VIVID is inviting people from Birmingham to take part in a collective recitation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with artist Monica Ross. Take this chance to learn a small part of the Declaration of Human Rights and recite it in public, in your own language, as part of this unique performance.
More detail and contact info is available via Vivid’s Facebook page.
There’s even more info about the project on Monica Ross’s website.
GLI.TC/H is:
a one day festival showcasing contemporary artists who misuse and abuse computer hardware and software to striking effect.
The main GLI.TC/H website is here. Good luck getting anything useful out of that one. Best to head over to Vivid’s website to see the programme of screenings, performances, workshops and lectures.
It’s all happening on 19 November. For more info, Antonio Roberts has been running previews on his blog for the past week or so.
Vivid are part way through:
an experimental season of sonics, moving image, installation and construction stimulated by the vision of J.G. Ballard.
I quite like that image above. It’s from Kibwe Tavares‘ Robots of Brixton.
Not part of that, but also coming up soon at Vivid, is Trevor Pitt’s Bang Bang:
the final in a trilogy of explosive art-parties-cum-club-nights curated by Trevor Pitt and played out at VIVID
With DJ sets from mini moderns, Brian Duffy, Mazzy (Chicks Dig Jerks) and THIS IS TMRW and experimental performance installations from Joey Vivo and Roseanna Velin, Vincent Gould, John Napier and Aby Duffty. That’s on 12 November.
On the last Wednesday of each month, VIVID hosts The Neighbourhood Watch, an open submission film night devised and developed by The Neighbourhood
Which makes the next one Weds 29 June.
With thanks to the 7 Inch Cinema mailing list (which you should definitely sign up to – in the sidebar on the left-hand side of their site) for flagging this up.
Flatpack and Fierce have barely begun, but I’ve already been taking a sneak peek of a few of the things they’ve got going on, including Symphony of a Missing Room, the Vintage Mobile Cinema and a trip over to the Dirty End.
Yesterday morning I headed over to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, for a visit unlike any other. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Symphony of a Missing Room by Lundahl & Seitl, feeling slightly apprehensive as I was given a pair of wireless headphones, blindfolded and led cautiously around the museum by sounds, voices and a mysterious hand. The whole experience was what I can only describe as dream like, and had me leaving feeling like I’d been awoken from a deep, disorienting sleep.
So far it’s been receiving plenty of rave reviews on Twitter, who all seem to be able to put the experience into words so much better than I can. If you want to check it out for yourself, book via the Fierce website, it’s definitely one to give a go.
Last night also saw the launch of both Flatpack and Fierce, at VIVID, which has been transformed into The Dirty End. Along with live music from Juneau Projects, they had a few tasty treats and cocktails on offer which will apparently be sticking around for most of the festival.
The Vintage Mobile Cinema had it’s first Flatpack outing this afternoon in Victoria Square, where it gathered quite a few admirers. The 22 seater restored mobile cinema, originally toured British factories from 1967, promoting modern production methods. As one of only seven made, this gem is the last standing after being brought back to life to tour the country once again.
With it’s cosy little interior, complete with red cinema seats, it feels rather like a mini Electric. I was also treated to a clip of Buster Keaton’s silent film Sherlock Junior (1924), which is being screening tomorrow night at the Town Hall, accompanied by live organ and piano.
If you fancy hopping aboard, the vintage mobile cinema will be at Handsworth Library on Thursday, Birmingham Markets on Saturday, and Cannon Hill Park on Sunday. Take a look at whats on across the weekend over on the Flatpack site.
I’ll try and update this post with other Flatpack & Fierce adventures, but in the meantime let us know which events you’ve made it to and what should be on our ‘must see’ lists.
It’s festivals a gogo with the Fierce and Flatpack festivals kicking off today with a whole load of interesting stuff coming to Birmingham between now and Sunday.
You’ll no doubt have done the decent thing and booked up a load of tickets for both of these already but, if not, there should still be time. I’ve had a nosey through the programmes and reckon that I’ll be going to the following:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday
Installations and ongoing things that I’ll try to catch when I can:
All subject to having to work to do and so on. Plus I’m not around this weekend, which is a shame because there’s some ace stuff happening.
What are you going to be going to?
As you may have realised, we haven’t been posting as much recently, leaving it to our guest contributors to fill the pages on CiB. As a result, I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on what’s going on, so I’m just going to mention a few things that have been coming in through the CiB inbox recently.
SEARCH ENGINE
Starting next Monday is Grand Union‘s six-week open residency programme, which will run from 21 March – 30 April 2011. Three artist groups have been invited to work in the project space for two weeks each, starting with Manu Luksch & Mukul Patel.
MANU LUKSCH & MUKUL PATEL, Kayak Libre <<free thinking, free transport>>
Thursday 24 March, 6-9 pm: Opening
Artists’ talk at Grand Union, 6.30 pm
Screening of shorts by Manu Luksch at VIVID , 9 pmThursday 24 Mar – Sunday 27 March:
WATER TAXI available to book from 19 March.
For booking please contact info@grand-union.org.ukSaturday 2 April, 12-2 pm: Final open workshop
Behna (Sisters)
This unique and intimate theatre production by Kali Theatre will be performed in the kitchens of Punjabi households across the Black Country from 22 March to 15 April.
It’s the day before a wedding, Ladies’ Sangeet Night, in a Punjabi household. The bride is having her henna done and the guests are busy eating, singing and dancing. But in the kitchen, sibling jealousy simmers alongside the samosas. Fast-paced, funny and moving, Behna takes a look through the keyhole of a family house to reveal the secrets and lies of two generations of sisters.
For more information and to book tickets, visit The Public’s website.
One, Nineteen
One, Nineteen from local ‘Archers’ writer, Tim Stimpson, is on at The Old Joint Stock Theatre on 18 & 19 March.
19th January: Freak storms bring devastating floods to the English coast, but before the rescue effort arrives, the media are already in town spinning their story. A play about the power of the news, the strength of the government, the question of climate change, and of course, and the search for Sam, Jack and little Chloe…
After premiering in London, it was given a 4 star review from Time Out, so it’s probably worth a watch.
For more info and how to book tickets, visit The Old Joint Stock’s website.
LUNÄ Talks
Ikon and the Lunar Society present this series of evening talks revisiting themes discussed by the original 18th century Lunar Society within a contemporary context.
The next talk is happening on Wednesday 23 March, from 7 – 9pm and focuses on Education. The panel of speakers looks a bit like this:
Felicity Allen: Artist, writer, educator. Former Head of Learning, Tate Britain (2003-10). www.felicityallen.co.uk
Nancy Evans: Education Manager Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, freelance musician and trainer working in early years education
Colin Gale: Head of School of Fashion and Textiles and Course Director for MA Textiles, Fashion & Surface Design, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
Kate Iles: PhD student, University of Birmingham; Constructing the 18th Century woman; The life and education of Sabrina Sidney
For more information on the future talks, entitled ‘Urban design and regeneration’ and ‘Medicine and science’, visit Ikon’s website.
Tickets cost £10 (£8 concessions), to book call Ikon Shop on 0121 248 0711.
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.
‘The Garage Presents…‘ is the first of VIVID‘s 2011 programme, running throughout February with a series of events in music, film, art and installation.
The fun kicks off this weekend, with Video Valentines on Sat 12 Feb, at 2pm, featuring a free screening of Woody Allen’s 1977 romcom, Annie Hall, alongside a bunch of independent shorts and heart-shaped treats.
The series continues with ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Film + A Short Film by Vincent Moon‘ on Fri 18 Feb. Admission is £2.
This post-punk DIY bricolage uses material generated by the fans and musicians themselves, on a multitude of formats including Super8, camcorder and mobile phone material, over the history of the festival, to capture the uncompromising spirit of a parallel music universe.
The following weekend hosts a screening of Lis Rhodes’ avant-garde installation Light Music (1975) 25 Feb, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm, in association with George Saxon and Daniel Simcox
Visitors are immersed in the beams of two dueling projectors; as the film flickers and flashes, Rhodes varies sonic frequency, alters amplitude, and plays with tone to create a groundbreaking and visceral cinematic experience.
And finally on 26 Feb, Woof! Woof! William Wegman Weekend takes place at 2pm.
Coming of age in the 1960s, Wegman was an early exponent of conceptual art, well known for his use of irony, humour and satire. VIVID presents a selection of Wegman’s video works taken from his 1970s series of cryptic videos which star his obliging canine partner Man Ray.
First up, Fierce are in need of volunteers to lend a hand throughout this years festival, which runs from 22 – 27 March. You’ll need to be available to volunteer for at least five shifts during the week, and will be treated to free shows at the festival, a Fierce t-shirt, valuable experience for your CV and the opportunity to meet lots of interesting people.
For full information and to download the application form, visit the Fierce website. The deadline for applications is 11 February.
Eastside Projects also need volunteers to contribute around the gallery. We posted the flyer on CiB’s tumblr yesterday.
VIVID‘s ‘In Association With…’ scheme for emerging and mid-career artists and producers is currently open for submissions. This is a bit of a late mention, as the deadline’s tomorrow (28 Jan), but still, worth a mention.
And finally, some information on Worcestershire Contemporary Art Show, which is taking place throughout May and June. They’re currently open to submissions for exhibitors;
ARTISTS WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EXHIBITION.
I AM LOOKING FOR ARTIST WORKING IN 2D, 3D,FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY TO EXHIBIT WORK THAT REFLECTS THE ISSUES WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY.
THERE ARE 3 CATEGORIES
ESTABLISHED ARTISTS
ARTISTS THAT GRADUATED UP TO 2 YEARS AGO
ART STUDENTSINTERESTED? EMAIL ME A BRIEF STATEMENT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WORK BEFORE 11TH FEBRUARY 2011 – ccdesignuk@yahoo.co.uk
Capital’s first Festival of New Writing took place, International Project Space launched a new film programme and the final ARC of 2010 took place with Important Artefacts.
Brilliantly Birmingham kicked off together with the fifth annual FLUX exhibition, Aedas Presents launched a new monthly art programme and Art of Ideas finally arrived with a host of associated events running over four days.
The We Are Birmingham Shop opened its doors with a drinks reception, Chris gave a debrief of the Arts Council briefing on funding and the West Midlands creative jobs board, Jobplot, returned with a fresh makeover.
November also saw the launch of The Pilot Project, Jennifer Tee’s exhibition, Memento Park opened at Eastside Projects, and Chris attended the wedding of the year.
Lucy McLauchlan returned with her paintbrushes to add something a little interesting to the Moseley Road hoardings, while VIVID launched their latest project, Language, and as December approached, the Christmas fairs sprung into action.
As winter kicked in, we bid a Blonde Farewell to Ikon Eastside, got crafty with Craftspace, said hello to Creative Central and looked ahead to Flatpack and Fierce’s joint 2011 venture.
Joined by Aura Satz and a line up of DJ’s playing winter horror, creepy electronica and spectral pop, VIVID are offering an alternative to the office Christmas party, hosting Nightmare Before Christmas on 18 December.
Marking the close of their 2010 programme and LANGUAGE season, with work from artist Aura Satz, who will also be performing.
Satz’s work explores ghostly presence and illusions through performance and sound and is often focussed on unusual sonic devices, early musical instruments and automata.
Music throughout the evening will be provided by COLOUR, John Napier and Dan Le Trap, plus more to be announced.
The party starts at 8.30 and goes on ’til late. Tickets are £5 and can be bought online.
‘Language‘ is the latest offering from VIVID, opening on 2 December. The exhibition and events programme will explore the constructs of language and meaning from far reaching cultural perspectives.
The international selection of moving image, exhibition, discussion and print includes work from John Adams, William Burroughs, Barbad Golshiri, Gary Hill, Valerie Mréjen, Aura Satz, Guy Sherwin, Margaret Tait, and Olivier Zabat.
…the works cover four decades, spanning films which reflect the post-Structuralist theories of the 1970’s to documented actions and contemporary works newly commissioned by VIVID.
There’s a range of associated events including film screenings and performances within the programme, which can be viewed on VIVID’s site.
The exhibition is open until 18 December, when they’ll also be ending the season with a bang, hosting ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’. The “warped line up of winter horror, creepy electronica and spectral pop”, will include DJ sets from COLOUR, John Napier and Dan Le Trap.
