Here, in true Archival fashion, I wish to offer up a record of the ‘Building the Archive’ Symposium – a day, in response to Birmingham Library’s ‘Reference Works Photography Project’. This was a set of commissioned photographic reactions to the transformation of Birmingham’s 1970s building, into its present, ‘modern’ form. The photographs would, after public … Continue reading Building the Archive: An Archive of Our Own?
Is it Istanbul or Constantinople, or Spike Island?
Alt Üst: Cevdet Erek I was very excited to see Spike Island’s latest exhibition - Alt Üst, from the Istanbul based artist, Cevdet Erek. This excitement was prompted by my recent trip to Turkey’s cultural capital; a bustling, pulsing, changeable and exhilarating city. Arriving in Taksim square, navigating the hectic Istiklal street to my apartment, … Continue reading Is it Istanbul or Constantinople, or Spike Island?
New Art in the West Midlands: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Last Thursday saw the opening of ‘New Art West Midlands’ exhibition, showcasing new work from the best graduates across the area. It was designed as a celebration of innovation, embracing the spectrum of artistic media and presentation, providing a platform for emerging, and recently graduated artists. Themes of class, gender, identity, site-specific responses, urban spaces … Continue reading New Art in the West Midlands: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Sensing Spaces – Architecture at the Royal Academy
‘For me, architecture is primarily about people, about asking questions such as: who is the user? What is going to happen here? How can I respond to the users’ needs?’ Diébédo Francis Kéré Following on from my last post – describing the interventions of two Parisian architects, helping the local populace interact with and re-claim … Continue reading Sensing Spaces – Architecture at the Royal Academy
THE BRIEF IS ALWAYS WRONG – Artist talks at Arnolfini
'Design and Use' at Arnolfini. Yesterday, Wednesday 5th February, Arnolfini hosted the first of their Art and Design talks for the new year - 'Design and Use'. The panel consisted of Jeremy Hutchison, a London based artist who 'designs situations that interrupt the circulation of objects through industrial production and consumer ideology', and Emily Pethick, … Continue reading THE BRIEF IS ALWAYS WRONG – Artist talks at Arnolfini
Make, Share, Mobilise! – Turning Point West Midlands
Midwest to Midville: repositioning the visual arts in the Midlands This Monday saw the thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking and inspiring symposium, ‘Midwest to Midville’ held at Birmingham’s IKON Gallery, co-hosted by ‘Turning Point West Midlands’. It was an especially encouraging day and unusually for a large event, there was a real community, collaborative atmosphere. It … Continue reading Make, Share, Mobilise! – Turning Point West Midlands
A B C: art, books and curious cats
Yesterday morning, on a whim of curiosity, my boyfriend and I attended the 'I am making art' morning at Spike Island - with Howling Owl Records. This was the first time, in a very long time, that I have put pen/charcoal/paint/rollers to paper, and it was a lot of fun. The aim was to get … Continue reading A B C: art, books and curious cats
AC studies 