Late Night Art: Review

Last Thursday was late night art. The crew got together -first stop was the Naughton gallery checking out the work by CETL(NI): The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in the Creative and Performing Arts at Queen's. It was dead when we got there. It was around 6.30 when we arrived. There were some visuals using light and long camera exposures.

Met up with some more mates at 7.00 at the Ormeau Baths Gallery:again it was completely dead. Couldn't believe it we were the only people there.:Where were you? It was the work by T.P Flanagan-the ground floor is a must see if you like water colour drawings of bowls. The exhibition is on till 17th of July.

The final art stop was SpaceCraft gallery were the redbull flowed. The ceramics were looking good as always. The small 30+ individual hand made bowls were one of my favorites. T. P Flanagan would be loving it. I couldn't stay longer at the culture night as I was playing basketball against another crew.

After leaving the comfort blanket of artyness, I was nearly beaten up. He was a hard lad (see above for reconstruction) with a sports bag and it was all because I was showing off my basketball skills outside Castlecourt. The confrontation goes as follows "Stop bouncing the ball" I replied "Say please" long drawn out silence "You better move" reply "ok" as I left the area feeling kojaked.

That's the last time I try to look "street" with hard lads about. I saw him the other day wearing a jazzy shirt- he looked as tough as Julian Simmons.

Tried to get into the platform gallery to see the SPOOM collectives work today. It wasn't open -does anyone know if and when it opens during the week??!

Looking forward to transbelfast's/Qft's Weeft next week, Out of Place gallery and the girl at the Ps2 gallery is looking for a job this week. I hope I will see you people about at the next cultural experience.

Protest in the Streets of Belfast

What is this: Protest against the Bill 37 (Public assemblies bill) which prevents protests and public gatherings taking place unless permission is given 38 days in advance or 3 days permission given by the police if it is an emergency.

Where was it: Meeting at the University of Ulster's Buoy Park

When I got there, there was a crowd of over 60 people who from either a socialist party, communist party, or from a trade union. I thought there would have been more people concerned that the Local assembly was trying to change the fundamental rights to protest.

The march took off at 12:30 on Saturday 23rd walking down Royal Avenue to the City Hall. Was great seeing all the City's traffic stop for 35minutes. I got stuck behind the a Trade Union banner-it was funny because I hadn't a clue who they where.

If the bill is passed public meetings and public art projects with more than 50 people will need permission. Bad Times

City is our factory and Pecha Kucha @ the Black Box: Review

"The city is our factory" was organised by the forum for an alternative Belfast and Ps2 gallery. The talk was by Christoph Schäfer (German) running through some of the main headings from his book :"This city is our factory". It was interesting and raised some issues similar to that of Dan Thompson at "Out of Place" a week before. The audience contained the same faces including the "artist maker" Wilfred Bramble look a like (left) who raised questions and made "artistic statements" time and time again. The architectural intelligentsia were sitting on the comfy chairs over to the right of the room including the el co Creator of alternative Belfast Mark Hackket. When the 4 intelligentsia guys started talking Wilfred started shouting back. Got a bit awkward a couple of times especially when the Nazi party and trade unions were mentioned a few times.

It was a good talk and interesting perspectives talked about on how people use the city and who owns it and how it can be used to its potential.

The talk went on a bit longer than I expected and I missed the first few people of the Pecha Kucha night. The first was the Bearded and moustached cladded duo Chris and Nik who talked about their website among other obsessions. The most 'chillaxed' talk was by Rob Durston and his Californian photographs. The best by far was Paul May's talk who took the stage like a comedian rather than a designer and got the biggest applause. Another favorite was Jamie Neely who didn't show any work either but gave a less serious Mr Keating (Dead Poets Society)esque speech about seizing the day.

The moral of the Pecha Kucha night is that it is better to be funny than show any real work!

The next Pecha Kucha night is in September See you then.

"Out of Place" on Castle Lane: Review

I was at the "Out of Place" launch on Castle Lane, Belfast. Dan Thompson who was one of the first to start the Empty Shops Network in England talked about how important it is for empty buildings to be taken over and used by creative people. His English accent, tweed jacket and large glasses reminded me of the Wayne Hemingway (a Uni of Ulster favorite).

It was exciting to here Dan speak on something which seems complicated and hard to undertake but it is probably his job to make it seem that way! Launchers of the event were bosom buddies Sammy Wilson and Lord Mayor Pat Convery. They both spoke of how using empty shops and buildings can help bring back the city to life. It would be good to hear of unused building being taken over by artists etc. A friend in Germany said this is normal practice particularly in areas that used to be East Germany. It is good to see Belfast is stepping up there game.

I remember a few years ago writing to a property owner about using there unused building for an art project but nothing ever came of it. Bad Times.

The food served after was really good with it being supplied by Bagelbagel. Good Times.

Late Night Art: review

Last Thursday was the late night art in Belfast. It was set be a good night, meeting up with friends to get to as many galleries as possible. First stop was the Naughton Gallery where I had a quick walk round Gary Shaws's work. The paintings are like magic eye pictures. Trippy. Then headed for the Omeau Baths Gallery where I waited for about 5mins until someone told me they weren't open that night. Bad times!

Luck seemed to change when we went round to SpaceCraft on Fountain Street. It was packed to the door and showed some great work from some 2nd year fine and applied students. There was a textile piece with some religious themes such as 'Babes of the Bible'. It was Funny. Saw some friends then headed to the next destination the Ps2 gallery. Was there for about 20mins drawing a plant-it was judged by a 10 year old kid and passed so I got to keep the plant I just drew. Nice present for some unlucky person. Me and mates were walking with 3 plants between us heading towards the Golden thread gallery getting weird looks by passers by. We arrived way too late and got only the last few crisps. The video installation by MacWilliam exploring the Life of a pencil (Bottom Image) and John Erickson photo montages Jema.us are a must see. We all went home with are heads filled with art and are hands each holding a potted plant. With one of the flowers getting eaten on the way home. You know who you are! I hid my plant in a brown paper bag when I entered the house as not to get a slagging from my flat mates.

It was a fun, see you at the next late night art. I should have some more calling cards next time.

Late Night Art Tonight

Late night art tonight in Belfast! Haven't been in a few months so it should be good fun. Looking forward to the PS2's 'plant drawings' I have seen the guy constructing the work this week and its good to see its finally finished. Golden Thread Gallery has an exhibition called 'Venice @ the Golden Thread' with some video and photography. Catalyst has a retrospective which will be interesting. If its anything like the last opening with the Police being called -will be an interesting finale. Hope you all have fun tonight. I hope to get a few of the highlights put up on the blog over the weekend. See you there!

Image from PS2

Star Slime on Black Mountain

I first came across star slime when I was getting a talk from a warden from the Council who worked at Black mountain. Star Slime is a white gooey jelly substance found in the countryside. It was tested in Queens and was found to be neither plant nor animal. I heard its a delcasy in Japan this might be just a urban myth. Ever since I heard of star slime I have asked different experts who might have heard of it. Know I asked could give me any information. I found these interesting links which gives some possible answers to this puzzle BBC Nature&Outdoors and BBC Scotland . Here is a new report on it http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/outdoors/articles/jelly/

Nazi Berlin in Donegal Street

I Was walking to the Uni of Ulster through Donegal Street yesterday and thought I had walked into Nazi Germany. There was a large Nazi poster and German street signs all put up in the space of 24hours. It looked impressive. If a real City could be transformed this easily it would be class. Guerrilla City.