections between very different Birmingham lives are laid bare in a new online and real-world project that explores how people find peace within the noise of 21st century living.
There are two parts, with the website showcasing the stories, with an outdoor digital art installation due to appear in the city centre at some point.
Bad news from Friction Arts – with the builders due to arrive in a fortnight to start work on the refurb of The Edge Lee, their operations coordinator, has trapped a nerve in his back. With prep work to do that’s a bit of a disaster so they’re asking for a hand:
We need some volunteers to come along this Thursday 25th September to help clear the space. If you can’t make it then but have some other time over the next couple of weeks we still need your help. We will provide beer, tea coffee and snacks for all who can help, as well as our eternal gratitude and one in the favour bank. Get in touch if you can help – it’s bound to be a laugh – and wear old clothes!
If you wish to contact us try the Edge telephone number: +44(0)121 772 6160 or +44(0)121 772 5185 or in absolute emergencies on the mobile 07970 221708 or alternatively, alternatively you can email us at info@livearts.co.uk
If anyone can help them out then give them a shout.
via Spaghetti Gazetti
Deborah Mingham is a freelance artist and costume designer/maker.
She graduated from UCE Fine Arts degree course and has gone on to work with Shoi Productions, Friction Arts, the Godiva Carnival (see pic above), Pentabus and Kindle Theatre.
These Punch & Judy costumes, produced for Imagineer Productions and inspired by Rab C Nesbitt and Tony Clifton, are particularly good:
Having promised to mention this before, I nearly forgot. This summer:
Friction Arts will be collaborating with their US partners, Touchable Stories on a unique, living history arts project, attempting to reveal the true voice of Digbeth, Birmingham
There’ll be an exhibition and a series of other events including meetings, talks and dinners. The first such event will be ‘Mining For Gold – a master class in oral history and community engagement’ from 3pm to 8pm on 25 July. Shannon Flattery (Touchable Stories) will talk about work in some of the ‘third world’ communities in the US and Sandra Hall (Friction Arts and recently consultant to the Dutch culture dept) will present her own approaches to working, and making art.
There’s more general info on the Friction Arts site and here’s the flyer for this particular event:
Also coming up at The Edge, although I’ve not seen any info anywhere yet, Scott from Film Ficciones and Matt from Pram will be hosting some underground film nights. I think that’ll be on Saturday 26 July but if anyone has any further info then let me know.
The Birmingham Post Power 50 (tremble at their might!) has just been announced. With last year’s list having an impressive showing from the arts world, interest at CiB could almost have been described as ‘mild’.
Ok, so it’s easy to be cynical about these things (and it’s open season on the Birmingham Post site – all the winners’ profiles are commentable), but there’s little sense in detracting from the recognition given to the following folks who work hard on the city’s arts & culture scene.
So, from CiB (hating the game, not the playa since 2007) hearty congrats go to:
While I’m at it, the Birmingham meeja luminaries who would like to thank their friends, family, deity of choice, etc and so on are:
The big list of movers and shakers is on the Birmingham Post website which, like I say, they’ve made an effort to do all nice so you can comment on how brilliant and deserving everyone is.
But feel free to vent your spleen in the comments here if you feel the need.
