Monday 8 December 2008

Compilation


arjeea21's latest exhibition opens on Friday 12 December, 6.30 - 8.30pm at Gallery 10, 10 Gun Street, Reading RG1 2JR. It continues until Sunday 28 Dec, Tues - Sun 11am - 6pm (closed on Christmas Day).

Artists showing this time are Penny Adamson, Jean Aust, Lesley Brown, Nikk Brown, Gill Goodwin, Ingrid Jensen, Ellen Jewell, Jerry+Helen Lunn, Bithja Moor, Joy Needham, Julia Rogers, Hazel Strange, Marie Sudwell, Roxana Tohaneanu Shields, and Neile Wright.

arjeea21 meets monthly at the Jelly (in Reading Town Hall) to talk about work that artists bring in, and to plan exhibitions and gallery visits. For dates please see the website. The ethos is to encourage development of each artist's practice though supportive and constructive discussion. New members are welcome to come along and join in. The focus is on contemporary art.

arjeea21 is supported by Suzanne Stallard of the Jelly who provides meeting space, by Greg Muden and Danny Fraifeld of the Purple Turtle who provide exhibition space, and by Zoe Funge-Smith of Rogues Gallery who administers Gallery 10 with Suzanne.

www.arjeea21.com

Monday 1 December 2008

Review by Roxana Tohaneanu-Shields: On Our Watch

ON OUR WATCH
by Roxana Tohaneanu-Shields

One of the small cultural tragedies of Reading happened a few years ago: a very important contemporary art space for local artists, Jelly Leg’d Chicken Gallery closed. Recently though an extraordinary place has been available for local artists to set up art exhibitions. It is called Gallery 10 and is right in the middle of town, on Gun Street near the Purple Turtle overlooking the Minster Graveyard. I went last week to the private view of an unusual exhibition entitled On Our Watch. There are two local artists exhibiting Jo Thomas and Alex Buhagiar. I know both of them and their work from previous artistic encounters.
I think there are two kinds of artists: some very active who exhibit regularly, pumping blood into the artistic arteries of the town and others who are seen rarely while their creativity is hidden and protected. Jo Thomas and Alex Buhagiar are the first type of artists. Their work is not only about themselves but about everyone else. In their work there is a communal dedication and a love for physical places that is impressive. How many people do you know that are interested in creating art as a gift to you? The ‘On Our Watch’ exhibition is about us and our environment. Full Review in Comments ..

Thursday 27 November 2008

Landscape Returned and Reconsidered


- Celebrating over 35 Years of Printmaking at South Hill Park -


This exhibition brings together new work by past print residents including
Rebecca (Bex) Burchell, Janet Curley Cannon, Jan Gaska, Carole Thompson, Tina Seabrook-Harris and Heather Young. While questioning the traditional representation of landscape, the artists explore and challenge the definition while also reconsidering the relationship between landscape and urban representation.

Opening reception Sat 29 Nov, 1pm to 3pm


South Hill Park Arts Centre -
Atrium and Mirror Gallery
Ringmead, Bracknell
www.southillpark.org.uk
Monday to Saturday 9am to 11pm
Sunday and Bank Holidays 11am to 10:30pm

Sunday 23 November 2008

Saturday 22 November 2008


REVEAL - A Christmas showcase of handmade craft 23-29 November 2008.

An invite for anyone who is interested in craft, Reveal is taking place in Henley on Thames, OXON. reveal showcase

Reveal will bring together the work of 21 makers from around Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Work will include Ceramics, Photography, Glass, Jewellery, Textiles and lots more. A preview of the work and links to the makers websites can be seen here

It's taking place from 23rd – 29th November in the Henley Exhibition Centre, Upper Market Place (behind the Town Hall), Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2AQ.

The show is open from 10am -8pm Thursday and Friday and closes at 5pm every other day. It is free admission and all work on show is for sale and most items can be taken away on the day of purchase.

Please come and visit any time throughout the week.

Related links:
reveal showcase 23-29 November 2008 Henley on Thames
Lauren Denney
Lauren Denney on Etsy
Lauren's blog

Tuesday 18 November 2008

RGA at Castle Hill Gallery


Reading Guild of Artists at Castle Hill Gallery

Eric Stanford, Belinda Fitzwilliams, David Fletcher and Gordana Naslas

Sculpture, paintings, prints and drawings
21 November 2008 -
5 Jan 2009 (closed 2pm 24 Dec - 1 Jan)
Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 4pm.

Please come and meet the artists on Thursday 20 November 6-8pm

Castle Hill Gallery, 122a Castle Hill, Reading RG1 7RJ.
www.castlehillgallery.com 0118 957 3561
www.rga-artists.org.uk


image: Requiem by Eric Stanford

Friday 14 November 2008

On Our Watch 22 Nov - 7 Dec


Gallery 10 overlooks the Minster graveyard. Jo Thomas and Alex Buhagiar present work inspired by observing this green space.

Visitors are invited to browse or leave their own mark on the gallery, by participating in the interactive pieces and making their own contributions to the show. Video, photography, sound, and mixed media feature in this exhibition, as do local environmental groups.

Opening Event:
Sat 22nd Nov 1 - 3 pm

Discussion Event:
Sun 30th Nov starts 2.30pm

Monday 10 November 2008


Felicity Ford is doing a practise-based doctorate on The domestic soundscape and presenting everyday sounds to audiences.
Her research involves developing and experimenting with creative ways of showcasing everyday sounds. The latest example of such work is The Fantastical Reality Radio Show, a commission fulfilled in Summer 2008 for Radio Reverb and The Sonic Arts Network.

Celebrating everyday sounds within the context of a conventional radio show format, the radio show was made in collaboration with Kayla Bell and Claudia Figueiredo of Mundane Appreciation and involves much speculation on such topics as washing up, the methodology for making the perfect cup of tea and
other everyday topics.

To help with her research and to learn about how some of the ideas of the radio show translate to an audience, Felicity Ford is hosting a feedback afternoon at Oxford Brookes University on Thursday 13th November and would deeply appreciate the input of anyone who has listened to, or who is interested in, the show. It is hoped that the event will be a useful experience for other artists working with everyday sounds and anyone who is interested in the idea of how audiences experience work.

To participate you will need to come to Oxford Brookes University on Thursday 13th November and bring a portable mp3 player/ipod/CD walkman with headphones.

The timetable for the event is like this:

1:00 - 1:20pm brief introduction of the project, by Felicity
1:20- 1:50pm tea and coffee, plus opportunity for everyone to take copies of the show onto individual music players (you will need around 50MBfree space)
1:50 - 3:00pm listening time... just take a walk, listen to the show, note your responses...
3:00 - 4:00pm open feedback forum just on the theme of Your experience of Fantastical Reality Radio Show

Hopefully this will provide an afternoon's interest and provide some further thoughts on how, generally, to get feedback on art work as well as providing unique insights into the Fantastical Reality Radio Show.

The address for the feedback afternoon is:

Room: RHB115
>> > Richard Hamilton Building, Oxford Brookes University,
>> > Headington Hill Campus, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
>> > Tel: +44 (0)1865 484959
>> > Fax: +44 (0)1865 484952

Please telephone or email Felicity (078 3513 6201/felixbadanimal@hotmail.com) to confirm whether or not you will be coming.

If you want to download all 5 shows in their entirety and check out the whole project first, you can see everything at:

http://www.fantasticalreality.com/home.html

Saturday 8 November 2008

Artists Talk


ReOrsa Artists Project No. 3
43A Peach Street, Wokingham


This Friday evening, 14 Nov from 6 to 7 PM the artists will be giving a free talk, open to the public, about their work and the opportunities for artists in Berkshire. The discussion will be led by Crowthorne/Bracknell artist and ReOrsa Co-founder Janet Curley Cannon who will be talking with Crowthorne artist Carol Coates about her paintings from a body of work based on her family background in Catholicism; Ascot artist Hildegunn Gravdal about her captivating 'Jelly Babies' that are lined up on the window ledges in the space; and Reading artist Sarah Britten-Jones about her puzzling hanging piece created specifically for this project. There will be time for questions from the audience and a chance to have a look around at the work of all 15 artists involved in this project before it closes the next day. The project space will have extended opening hours on Friday, open from 11 AM through to the close of the talk at 7 PM.

Please come along and help support an active artists community in Berkshire!

Image copyright C Coates; more info at www.reorsa.org


Friday 7 November 2008

Arts Council England South East

Arts Council England, South East have just released their south east regional plan entitled Great art for everyone
published 5th Nov 2008

Below is an excerpt from their website:

Arts Council England, South East has published its regional plan, Great art for everyone, which describes how we will fulfil our mission of great art for everyone.

Our plan is the articulation of the journey that we, at Arts Council England, South East, want to lead the arts sector on during the next three years.

We will invest more than £80 million into the arts in the south east, and support artists and arts organisations to touch the lives of many millions of people through the arts.

Our plan is about how we will support and develop an even more robust and vibrant arts community here in the south east by advocating for and promoting the value of the arts in all of our lives, seeking out partnerships and brokering relationships to maximise resources.

Nationally, we will all be working hard to develop key areas of our work: taking advantage of the opportunities digital technology presents to us and to the artists and arts organisations we support; supporting children and young people to enjoy and benefit from the arts and creativity; and taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the Olympic and Paralympic Games to showcase British culture.

In addition to these development priorities, in the south east we will be focusing on the following four areas:


* Supporting Deaf and disabled artists - in particular to develop their leadership skills; raise their profile and widen their influence; and increase their creative output. We will also encourage and promote debate about best practice regionally, nationally and internationally among deaf and disabled artists.

* Building a stronger visual arts - as part of Turning Point - our 10-year strategy launched in 2006, prioritising investment and resources to strengthen the contemporary visual arts infrastructure

* Arts outdoors - prioritising this area of work because it engages people in their everyday environments, seeking out an audience and making them feel differently about where they live

* Increasing engagement in priority places - in particular in Ashford & East Kent; Milton Keynes South Midlands; Partnership for Urban South Hampshire; and Thames Gateway North Kent.



click here to download a copy

Thursday 6 November 2008

RBH 13


Reading Guild of Artists at the Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road, Reading RG1 5AN.
Level 2 Corridors. Exhibition and sale of work.
16 Sept - 10 Dec 2008
Open 8am - 8pm
www.rga-artists.org.uk
Image: Check Mate by Rita Howe

Sunday 2 November 2008

What are we made of? Wed 19th November, 6-9pm

What are we made of?
Exploring the relationship between creativity and place in Berkshire.

Wednesday 19th November, 6-9pm
The Town Hall , Reading

Guest Speaker:
Richard Wentworth

Berkshire Voices:
Keira Martin
Steve Rock
Jo Thomas

Chair:
Louise O'Reilly


Tickets Free but must be reserved in advance..

Reading Arts Box Office on 0118 960 60 60 or at www.readingarts.com

Berkshire Arts:Local Authority Partners invite you to an evening exploring the relationship between creativity and place in Berkshire.




Julia Rogers

Friday 31 October 2008

ARC event:

Portrait of a Project: Jon Lockhart & Invited Guest Artists

THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER, WATTS ROOM, 5.30PM - 7.30PM

South Hill Park
Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7PA, Tel: 01344 416240

Come and meet Jon and other artists taking part in the project. You will have a chance to ask a wide range of questions from the conceptual framework of the project to issues relating to funding and collaboration.

The event is free, but booking is recommended. Bookings at: exhibitions.intern@southhillpark.org.uk

Project

When objects are presented within a gallery context they are constantly re-interpreted, their meaning and their function rarely remain a static finality. These objects are seen in relation to when and why they were produced but they are also allowed to resonate and to evolve within the space that they are being viewed.

This phenomenon of perpetual object attractiveness exists within mass produced objects and operating systems both during and after their functional existence; but there is a gap between the lucky objects that live on and the ones that disappear from our emotional and physical radar.

This disparity has led Lockhart to consider the interrelatedness between the use of products and the educational, spiritual, sociological and cultural elements that form an end users response and attraction to these products. Working alongside a group of ceramicists, Lockhart explores the idea of unique, hand made objects versus mass production.


Brief Biog


Jon Lockhart’s work is predominantly based within mixed media installation, using made and found objects ranging from slip cast ceramic objects to computer cut materials through to Hammond organs and pop corn making machines. The drive implicit to all of the work is the pursuit of a commonality of experience through the manipulation, handling and consumption of objects.

Thursday 23 October 2008

ReOrsa Artists Project No. 3


If you didn't get a chance to make it to the recent Bracknell project, we're back with a smaller but perfectly formed group in another vacant shop space, but this time Wokingham! And if you did visit the Bracknell project, this is new work from some of the same artists, as well as work from a few new faces.

The artists have responded to the small space in varying and interesting ways, so hope you can make it to the Private View on Tuesday the 4th of Nov, 6 - 8 PM or at some point over the 8 days we're open from the 5th to 15th Nov, 11am to 5pm.


More information on the web site at www.reorsa.org

Sunday 19 October 2008

Reading Experimental Film Festival



Reading Experimental Film Festival.
Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street, Reading.

A chance to see an eclectic range of experimental film works from established and emerging artists. Not to be missed is
John Smith's 1976 classic: 'The Girl Chewing Gum'; Jordan Baseman's 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough', courtesy of Matt's Gallery,
London; Tina Keane's 'Ghost Train' and Jacob Cartwight & Nick Jordan's most recent film, 'New Madrid'.

Other films included in the screening programmes by: Katy Beinart & Steven Eastwood & Mia Taylor / Alex Buhagiar / Tessa Garland / Lee Hassall / Ruth Hatch /
Matt Hulse / Philip Newcombe / Alex Pearl / Erica Scourti / Pauline Thomas / Vicky Vergou.

The Audible Picture Show, curated by Matt Hulse and made specifically for the Reading Experimental Film Festival is not to be missed. A highly
innovative programme of short audio works created specially for darkened cinemas. (Visit: audible picture show for more info).

Also a rare chance to see a selection of works in a special programme, by the young French Filmmaker Jean-Gabriel Periot:
Jean-Gabriel Periot became an experimental filmmaker almost by accident, and since 2000, has been invited to show his work at major festivals across the world. He has won the Grand Prix at Tampere International Film Festival, Cork International Film Festival, Pris de Court in Paris. His films have also won major awards at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, L'Alternativa in Barcelona, Japan Media Art in Tokyo and Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival. He was also recently involved in a group show 'Paranoia' at the Freud Museum, London with Jeremy Deller, Doug Fishbone and others.

Gavin Lombos (bloco electro) will be performing live to the 1972 classic, 'La Cabina'. Gavin has responded to this challenge by producing an original score, for the event. Also performing to the Rod Steiger classic 'The Pawnbroker', will be The Pawnbroker (Pete Brookes and Ben Sandiford).

Mark Langley and Mike Taylor have produced installations that take into consideration the difficult architecture and the idea of communal space that the Rising Sun is known for.

The cost is £4.50 (all weekend). Come on down!

FOR A FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AND TIMES, PLEASE VISIT: catchlight

Sunday 12 October 2008

The Big Draw in Saint Laurence

Come and join in The Big Draw with Reading Guild of Artists in Saint Laurence Church, Blagrave Street, Reading RG1 1QH. Saturday 18 October 2008, 10.30am - 3pm. Drop in any time, all ages, all ages, all materials provided. No previous experience needed, but of course experienced artists are also very welcome. The event is non-religious, and visitors of all faiths and philosophies are welcome. Everyone can draw!


Saint Laurence was built in 1120 and extended in 1196. Changes during the centuries culminated in a recent spectacular modernisation which provides a fascinating blend of ancient and modern, and a wealth of colour, form, texture and text to be explored in drawings and rubbings. The history of Saint Laurence is closely tied to the history of Reading.

More information at http://www.rga-artists.org.uk/BigDraw08.htm
and www.campaignfordrawing.org
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/28725410@N08/sets/72157607626834642/

Wednesday 8 October 2008


You are invited to come and join us for the preview of Human Magpies a celebration of arts in health on Friday 10th October 2008 6 - 8.30pm, at Gallery 10 10 Gun Street, Reading, RG1 2JR
Exhibition 11th October - 26th October Open Tue - Sun 11am - 6pm

We are a gathering of human magpies who collect images, colours, thoughts, emotions, memories and the odd sparkling object that inspires.

Our exhibition is a celebration of arts in mental health and how important the arts are as an integral part of our healing.

Most of our artists work from art junction, a gathering space for artists and creative people whose lives have been disrupted by mental health issues.

The Art Junction group is supported by Together @ Resource. Together is a leading national charity working for wellbeing: that helps people with mental health needs to get what they want from life.

We would love to see you at the preview on the 10 th October 2008 6 - 8.30pm
For more info Together @ Resource 0118 9580722
e-mail readingresource@together-uk.org

Friday 26 September 2008

Sound:Space







image courtesy of Dawn Scarfe










The Georgian mansion of South Hill Park in Bracknell hosts the Sound:Space sound art symposium on Saturday 1st November 2008, bringing a packed programme of artist talks, installations and performance to the South East.

The "Kinetic Drawings" installation by innovative sound artist and kinetic sculptor, Max Eastley acts as the centre piece for this year's event, with a collection of Eastley's delicate, kinetic sound machines occupying our main exhibition space in the Bracknell Gallery, with selected complimentary exhibitions around the Mansion building.

The wood paneled, former library in the South Hill Park mansion is the venue for artist presentations during the day, including Max Eastley, Ray Lee and Norwegian sound artist, Jana Winderen.

Ray Lee’s massed whirling tripods have typically been seen in abandoned aircraft hangers, but he is currently touring the Siren” installation around the world, including the recent appearance at London’s Royal Opera House.

Special guest from Norway this year, Jana Winderen explores composition with recordings of the natural world – remote lighthouses, Norwegian glaciers and shoals of cod in the Barents Sea being some of her recent source material.

Touch’s Mike Harding explores the details of artistic motivation and practice during the “Tipping Point” discussion panel with Peter Cusack, Jana Winderen and Sight Sonic Founder, Tony Myatt.

The sounds of sunrise in Madagascar, night time insects in the Kalahari desert and the African savanna feature in the programme of the 60 seat Cinema, with three surround-sound installation recordings by Chris Watson. Alongside this, the curated reel of fourteen A/V works submitted for our international “Sound:Space – Screen” overview, includes a 3D video piece and works from USA, Taiwan, Switzerland, Finland and UK.

Closing the day will be a live performance by Max Eastley and Peter Cusack.

Discounted accomodation is available with a local hotel, and details of this, plus travel directions and full programme information can be found on the web at www.sound-space.info

South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, Berks RG12 7PA Box Office, tel: 01344 484123 Web: www.southhillpark.org.uk.

Further Information:
Martin Franklin tel:01344 416261 e: martin@digitalmediacentre.org

Wednesday 24 September 2008

Council Cabinet Meeting

Hello All

This coming Monday is a Council Cabinet Meeting, full details of topics to be discussed here

Paper report for the festival

Monday 29th September at 630pm in the Kennet Room in the Civic Office, this is a public meeting

Thursday 18 September 2008

Gene Pool Digital Media Podcast 24th Sep 8pm from ReOrsa

The ongoing digital arts meeting and it's associated talk-radio format podcast show continues...
.. speaking to the project organisers and some of the exhibiting artists from ReOrsa Artist Space in Charles Square, Bracknell and making a live recording for the podcast. You can sit in, ask questions and participate, only it's all recorded! ReOrsa includes several Reading based artists.

More info: http://www.reorsa.org and previous posting

And more information http://www.digitalmediacentre.org/podcast.html

You can also download last months podcast - Suzanne Stallard and Zoe Hatch - Curator Special on independent galleries.

The Modern Factory



Opens Friday 19th September from 6pm and continues to 4th October

at Gallery 10, Gun St, Reading. Open daily - 11am - 6pm tues - sat.

A wide range of work from many of the artists, photographers, makers and designers that work at Thames Valley University.


The Modern Factory is
sponsored by Danny Fraifeld, Greg Muden and TVU.

Wednesday 3 September 2008

Arts Forum Meeting, Tuesday 9th September 2008


NOTICE OF MEETING – ARTS FORUM – TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2008

A meeting of the Arts Forum will be held on Tuesday 9 September 2008 at 7.00pm in Kennet
Room at Civic Centre, Reading.

FULL TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ARTS FORUM

(1) To act as an advisory, consultative and co-ordinating body on behalf of
the Borough Council and other organisations in the town, including
voluntary groups, in relation to the arts;

(2) To promote and develop arts and crafts in Reading, including community
arts initiatives, through the involvement and cooperation of the Borough
Council and local groups and organisations;

(3) To encourage participation in arts-related activities and to promote the
provision and maximum use of facilities;

(4) To support educational opportunities in the development of arts and
crafts in Reading.

see you there!

Tuesday 2 September 2008

ReOrsa Artists Project No. 2


Hope you can make it to the biggest art event to ever hit Bracknell town centre, - 10 windows, 2 exhibition spaces, 23 artists - many from the Hang-On group.

Please come and join us for the Private View from 5 to 8 PM on the 16th of September at 4 & 24 Charles Square, and come back to take the 'Art Walk' and see the work in the exhibition spaces Wednesdays to Saturdays 17 - 20 & 24 - 27 Sept 11AM to 6PM.

If you want to know more visit the web site at www.reorsa.org

Monday 1 September 2008

arjeea21

Meeting, Thur 4 Sept 7.30pm Gallery 10, 10 Gun St, RG1 2JR www.arjeea21.com

Monday 25 August 2008

CALL FOR FILMMAKERS / ARTISTS
Reading Experimental Film Festival...

01-02 November 2008 at The Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading.

2 days of challenging films and installations is coming to town!
If you are interested in submitting your short film to be involved in the
event, then send a DVD copy (or VHS) or 16mm print to :
PN
31 Alpine Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 2PY

ALL GENRES WELCOME

Deadline: Friday 19th September

If you can imagine Bruce Connor, Stan Brakhage, Maya Deren, John Smith, Oliver Payne and Nick Relph, Andy Warhol, Tina Keane, Derek Jarman, Tacita Dean, Alain Resnais and Patrick Keiller all arguing over the bill for the curry then this is for you!

Sunday 24 August 2008

Cake

A Slice of Contemporary Art showing at Gallery 10, 10 Gun Street, from Friday the 29th August until the 14th September 2008.



Cake is a show of selected artists from Reading and the surrounding areas, giving the viewer a taste of the upcoming talent that sits on our doorstep.








The Private View will be from 6.30pm on Friday the 29th August.

A perfect opportunity to meet the artists, view the work and have a glass of wine, accompanied by live music.

Selected artists:

Carla Wright produces drawings which focus on the relationship between the physical structure of architecture and the sense of place within. In these recent works churches and community buildings are meticulously re-created tile-by-tile and brick-by-brick, reminiscent of technical drawings but without the mathematical perfection of blueprints, reflecting the reality of short-life housing construction.

Zoe Anne Lakeman is a Bristol based illustrator who has recently graduated from the University of West of England. Inspired by the fluidity of fashion illustration and the bold colours displayed, she is interested in capturing vivid emotions and movement through minimal line.
.
Ruth O’Grady works in a range of media, predominantly Printmaking. She investigates borders and tensions between preconceived knowledge or belief and the accepted “truth” of rational thought. Her work centres on ideas of time, memory, exploration/discovery and the categorisation of artefacts.

Martha Spearpoint’s work, focuses on movement and the precarious balance of forces within a static form. Martha creates tactile pieces that exploit the expressive qualities of clay.
Andrew Sargant’s work (left) is a fusion between the handmade craft element of traditional ceramics and the aesthetic of contemporary sculptural practice. The results are sleek, highly polished pieces of table top ceramic sculpture.

Ian Mitchell is an artist who enjoys twisting the way we perceive western culture through contemporary eastern influences. Manga, Pop Art and Eastern Cinema have inspired him to create a visual language which both plays with our perceptions and disturbs them.

Gavin Larcombe fuses a super-realist aesthetic with sculpture to make work, which occupies the 2D and 3D world around us, thus creating work which, not only documents, but interacts with the viewer as they move around the space.

Paul Banks is an artist who enjoys communicating, with humour, through a varied use of media. He creates Magazines and Digital Works that deliver narratives commenting on the world he sees around him.

Alice Wilkins creates work based around presumption and expectation. We often treat the ‘everyday’ as a constant which cannot be transgressed. She addresses this issue by creating work quantified from her own life to represent how myriad choices we make daily shape our lives into completely individual experiences.

For more details regarding Cake, please contact Ian Mitchell at ianmydear8[at]yahoo.co.uk.


Cake is sponsored by Danny Fraifeld, Greg Muden and Steve Tait.

Monday 11 August 2008


After the success of the Reveal show in July, Lauren Denney is putting together another exhibition in The Henley Exhibition Centre in November.

If you are interested in taking part please email Lauren with some photos of you work to exhibitions@laurendenney.com.


Sunday 10 August 2008

WHAT ARE WE MADE OF?

Explore creativity and place in Berkshire
Guest Speaker, Richard Wentworth
Wednesday 19 November 2008, Reading Town Hall, 6 – 9 pm

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR BERKSHIRE SPEAKERS

What are we made of? is a new cultural event profiling the importance of creative practice in and for Berkshire. The 2008 event considers the relationship between creativity and place and is organised by arts consultant Louise O’Reilly(www.lorva.co.uk) on behalf of the Berkshire Local Authority Arts Partnership with guest speaker Richard Wentworth (www.lissongallery.com) We are seeking nominations for Berkshire voices to join Richard and make short presentations about what they (and Berkshire) are made of.

Richard says, “as part of our ambition to unearth all sorts of unseen activities across the county of Berkshire we thought it would be a good if it had some element of the chain letter where people could ‘put us on to someone else’. We would like people to nominate other people whose artistic and creative activity they find interesting. The area can be as broad as you like, across all media, self-taught, educated, but most importantly it should be energetic and vivacious. It can be intensely collaborative, extremely private, pursued out of simple curiosity, or commercial imperative. Like all digging the most important thing is not to worry what you might unearth bur rather enjoy the sheer variety of things that can be discovered.” Richard Wentworth

Please see the attached flyer & nomination form for further details or contact Louise at louise@lorva.co.uk or www.lorva.co.uk. . The deadline for nominations is 5.00 pm on Monday 8 September.

Tuesday 5 August 2008

13 Fathoms - opens 15th August

Artists working in response to text at the Turbine House, Blake's Lock, Reading.
Continues until 24th August.










Julia Rogers (above)

Jessie Brennan (below)













Encore WST



Encore WST



The Whiteknight Studio Trail – a community of local artists will be exhibiting their work from 9th August to 24th August 2008



Following the success of the annual Whiteknights Studio Trail, which offers members of the public the unique opportunity to view the work of over 30 contributing artists within their own homes, organisers have decided to present a selection of their work at Gallery 10, 10 Gun Street, Reading RG1 2JR.
Curators Trudie Middleton and Daniel Dunne are extremely excited by this upcoming show, as the recent studio trail attracted over 500 visitors. They believe that the "Encore" exhibition will help attract a wider audience to Reading's flourishing art scene.
This two week long exhibition will feature a diverse range of fine art, textiles, sculpture, photography, ceramics and crafts. The exhibition's preview night is Friday 8th August 6.30 – 9pm and will feature an intimate set from drum and bass fuelled jazz outfit The Om Corporation. It will also present the opportunity for the public to meet the artists and discuss their work.
Many thanks to Danny Fraifield, Greg Muden, Steve Tait for sponsorship and Zoe (Rogues Gallery) and Suzanne (Jelly Gallery) for their support.
For More Information
Visit www.studiotrail.co.uk

www.myspace.com/encorewst

email: encorewst@live.co.uk



Exhibition curators: Daniel Dunne and Trudie Middleton

braziers international artists workshops 2008


braziers international artists workshops 2008
3-19 August 2008
Braziers Park Open Day 2008
Sunday 17 August, 3 - 7 pm
07970 224474/07956 876547 or 01491 680221

Braziers International Artists Workshop (BIAW) is an artist-led initiative set up in 1995 to introduce visual artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to each other, and to different means of production and practice. This year in a return to the workshop’s origins and in parallel, as a small tribute to the permanent Community that resides at Braziers Park, the emphasis will be on seeking creative solutions through collaboration and exchange.

BIAW provides a forum for dialogue between artists from many nationalities in an environment that enables them to engage in extraordinary discourse and high quality art making; becoming a valuable focal point in an artist’s development and generating numerous future opportunities.

Participating Artists
Edwina Ashton: UK; Jonathan Baldock: UK; Katy Beinart: UK; Hang Feng Chen: China; Sunoj Damodaran: India; Julia Defferary: UK; Steven Eastwood: UK; Ghalib El-Khaldi: Jordan; Evgenia Golant: Russia; Uraline Hager: U.S.A.; Ellie Harrison: UK; Isabelle Krieg: Switzerland; Olawole Lagunju: Nigeria; Yingyu Na: China; Barak Reiser: Germany; Chris Schiavo: U.S.A; Mia Taylor: UK; Pauline Thomas: UK;

Co-ordinating Artists: Anna Boggon, Nicola Gray, Keran James, Jordan McKenzie, Bernadette Moloney.


Wednesday 30 July 2008

Having your say - Reading's Cultural Strategy


Yesterday Reading Borough Council hosted a discussion to encourage feedback from stakeholders (that is us) to enable the development of their future Cultural Strategy

Please visit the link to have your say

This would be a good topic to debate here, so please feel free to leave your comments on this blog too so we can all continue to discuss, debate and potentially find new ways of working.

Image from Reading resident on the walk
Ambulatiuncula, 2006-2007

Ambulatiuncula *a little walk* or *place to walk* , an Artists in the City sound project at the Forbury Gardens Reading.Seven contemporary artists and musicians were invited to make sound works in response to aspects of the Gardens and the Ruins.
artists in the city

Wednesday 23 July 2008

Summer Surprise

for those of us who write as well make and generate ideas

Are you free on Saturday the 30th of August? Would you like to spend the day in beautiful surroundings with like-minded people, talking about writing and wandering the grounds and writing and eating good food?

If so you might be interested in giving yourself the gift of a day at The Abbey (near Oxford) at Finding Words: Developing your Writing Practice, facilitated by Fiona Robyn. It will be suitable both for experienced writers and for complete beginners, but a love of words is a course requirement!

Find out more here (go to www.plantingwords.com if the link doesn't work) and do feel free to get in touch (fiona@fionarobyn.com) if you have any questions. Places will be strictly limited to 10 people. Course runs from 10 am til 5pm and costs £65 including lunch and tea and coffee and nice biscuits.

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www.fionarobyn.com
www.asmallstone.com

Poetry in the garden

Poetry in the garden
A Two Rivers Press poetry reading at the Museum of English Rural Life

A summer’s evening in the MERL garden, Wednesday 30th July 6.30-8.00pm

• Listen to readings from
Two Rivers Press poets
• Explore materials from the
Two Rivers Press and
the Publisher’s archives in the
UMASCS Reading Room
• Enjoy a glass of wine and look around the museum and garden

Free entry but booking essential

www.reading.ac.uk/merl

To book a place
Contact MERL
0118 378 8660
merlevents@reading.ac.uk

Tuesday 22 July 2008

'gone and done'



'Gone and Done'
25th July - 3rd August
Gallery 10, 10 Gun Street

A turnAROUND show including works by Julia Rogers, Electra Colios, Viv Ackerman, Ana Cairns, Sarah Heppner and Nick GarNett.

Entry is free
Private view Friday 25th July 6-8pm
Open Tues-Sun 11am – 6pm.

Monday 21 July 2008

Have your say



This is an opportunity to have your say in the future of Reading's culture.

The event runs from 12.30pm on Tuesday 29 July at Reading Town Hall and finishes at 4.45pm.

RSVP to 07885 621020 or helen.lesowiec@reading.gov.uk

After the event, carry on the discussion at Picnic for a quick hang-on if you are not all talked out

Friday 18 July 2008

A Turn AROUND show


For one night only......

Sunday 6 July 2008

ReOrsa Artists Project No. 2

This September Bracknell town centre will once again be hosting the activities of the ReOrsa artists, an artist-led initiative to support and promote professional practising visual artists living in the Thames Valley. Bracknell Regeneration Partnership will be providing the temporary use of several vacant shop windows for an 'Art Walk' (window installations) through the town centre and one vacant shop space for a large group exhibition (all visual art forms). Further information about ReOrsa and last year's project can be found by visiting http://www.reorsa.org

If you are a Thames Valley artist and want to apply to join ReOrsa and possibly be involved in this project, send an email to reorsa@gmail.com before 20 July for an application and project info. Application deadline for submissions of interest for Project No. 2 is 31 July 2008.

Thursday 3 July 2008

Freelancers' survey

Creative & Cultural Skills, the sector skills council for the creative and cultural industries, would like to know what kinds of skills you think are relevant to make it as a successful freelancer.

To help them do this, Creative People (www.creativepeople.org.uk) is asking you as to whether you could help them by completing a short survey about what skills, activities and knowledge are important for freelancers to work effectively in your sector.

The survey should only take around fifteen minutes to complete and can be found at http://www.ccskills-nos.org.uk/freelance.html By completing these questions you will be helping Creative & Cultural Skills to write a series of professional standards which will in turn help freelancers, employers and clients understand the skills that are needed to work freelance.

Creative & Cultural Skills is the sector skills council for the creative and cultural industries which campaigns on behalf of advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, literature, music, performing and visual arts. It acts as a link between industry, government and education. The qualifications team at Creative & Cultural Skills work on curriculum reform through various projects including writing National Occupational Standards (NOS) like these. If you would like more information about the work that they do please contact them directly or visit: http://www.ccskills.org.uk/

Tuesday 24 June 2008

Allotment


arjeea21 is a new contemporary art group in Reading. It provides a supportive critical forum in which artists can discuss and exhibit work that is developing in new ways or exploring current issues. Allotment is arjeea21's first exhibition.

It reflects a diverse patch of ideas and practical manifestations by artists whose work is growing and being actively cultivated.

Jean Aust, Belinda Fitzwilliams, Gill Goodwin, Elizabeth Heydeman, Ingrid Jensen, Helen Lunn, Karen Malik, Chris Mercier, Chris Quintrell, Roger Smalley, Hazel Strange, Roxana Tohaneanu-Shields and Janet Walton are showing work this time.

Informal meetings are held once a month for discussion and planning. Work either finished or in-progress, may be brought along for feedback. New members are welcome.

arjeea21

The exhibition will be open from 26 June - 13 July, 11am - 6pm daily.

Sponsored by Danny Fraifeld and Greg Muden of The Purple Turtle

Tuesday 17 June 2008

BA Fine Art Degree Show 2008, Thames Valley University


Thames Valley University BA Fine Art students will be celebrating their final year with an exhibition to demonstrate their creativity, imagination and achievements, showing the diverse range of interdisciplinary art practices learnt over three years of creative development. There will be a public opening on the 24th June at 6.00pm and the exhibition will then remain open from the 25th - 27th June between 11.00am to 2.00pm. This unique opportunity to view the work of these new talented artists will be held at;

TVU
Crescent Road Campus
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5RQ

The exhibition is located in the detached building with the purple door

Saturday 14 June 2008

Reveal - A showcase of quality handmade craft













Reveal









Reveal will bring together the work of 15 makers from around Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Work will include Ceramics, Photography, Glass, Paintings, Jewellery, Textiles and lots more.

Makers include established artists such as Cathy Newell Price who makes wonderfully intricate silver jewellery sold in galleries throughout the UK, and Andrew McNeile Jones, who paints oil on canvas. There will also be ceramics from Lauren Denney, Grant Pratt and David Pope along with jewellery by Ciara Lennon and Jules Hogan.

It's taking place from 6th - 12th July in the Henley Exhibition Centre, Upper Market Place (behind the Town Hall), Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2AQ. A preview of the work and links to the makers websites can be seen at Reveal.

The show is open from 10am -5pm daily, free entry, all work on show will be for sale starting at a reasonable £3.

Thursday 29 May 2008

Call for seaside postcards


Would you like to contribute a ‘seaside postcard’ to be displayed in folders within the exhibition?

We will welcome creative responses on the theme of The Sea, in any medium as long as it is postcard size (15 x 10cm), fairly flat so that it can be slipped into a folder (so collage, painting, photography, stitching, drawing, printing, writing etc. actual works rather than photographs of works please).

We will welcome ‘postcards’ from individuals or sets of ‘postcards’ from groups of artists so please tell you colleagues.

‘Postcards’ can arrive at the museum at any time during the summer.

We will do our best to return work if you include your name and address on the back of the ‘postcard’ but, as the folders will be for public browsing, we cannot guarantee it.

The Sea, the Sea
10 May - 5 October
The sea in all its moods has inspired generations of artists. Paintings and drawings from the museum collection evoke the cry of gulls, the smell of salt spray and the feel of sand beneath your feet. Complementing the artworks are seldom-seen objects collected and created by people who lived, worked and dreamed by the sea - from shells, fossils and birds to tools, models and ceramics. The exhibition includes works by important artists as varied as Johannes Lingelbach, Julian Trevelyan and Maggi Hambling with plenty of things for all the family to see and do.

See Reading Museum for details

Wednesday 28 May 2008

Hang-On Friday


This coming Friday is hang-on Friday, artists network group. All are welcome to join us from 4.30pm this Friday and the last Friday of every month to network, talk and just share a cup of tea together or chat. We meet at Picnic, Butter Market Reading so maybe see you there.

LEGEND


LEGEND until September 28th, France

Traditionally, all legends are conveyed through fables and stories based on secrets, lies, manipulations, and exaggerations of historical and popular truths. Legend is archaic speech that circulates in close connection with images. As such, it comes close to the imaginary. Lodged in a distant past, legend seems initially to have nothing in common with this era’s perpetual present. And yet, the present produces its narratives too. Today’s stories are digital carriers of information, strung out on “dot-com hysteria” and fifteen seconds of fame. But because this present only exists through the hypothetical future we grant it, and because we can barely process the records it incessantly extrudes, its history is becoming increasingly impossible to write: we walk on the edge of legend.

See an English blog post about it here

On the occasion of the exhibition, a bilingual illustrated catalogue french-English is published. It includes texts by Jean-Philippe Antoine, JG Ballard, Craig Buckley, Yoann Gourmel, Raimundas Malasauskas, Will Holder, Karl Holmqvist, Shimabuku, Alexis Vaillant, Tris Vonna-Michell. This book accompanies the eponymous exhibition at the castle of Chamarande in France (25 May – 28 September 2008) which assembles the recent work of thirty international artists who interrogate the artificiality of the current world and render up intensified visions of it. Artists include David Altmejd, Philip Newcombe, Peter Coffin, Anne Collier, Michaela Eichwald, Jason Fox, Karl Holmqvist, Uwe Henneken, Jason Meadows, Pae White, Lisa Yuskavage, a.o.

June 2008, English/French
12 x 18 cm, 184 pages, 40 color ill., softcover
ISBN 978-1-933128-44-3

Exhibition at the castle and in factories, 25/05/08 at 28/09/08
Open daily from 12am to 19h
Groups daily by appointment
Free admission

Wednesday 21 May 2008

A good read


Some of you may know A F Harrold, some of you may even own a book or two or have seen him perform but if you want something to really make you smile when you open your email, sign up for his regular newsletter. Here is a brief description of various forthcoming delights in his own words:

Upcoming Gigs

Monday June 2nd – Poet In The City, at the Guardian Newsroom, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA. 6.30pm Free.
This is one of those odd little gigs that are free but which you must book in advance, by e-mailing the Poet In The City folks (info@poetinthecity.co.uk) – if your name’s not on the list you’re not coming in.
The blurb on the Poet In The City website (http://poetinthecity.co.uk/poetry-events) says A New Audiences event featuring some of the UK's most exciting poets and spoken word artists, including AF Harrold, Jenny Lindsay, Abraham Gibson and Stacey Makishi. Now I know Jenny quite well and she’s always very brilliant and lovelyly Scottish, but I’ve not seen the other two, but you’d imagine they’d book some good poets for this thing. Should be fun.

Tuesday June 17th – Write Angle, somewhere in Petersfield. In the evening. Probably costs a little bit to get in.
I’m sometimes not entirely forthcoming with details about these things, but I’m guesting at the this regular monthly event in June, in amongst some open mic and stuff. I do know that Petersfield is somewhere to the north of Portsmouth, but that’s about all I do know. If I find anything else out, I’ll let you know.

Friday June 20th – Poets’ Café, South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading. 8pm doors, 8.30pm start. £6/£4.
See, I know about this one. This is the monthly poetry night that I run and in amongst our open mic we’re pleased to slot in our special international guest, Mr Todd Swift, who is, of course, Oxfam’s poet in residence as well as being an editor of such anthologies as Poets Against The War and author of his own books of work. Busy chap. (www.toddswift.com)

Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th – Glstonbury Festival, a field in Somerset.
Just in case anyone’s going – it’s too late to get tickets now, I think – I shall be there, both in my capacity as The Official Glastonbury Festival’s Official Website’s Official Poet In Residence, and as a performer on Helen Gregory’s poetry & words stage on the Sunday afternoon. She’s organised a fine line up of poets for her stage, so if you’re there and bored of bloody awful young people’s music come and listen to some people talking at you instead. Or go home – don’t forget, that’s always an option. For the lucky people who failed to get tickets to this thing, I shall be writing poems across the weekend which will be posted on the Glastonbury website, somewhere, in real time. Hmm, that’ll be fun.

That’s enough gig type things for now.


Forthcoming Book Available Now

Lovely poetic colleague, Mr Peter Wyton has a new book out, raising good money for a good cause. Here’s the blurb he sent: NOT ALL MEN ARE FROM MARS ‘Not all men are from Mars’ is a collection of poems by Peter Wyton, produced in support of ‘Women’s Aid’, the charity which provides sheltered accommodation throughout the U.K. for women and children made homeless by domestic violence. The book retails at £7:99 per copy, £5 of which goes to Women’s Aid. Some of the 55 poems in the book touch on the problems which Women’s Aid seeks to address, but the majority are simply about women from a wide variety of backgrounds. I am currently working with officials from the society on a presentation featuring the work of Women’s Aid, illustrated by poems from the book. Whether you are a literary festival organiser, or a member of some group or society which invites speakers to its meetings or events, please contact my manager, Linda Fisher
domi.no@blueyonder.co.uk 01452 532081 Women’s Aid is a vital but under-funded organisation. It is one of three national charities whose work concentrates on the consequences of domestic violence. A recent report highlighted the fact that the combined income of these three charities is £3 million pounds less than that of a single donkey sanctuary in Devon! More about the book at www.myspace.com/peterwytonpoet together with a PayPal link for those who wish to order a copy. The book will also be available from Peter at events. This book comes with encouraging jacket cover endorsements from Jo Brand, U.A. Fanthorpe, Rosie Bailey, Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen, Sue Limb and Sandy Toksvig.


A Competition

Okay, let’s see. The first thing a competition needs is a prize – so I quickly browse my shelves and lay my hand on a proof copy of Dan Rhodes 2001 collection of short stories Don’t Tell Me The Truth About Love. This was the follow up to Anthropology, his collection of 101 stories each 101 words long which led him to be described as ‘the bastard love-child of macabre cartoonist Edward Gorey and surreal Scottish poet Ivor Cutler’. The only problem with that quote is how the reviewer had to detail who Gorey and Cutler were – a sad indictment of the cultural heritage the majority of the world pick up…

Anyway, the second thing a competition needs is a question or two. So here goes… (as ever, an easy question, followed by a tricky tie-breaker)

Easy Question: The title of the Dan Rhodes book Don’t Tell Me Truth About Love has one word more, but is in all other ways quite similar, to a poem of almost the same name by W.H. Auden. The question is, what is the extra word that Dan Rhodes added to Auden’s poem Tell Me The Truth About Love to make his own title?

Tie-breaker: In as many words as you like don’t tell me the truth about love. Or to put it another way, as Buffy Summers did in episode seven of the second season of BTVS, lie to me.

Okay, send your answers back to me to be in with a chance of winning this very funny book. Answers need to be received by 11 am GMT on Friday 6th of June. Correct answers to the easy question will then have all their subsequent bits read and judged to be best or not quite best by me, with my favourites appearing in a subsequent newsletter – so a moment of tiny fame for all involved. The winner will get the book sent to him or her, unless they live just round the corner in which case I’ll pop it through by hand. Any questions of your own, don’t hesitate to forget to ask me.


Books

I’ve still got books for sale at www.afharrold.co.uk that you might enjoy. More to come.


Goodbye

Cheerio, toodle-pip, ta-ra, and the rest.

Be good.

A.F. Harrold.
www.afharrold.co.uk
www.podiobooks.com
www.myspace.com/afharrold
www.myspace.com/afharroldelectricmusicbox

FREE Training for Artists

Training for Artists

A season of practical courses to develop and market the skills and creative practice of artists
Part of Slough Arts Development’s professional development programme for artists

All places are free but on booking a refundable £5 deposit is payable.

Preparing to succeed Tuesday 1st July 2008, 9.30am-4.30pm
Are you an artist looking for effective ways to sell, pitch, and present your work in every situation? Martyn
Duffy from Bridge Builders can help. This workshop will give you an understanding of how to communicate effectively; enable you to become confident at interview techniques and teach you how to ask open questions.
You will have opportunities to review and consolidate your learning whilst putting the theory into practice and giving you the confidence and ability to think on your feet. You will be given the opportunity to pitch in a safe environment and get feedback from the group

Facilitating practical workshops Thursday 3rd July 2008, 9.30am-4.30pm
Are you an artist looking to make an extra income from your work? Have you thought about running practical workshops but don’t know where to start? Running workshops can be a great way to support your practice.
Expert trainer and workshop facilitator Christine Wilkinson will give you the tips, techniques and guidance to help you set up and run practical workshops for any age range.

Visual arts portfolio day Thursday 10th July 2008, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Are you looking for inspiration on how to present your work? Trying to submit your portfolio to galleries but not sure which direction to take? Look no further; Rebecca Cairns, Arts Development Manager and former gallery curator, will work with Suzanne Stallard, Director of the jelly leg’d chicken gallery in Reading, to look at what to and what not to include in your portfolio. You will need to bring along your current work and portfolio. Each participant will be given a slot for a one-to-one session with the trainers and the group to look at selecting work for their portfolio.

N.B. This course is specifically aimed at visual artists. Places are limited; please submit a copy of your CV with the booking form.

For further information or a booking form please contact Gurjeet Kaur 01753 477176

Tuesday 20 May 2008

Creativity for Wildlife - Initial Artist's Brief May 2008

Outdoor Culture, working with BBOWT (the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust) seeks to commission an artist to collaborate with primary and secondary-age children in the production of a public art work during September 2008, to be sited on the Haymill Valley nature reserve, Slough. A total budget of £5,300 is available, with the expectation that at least 7 days will be spent working directly with young people. This initial brief is intended as a starting point: the final brief and contract will be developed in dialogue with the appointed artist.

BBOWT already runs a successful education programme, and is interested in exploring new approaches to engaging learners and the public with its conservation messages. Outdoor Culture has been appointed as a consultant to help BBOWT undertake a creative outdoor learning project in the Haymill Valley Community Nature Reserve as an action research pilot, and to make some wider recommendations as to how the Trust might make more use of the arts to further its mission.

The Haymill Valley reserve sits between residential developments close to the Slough Trading Estate at the Burnham end of the town. It is one of the most extensive areas of wildlife habitat in urban Slough and so provides a valuable local resource for both local wildlife and the local community. Historically, part of the valley once formed the mill pond for the medieval ‘Ay Mill’. Presently, a stream runs along the length of the reserve supporting a central reed bed surrounded by wet and dry woodland. These habitats are home for bluebells, yellow Iris, warblers, kingfishers, dragonflies and small mammals. Conservation work on the reserve is primarily carried out by a local ‘friends of’ group and includes scrub clearance, path creation, litter picks and pond creation.
The broad aims of the Creativity for Wildlife commission are as follows:
• Local children and young people positively engaged on site through creative outdoor learning
• Local children and young people develop their appreciation and respect for nature on the site
• Art work co-created by artist and young people, which deepens public engagement with the Haymill reserve
Vision for art work

A map and an aerial photograph of the reserve are available on request.

Our initial thinking is to create two new pieces: a new sign at the northern entrance to the reserve, and an art work near the stream at the extreme southern end of the site, which will attract visitors through the reserve to this focal point. The art work should encourage visitors to pause and reflect at this spot, and should be conceptually accessible to a broad family audience. The piece should complement the natural beauty of the site and be sensitive to its designation as a nature reserve. Inspiration might be drawn from the bio-diversity of the site, its history as woodland and mill stream or a wider environmental agenda.

A major factor for consideration is the history and ongoing likelihood of vandalism onsite: materials, location and design must all address this very real risk. The art work must endure in some medium, with minimum maintenance requirements. Please note that there is no electricity or lighting anywhere in the reserve. The sign will be very close to road access; the art work is likely to be at least 200m from the nearest road access point, along a fairly flat but at times muddy path.

We are open to a wide range of concepts for this commission – although we envisage a physical sculpture, we are open to the possibilities of less traditional work, perhaps in digital imagery or sonic art, or the recording of a more ephemeral or performance-based piece. We are interested in how different audiences might interact with the piece – perhaps climbing or sitting on it, perhaps exchanging digital information. The creation process is of equal importance, in that children and young people must have a substantial degree of creative ownership, and should be acknowledged as co-creators in terms of intellectual property.

We expect the artist to take part in a launch event for the final piece.

Budget

Although we can flexible as to how the budget is divided up, we expect a minimum of 7 days to be spend working directly with children and young people. Here is our current thinking:

Outdoor Culture is a recently formed company, led by Alistair Will, that specialises in using the arts, learning and play to connect people with the landscape. Alistair’s background is in music and creative learning, with previous employment in the Asian Music Circuit, Youth Music, Arts Council England and Creative Partnerships. For further information, visit www.outdoorculture.com. Outdoor Culture has been appointed by BBOWT as the project manager of this commission, and will contract the appointed artist on its behalf.

BBOWT, the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, is one of a network of 47 county-based Wildlife Trusts working across the UK. BBOWT cares for 88 nature reserves, works in partnership to conserve the wider countryside and inspires people to take action for wildlife. The Trust has 60 professional staff, 1,250 volunteers and 23,500 memberships. It has grown to be the largest and most influential conservation organisation in the region. For more information, visit www.bbowt.org.uk

Creative Junction is a new community interest company based in Slough and working across the same three counties as BBOWT, promoting innovation in creative learning and managing the Creative Partnerships programme in this sub-region. For more information, visit www.creativejunction.org.uk or call Jo Whitham on 01753 470324. Creative Junction is the major funder of this commission.

Caught in the Act – Reading reading

Caught in the Act – Reading reading

Photographer’s Brief


Background

Blank Productions is delivering a community-focused project in Reading for the National Year of Reading in partnership with Reading Borough Council’s arts team and library service. The project has been primarily funded through Awards for All with supporting funds from Reading Borough Council, and is being led by writer and collaborative artist, Mark Hewitt.

The project aims to celebrate the creativity of the everyday reader, involving local Reading people both on the street and in specific settings such as care homes, schools and penal institutions. It will involve two parallel commissions: a word-based commission gathering and transcribing interviews with readers about the books they are reading, and a photographic commission capturing images of readers in a variety of locations. The overall intention is to contrast the busy workaday complexity of life in a town with the stillness and self-contained privacy of the act of reading.

The interview material and images will be used as part of an exhibition of photographs and text, and as visual content alongside the texts in a series of town centre public art interventions, timed to coincide with Reading’s first crime writing festival in September 2008.

Role of Photographer

We are seeking an experienced photographer who will be able to generate quickly and efficiently the images required for the project. The images will depict people in the act of reading on the streets, on public transport, in parks and in other locations to be agreed. It is important that the images are of high quality, both technically and aesthetically, and that they complement the word-based commission. Because of the link the project has to a Festival of Crime Writing, we anticipate the photographic approach might subtly respond to this, in the sense of evoking film noir or surveillance imagery rather than conventional portraiture. To that end, it may be that the image-making we require is not simply documentary but involves a highly creative response to the depiction of a figure within a townscape.

The photographer will be required to deliver no less than 30 images on location in Reading over five full days or ten half days, although not all of these images will necessarily be used in the final outcomes. We anticipate an element of collaboration between the writer, the photographer and the public art agents to agree the details of a shared creative approach.

Timescale

The photographer will be required to work on location in Reading over five full days or ten half days. Whilst the photographic commission will be undertaken independently there may be occasions where a progress meeting or joint visit to a given location needs to be scheduled within the working period.

The process of generating the photographs will have to take place during June 2008. To allow sufficient time for production of public art installations and exhibition prints we will need a completed set of images to be delivered by early July. Details of the required formats for photographs will be supplied by the public art installers early in the process. We are aiming for the exhibition and public art interventions to be launched on 1st September 2008.

Budget

A total of £2000 is available to the photographer, to include professional fees, expenses and materials, with an additional sum of £1000 to cover the costs of printing a selection of photographs for the exhibition at Reading Central Library.

Skills required

We are looking for a photographer with the following skills and abilities:

• High level of technical skill
• Creative approach
• Willingness to collaborate with other creative practitioners
• Ability to communicate well with members of the public

It is desirable for the appointed photographer to have their own public liability insurance and CRB clearance.

How to apply

If you are interested in being considered for this commission please submit your CV, a disc with examples of your work, and a short statement outlining how your practice relates to this project. Submissions should be sent by Friday May 30th to:

Tammy Bedford
Arts Manager
South Street arts centre
21 South Street
Reading RG1 4QU

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview to take place in Reading on Friday 6th June.

For a further discussion about the project please contact Mark Hewitt direct by e-mailing enquiries@blankproductions.org.uk