SKETCHMAS

Like Christmas, but with Sketches......sketches galore.....it's

SKETCHMAS........ a right kick in the baubles...................

Where ? The Arc, Stockton

Dates: This Thursday, Friday & Saturday........16th, 17th & 18th of December.....

Time? 7:45

Folding pictures of the Queen's Head, marked £5, to get in;

So, if shiny boots with zips, and snow in Africa float your boat;

Get along to SKETCHMAS !!

Frugal Festivities

Have a great time over Christmas......

and remember, drink resp on sib l l h jk k k l mp vc..

:-P

Rumour has it.........

That it's............ two tone time.........oh aye.....

Come along for artistic awesomeness, serious ska n' stuff.

MOHAN's IRISH BAR upstairs, 7pm..... Sat'da neet....GRAND OPENING.

Bring yer own street croc.....

Why....even the beer's back n' white !!!

An UN-hostile take-over of Middlesbrough

Hello peoples, This is what MILA is doing this week, ALSO THOUGH I'm still looking for more Girls to work on a New Girl Zine, Thanks to all who emailed me interested, but if you still haven't, and want to get involved, email me at maybe.charlotte@hotmail.co.uk

There's more info on the Girl Zine on my Website www.maybecharlotte.co.uk :D

We've decided to take over Middlebrough, in a sort of nice friendly way, as you must have heard, we've launched issue #2 of our zine 'Making it look Accidental' with the aim of making art more public-friendly.
For those who don't know, we're an underground satirical Art/culture Zine, we interview artists and review exhibitions, Sometimes seriously, sometimes not so much. We also include comics, art, articles, pictures of robots, pigeons, street crocodiles..etc.

ANYWAY, to raise awareness of zines as a medium in Middlesbrough, we'll be doing some cheap black and white copies of our zine (its usually in colour with a glossy cover) and leaving them all over the place (buses, pubs, parks etc)

We'd like you all to have some too, to read then leave in pubs and places near you.

We'll swap them for any zines you've written, or anything you'd like to swap. Maybe a nice drawing of a kitten or something. OR a sandwich, or any piece of art you've made.

Let me know if you're interested or email me at maybe.charlotte@hotmail.co.uk

Visit our fan page for more info on our zine:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Making-it-Look-Accidental-MILA/165384793485562?v=wall

Come on down.......

rednileHEART Teesside

OPENING OF RESIDENCY

Photographs, Paintings, Prints and Installation Work
When? Tonight 6pm - 9pm
Where? WE ARE OPEN Pop Up Gallery
148, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough

Join us for drinks afterwards in the Blu Bar....

Teesside goes to Yorkshire

MILA representatives will be attending the Footprint 10th Birthday Zine Fair and party! Leeds, UK this coming Saturday!

http://wemakezines.ning.com/xn/detail/2288844:Event:150970?xg_source=activity

Hopefully it'll be amazing and will hopefully put MILA back in the black after being in the red for so so long...

We've also made sure the burgeoning Teesside zine scene is being represented and are taking along copies of 'I'm Afraid of Everyone', 'The Story of Grass' and a selection of 'Fly Me To The Moon' issues

Look out for the MILA rep who'll be wearing a crudely made T-Shirt saying either 'TEESSIDE' or 'Down with Leeds'

Here not There, Exhibition in boro.

Hi all, Just a bit off info about the new exhibition opening in Boro Tonight....


Here not There

Running from:
29 October-02 December 2010


The exhibition will include works by Middlesbrough based artists Adam Clarke and Diane Welford alongside German born, Glasgow based artist, Michael Stumpf. The majority of works in the exhibition have never seen before in the UK and include four new commissions.

Set over three rooms, disused office space in Middlesbrough town centre, two stripped of their previous office space attire to showcase Original Artwork, the third (The Lamp Room) will house a temporary library, writing desks and space to share. An entire wall has been dedicated to a new site specific process drawing by Adam Clarke, another to a new series of furtive pen and ink drawings by Diane Welford and two new commissions by Michael Stumpf take up the floor and ceiling space.

To accompany here not there a limited edition screen print and catalogue will be available at £30.00 and £2.00 respectively.

This exhibition was initiated by Adam Clarke as a positive response to the ever increasing gap between the artist and museum or commercial galleries. Here not There is an alternative space that offers flexibility and responsiveness to new artistic trends that institutions do not. Here not There strives to show that artist’s can and should look to be more intuitive at creating their own success. The established systems already in place do not always allow for this level of exposure. An essential part of this is The Lamp Room, a space for emerging communities to meet.

Exhibition preview event will take place 29 October at 6 - 9pm with the exhibition continuing until 02 December 2010. Anyone interested in doing it for them themselves and getting involved should join the here not there facebook page.

http://here-not-there.tumblr.com/

rednile loves Middlesbrough at the Pop Up Gallery soon....

rednile aka Susanne, Janine and Michael of Gateshead, are taking over the space on the 9th of November...

They are looking for local artists, who have transferred craft skills(like sewing, metalwork, printing, bricklaying, for instance) into art, to give short workshops about their practice.

Interested parties contact Susanne on info@rednile.org or check out the 'We are Open' fb page and blog for further details.....

It'll be good, I just know it............

further preview info and all things 'We are Open' is coming up on the local radio airwaves, Community FM, next Wednesday, the 3rd of November at one'ish....catch it if you can.

Or see one of the Informal-Art Collective persons....we may be underground..but you know who we are.....if you don't where HAVE you been? Really....

Unfold.....Process, Passion, Aspirations, Limitations

When ? Saturday 4th of December, 12-5pm

Where? We are Open's Pop Up Gallery, 148, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough

What's it about? It's a collaborative work led by artists Nicola Parkin and Vicky Holbrough.

Creatives in the Tees Valley (ie 'you lot'...) are invited to contribute towards a paper aeroplane installation, made from typographical drawings inspired by Process, Passion, Limitations, Aspirations........

Final Outcome will be a paper aeroplane installation.......

IN........ the Red Telephone Boxes, opposite the Town HaLL

Check it out further at www.unfold1.wordpress.com

A free event with refreshments....

Exhibition Reminder 'here not there'

To all you local art lovers, this show opens tonight (yes, tonight) at 6pm

It's in Grange Road, above the Tea Shop, featuring the work of local artists;

Adam Clarke (of RA 2010, Summer show fame..)

Michael Stumpf

& Diane Welford

Tonight's must see event.....oh, yes...

The Big Draw 'A Day at the Museum' event by the Peg Powler Gallery : review by Disparate Dan

One of the 32 drawing events staged in the north east over October, as part of the 'Big Draw' project, Peg Powler have captured the imagination of local people yet again. This time they took over a shop in Stockton's Wellington Square for the day, the empty shop initiative (transforming spaces into creative places) run by Stockton Council.

Participants young and old, were invited to draw on historical local figures and folk tales, as a source of inspiration on the back of their successful 'Secret History Walk'. Set up inside the shop were a number of inspirational gallery booths, with fact sheets relating to quirky people such as the Saltburn Hob Men, the Sockburn Worm and the Salt Feind, to name a few. A large communal drawing table with plenty of materials was the focus of the creative output.

Real history was represented by Celtic tribal queen of the Brigantes, Cartimundua, who assisted the Roman's subdue the Celtic tribes. Her name means 'sleek pony' and she is infamous for handing over the leader of the British resistance, Caractacus, in chains to the Roman occupiers. You were invited to draw her chains or, perhaps, impaling some poor souls head on a spike, apparently a favoured punishment for those she disliked......

Several information sheets were supplied with suggested scenarios for imaginary drawings, and the master stroke was the availability of the River Tees demon, Peg Powler (aka actor Jennifer Nelson) ably assisted by Sir John Conyers (aka actor John Noble) to pose as life models cum interactive window displays, and in the case of Sir John, an impromptu careers advisor and scally chaser, to boot!!! Many people were skillfully guided into the event space, with a careful sweep of Sir John's mighty falchion...

Once again, a big hit judging by the sheer number of people who submitted some tremendous drawings, which I understand will be made into an exhibition at the Peg Powler Gallery located in the Green Dragon Yard in Stockton...soooo fitting ! Rebecca and AJ did a marvellous job yet again....

Check out the 'Big Draw' website at www.thebigdraw.org for lots of stuff on that most basic, (but vital) skill of drawing.

Shout-out to creative girls....

Hey you there. Female People! I'm wanting to start a girls zine for the 'boro area, something between 'a bad girls guide' and Oh Comely magazine http://www.ohcomely.co.uk/index.php

Is there anyone out there who has any ideas or wants to get involved? Photographers, writers, illustrators, artists and creative types welcome. BOYS...! pass this on to the girls you know. Swearing and Scenes of a sexual nature welcome and actively encouraged.

Message me for details: maybe.charlotte@hotmail.co.uk

Introducing Steven the One Legged Pigeon....

Our Zine launch on Friday night was great, thanks to all who attended.

In the mean time, if you missed the launch you can buy our zine on my online shop page, at writers block or Howl shop in Middlesborogh.

We're hoping to get it in MIMA soon, lets hope they don't mind all the
nudity, mild drugs references and casual violence we included.

This Issues cover (and indeed the flyer) featured Middlesbroughs own Steven,
the famous one legged pigeon. This is because he has taken a starring
role in my new comic The All New Adventures of Catptian Talking CCTV
Camera. Its about time he got the recognition he so richly deserves.
More on that later.

Last time we saw Captain CCTV, he was drowning his sorrows, with steven the one legged pigeon, in a cheap strip club. Now Captain CCTV has a plan….The scum of Boro better watch out. Or maybe not. He is a
useless tosser after all.

Here is the first page of Captain CCTV if you’re interested, the rest of the comic is in our zine, so you can’t even read it unless you buy the zine! God, I’m cunning.

Issue two of the satrical Art-zine 'Making It Look Accdental'

Making it look accidental is an underground look at Middlesbrough from the perspective of two, somewhat jaded, ex Art Students. Funny, sad, touching and confusing, it covers the joys of CCTV cameras, 'interesting' local art,
Reviews and interviews, cartoons and articles written by the terminally mad that no one would ever dream of publishing. But we have anyway. You can buy it from my website www.maybecharlotte.co.uk @ the online shop.

Zine Launch At Writers Block!

Local Art Zine 'Making it look Accidental' is launching its first and second issues this week at Writers Block!

Making it look accidental is an underground look at Middlesbrough from the perspective of two, somewhat jaded, ex Art Students. Funny, sad, touching and confusing, it covers the joys of CCTV cameras, 'interesting' local art, Reviews and interviews, cartoons and articles written by the terminally mad that no one would ever dream of publishing.

Also launching its second issue at the event is 'Im Afraid of Everything' a zine comprised of funny, dark and twisted short stories by writer Michael Hann, illustrated by John Chadwick.

We promise you we'll be selling a selection of local zines by Teessides finest underground Artists/Writers/Poets, Short film screenings, booze, slightly sinister poetry and short story readings, ART NETWORKING (come and maybe meet the next person you'll collaborate with) some more booze (perhaps wine), music, some stand up comedy, a selection of lamps for you to look at and enjoy at your leisure and lovely art.

You're welcome to come along, Friday the 22nd of October 7pm til 9pm at Writers block HQ (95-97 Albert road)

here not there

An exhibition presenting:

Adam Clarke,
Michael Stumpf,
& Diane Welford.

Preview event
29th October 2010
6-9 pm
Exhibition continues until 2nd December 2010

Grange Road, opposite The Mall Shopping Centre

here-not-there.tumblr.com

herenotthere.art@gmail.com

Tel: 07883103479


So, on the 29th, make sure you are there.......not here....

Big Draw Event: Peg Powler Presents 'A Secret History Walk' review by Disparate Dan

An hour long guided walk and drawing session, taking inspiration from some of Stockton's ancient sites, was the latest offering from the Peg Powler Gallery people, Rebecca Little and A.J. Garrett.
Start point was the Trinity Church Gardens, a burnt out Church which was built to commemorate the victory at Waterloo by a grateful government. The Church slowly declined after the Second World War and was subsequently set on fire in October 1991. The imposing structure was the setting for the first drawing, with background information supplied on the mass burial site's of plague and cholera victims....
We then moved on to the site of Stockton's former castle, first mentioned in 1183 in the Boldon Book survey and garrisoned by Henry V111 men in 1543, it was positioned roughly where the Swallow Hotel now stands, (also the Castlegate Centre gets its name from it). We were given more quirky historical background facts to fire our imagination's further. Stones were taken from the site, such as the Lion stone and two slabs of blue Frosterly marble that finished up outside what is now Trader Jack's bar (formerly the Blue Posts Inn).
From here we went across to the Town Hall, and Rebecca pointed out that it once contained a dungeon to house prisoner's before they were transported to the colonies...if we think times are hard now, Paul Larkin spent time here for nicking a pear!
Next stop was the flea market via an alley way next to the oldest house in Stockton, pointed out by A.J., the idea here was to pick out an item of interest from the market and sketch that. If you wanted a loo stop the oldest one in Stockton was close at hand, though only for the brave!
Moving on to the River Tees, we were invited to draw the river demon Peg Powler, all sharp teeth, green skin and straggly hair.
The drawings done on the day are being used as inspiration for a further work.
A well run event was topped off in the nearby coffee shop, in Silver Street. Hope there's more to come...very enjoyable.

I'm Afraid of Everyone by Disparate Dan

The guys from the Zine "I'm Afraid of Everyone" have made a short film about, well, fear, I guess.

Share the Fear here..............


http://www.youtube.com/user/imafraidofeveryone?feature=mhum

Performance Night Launch at the Python Gallery, December the 10th.

You may want to 'mosey on down'.........

Launch Party...LAUNCH PARRRT-AAAAA

Making It look Accidental and I'm Afraid of Everyone
bring you a super-social-networking-zine filled LAUNCH PARTY!

22nd of October @Writers block on Albert Road.

We now know there'll be AT LEAST 10 performances/readings
Some lamps
Booze
Loads of Zines
Aimee Charlotte and John Louis Uncomfortably hosting all night
Affordable Art Prints
More Zines
A killer whale*
Possibly some Twiglets

We'll keep you updated. So excited!

*This one isn't true.

It just gets better n' better

Howl shop on Borough Road, (where Jarred's Art Shop was) and stockists of our underground Zine Making it Look Accidental are now on......yes....on line...

Check the mofu out here;

Howl

www.howlonline.co.uk

GREAT NEWS

Blu-er than a Blu-thing..............

Making it Look Accidental (our underground Art Zine) has teamed up with 'I'm Afraid of Everyone' to bring you a massive (and quite sinister) zine launch.

Friday October the 22nd, Writer's Block (95-97 Albert Road)

We have our own stage, so, look forward to performances, zine stalls, art and booze.

Lots of booze

After Party in Blu bar. :D

London Art'ery

Tate Modern Paul Gauguin 30/09/10-16/01/11

Camden Arts Centre Simon Starling- Never The Same River (Possible Futures, Probable Pasts)
10/12/10-20/02/11

London Art'ery

Upcoming Events

Frieze Art Fair, Regents Park, Primrose Hill, NW1 4NR 14-17/10/2010

Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park Road, SW11 4NJ 21-24/10/2010

Close Encounters, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, Chelsea, SW7 2AP
25-31/10/2010

Factory Nights in Cullercoats & Berwick-upon-Tweed by Disparate Dan

I was lucky enough to be invited along to two of these artist led, commission and collaboration opportunities, organised by the people at rednile, along with another Informal Art accomplice.

The first one was at the Dove Marine Laboratory, slightly different to the usual format, as scientists were also present, therefore encouraging a new kind of interaction between artists and scientists. The Dove is part of Newcastle Universities School of Marine Science and Technology, and has been in operation for over one hundred years.

Located right on the beach, a tour was given by the Deputy Director, Dr Jane Delany, (a specialist in the study of transferrence of micro-organisms and bacteria worldwide, in ships ballast), into the research facilities, equipment and hidden spaces. Glass tanks full of creatures such as lobster's, cod and crabs, and non-native species, like the very aggressive signal crayfish, bubbled away in the dank, gloomy surroundings.

Cath Keay, former artist in residence, gave a short presentation on the work she produced during her stay in 2008, a series of terracotta text works, one of which was 'Fecundity'. This work was crated up, and placed under the pier to be washed over by many tides, which caused the sculpture to be colonised by pest organisms (such as barnacles), to be removed at a later date, then placed in tanks on the roof of the lab. All this was recorded on film. Fascinating stuff.

It is always interesting to see how your fellow artists work, so, a short session of networking followed, sadly, all too short, but very informative, with several local artists working in many different mediums. Very inspiring.

More info on the work of the laboratory at; University of Newcastle, Dove link

The second night was at Martins The Printers at Spittal, run in collaboration with Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival. This was also located right beside the seashore, with a history dating back to 1892. Originally an old ironworks producing shovels and farm implements, for shipment to the Empire, (no, not the one in 'Boro...) it now houses a family run print business.

After a some very delicious home made sausage rolls and fruit cake, the Managing Director, Chris Hardie, took all twenty of us on a very informative tour, highlighting the old parts of the building, and the modern digital equipment. One of their specialisms is 'print on demand' books, which can be literally one book, hand bound on site in a variety of finishes. Sadly, much of the mainstream printing work can be done 30% to 50% cheaper in China, and Chris thinks that e-books will gradually take over the market, as they are already being used in schools and Universities up and down the country. Currently, they produce work for English Heritage, Letts, Collins and many other special interest companies.

Afterwards, we retired to the Stage Door Bar at the Maltings Theatre in town, for refreshments and further chatter. We will shortly receive proposal forms for work, inspired as a direct result of the nights in question.

rednile have been doing inspiring working sessions for about five years now, however, this particular project has come to an end. I look forward to new initiatives from Michael, Janine and Suzanne, rumour has it that a Teesside link up is in the offing.......

www.rednile.org for further information, and www.berwickfilm-artsfest.com/artist-trail for information on the festival.

Call for Edgy Penwork and Suchlike by Disparate Dan

It's for the second volume of the well received Zine, "I'm Afraid of Everyone"
Four pages have been devoted solely to guest contributor's.....how good is that?

So, if you can scrawl about four to five hundred words on something edgy, slightly unsettling, maybe even funny or, (cleverer still) writings of a satirical nature, send them to; michael.t.hann@googlemail.com for consideration. Art work along the same lines is also sought. The pages are only A5 in size, so bear that in mind before putting pen to paper.

My suggestion is you buy a copy of Vol. 1, (for a lot less than it costs for a beer and a burger), from either the Arc in Stockton, or the nice people at Writer's Block, who currently reside at the We Are Open Pop-Up Studio, opposite the Town Hall in 'Boro. That way you can tune in to the flavour of the Zine, before starting your masterpiece.

Oh, and the deadline is on Bonfire Night, which is handy, so you can burn all your failures as well.

Check out the blog at: imafraidofeveryonemh.blogspot.com, for even more info.

Things this week

Hey everyone,

Things to look out for this week are:

Wednesday 22rd:
Teesside University fine art MA show! Which starts at 6pm, is in the Athena building, and should be amazing.

Thursday 23rd:
An informal meeting in mima at 4pm to discuss getting studio spaces together in Middlesbrough. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come along.

Friday 24th:
New opening at the Python gallery! Starts at 5:30pm.

'Apples' Northern Stage review by Disparate Dan

Right after the lush starter, the Teen Commandments, my compatriots and I went up to Stage 2 for the main event,Stage 2 is a much larger space with banked seating one would normally expect in a theatre, whilst still retaining an air of intimacy with the cast. Two rows from the front, we stared in anticipation at the six painted chairs set out on the Stage before us. Whatever it was going to be like, we were about to get a very up close and personal experience of it, for sure.
Three fifteen year old girls and three lads, set about showing life, Adam and Eve style, with drugs, sex, party rape, OCD, violence and the harsh reality of being a mam way too young. Eve was the try anything girl (played by Therase Neve), under age Empire goer, experimental drug taker and party animal supreme (even when her mam was dying). Adam (played by Scott Turnbull) was the obsessive compulsive ( "I had to shut me mam's drawer seven times..."), sometime dirty book loft lurker, completely smitten with Eve. Gary, (played by Louis Roberts) was the archetypical chav thug, complete with bicce'd baldy head and tucked in trackie bottoms. He was going to have his way with the girls, conscious or not..... Claire (played by Jodie Byrne) was the one who gets caught with the kid, curtailing her Ibeza ambitions. Debbie (played by Abagail Moffatt) doubled as Eve's clubbing mate and Adam's mam. Ben (played by Dylan Edge) teamed up with Adam in his 'walk on the wild side' in pursuit of Eve, and also played his violent dad. Grittily portrayed, with genuine emotion and laughter in equal measure, no punches are pulled in this snapshot of reality involving our teens of today.Set in 'Boro, but it could be any where in the UK, as the same issues are present. The ending? for some, too sudden, but then again life often ends abrubtly, so I thought it was perfect. Go and see it, it's on until the the 25th of September, worth every penny of the £8.50 ticket price.

The Teen Commandments Review by Disparate Dan

The Teen Commandments was a summer long project designed as a response to Richard Milward's critically acclaimed play, 'Apples', by mima's voluntary youth group, The Modern Times.
Members of the group have a close affinity with the same region in which the play was set, our very own 'Boro. Part of the response was to produce artwork, costumes,photographs, films and material for the stage. The Teen Commandments was an incredibly brave undertaking, seeing as none of the participants had done any acting before. It was my first visit to the Northern Stage venue in Newcastle, so, after a delicious duck in hoisin sauce sandwich, washed down with my favourite Czech lager, my compatriots and I headed downstairs to Stage 3, a lovely intimate space with an informal seating arrangement.
The following short play involved planning for a night out in the 'boro (a serious business, I can tell you) and other dialogues worked around the 'Apples' theme, followed by a short film put together by members of the group. Judging by the laughter, it worked. A tremendous amount of creativity was achieved in a relatively short time frame. "What about the Hairy Lemon?"......you may well ask........The reality was........ it was ALL amazing, (obviously)....

Northern Stage TMT performance

Hey everyone,

mima have been working with Northern Stage through their youth group TMT to produce artwork and material to accompany the play 'Apples'. Their performance is on Tuesday 14th September at 7pm, and can be seen on stage 3. Admission is free.

MILA will be available for sale on the night as well as other zines. Free copies of 'Guide to Living Life Dangerously' will be distributed to the audience.

http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/the-teen-commandments

Thursday 9th Sept

Hey everyone,


We'll be meeting in Writers Block HQ on Albert Road for an informal chat and to take part in activities there from 2pm until 4pm


Afterwards we'll be talking official business in the mima cafe from 4pm till 6pm


From there we'll probably be going to the nocci networking event and the new gallery opening at TS1!


Busy night.

Hello people, MILA is now selling in Howl shop and Writers block.

Making it look Accidental

(Middlesbroughs newest Art-fanzine)
Is now on sale in Howl shop (59 Boro Road MIDDLESBROUGH)
And Writers Block (95-97 Albert Road)

Hell yeah.
Or buy online @ www.maybecharlotte.co.uk

FUSION – RELOADED!

PREVIEW EVENING & CREATIVE NETWORK

Full Circle `From Cleveland to Catalunya`

In June, six artists from Saltburn Artists` Projects exhibited at Gracia Arts Project in Barcelona. The exhibition is now returning home and will be showcased at Kirkleatham Pavilion from September 14th.

Information and networking event for Creative Businesses

Tuesday 14^th September 2010 @ 5.45pm - 8.00pm

At Kirkleatham Museum – Bellamy Pavilion, Redcar

TS10 5NW (Light refreshments provided)

The event will cover:

• Inspiring you in times of change
• Fresh ways to find out information and make new contacts
• The latest on the Creative Hub and local Creative Development
• New people to meet and spark off ideas!

Speakers:

• Linda Innes of Inspired! An NLP trainer and facilitator, Linda has 20 yrs experience in Arts and Culture working as Principal Arts Officer with Stockton, Cleveland Arts and Creative Partnerships.
• Adrian Watson RCBC and Anne Allen of Bowman Solutions will provide a Creative hub and Creative Development update.

Representatives: Arts Council North East, Redcar & Cleveland Business Investment Team, The Enterprise Team.

`Lonely Arts Column`

Please email an advert for yourself, which will be posted up at the event to attract `partners` and potential business.

E.g. ‘Desperately seeking George. Performance artist seeks musician or other creative to make sweet music together in town centre intervention. GSOH. Own studio. Own suit. Contact Gilbert. I will be wearing a tweed suit and an enigmatic smile. ‘Or ‘Does anyone know how I can get studio space for next to nothing? Contact Chris- 07222222

RSVP and lonely arts advert - September 9th

laura_wedgewood@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Do, do ,DOODLE BLOCK!

Drop into DOODLE BLOCK at Writers Block on Wednesday 25th August between 2-5pm to write, draw, doodle, knit or create your fabulous contribution to a moveable collaborative exhibition of an art and language text installation. Make your 'block' alongside others as part of an informal art collective. Open to everyone - all you need to bring is your favourite tools (pen, pencil, knitting needles and wool, or whatever you prefer). We have the blocks, tea and cake!

Collective meeting 25th August

Hello everybody,


We'll be meeting this Wednesday in the mima cafe at 4pm. The meeting will be productive, interesting and fun!


So be there.

New Teesside Art-Zine

HELLO

We're "Making it look Accidental"

A brand new Teesside based Art-zine, look out for us around Middlesbrough.
We'll be reviewing/interviewing/harassing the local Art scene.
Yes. Middlesbrough has an Art-scene.

If you want to get involved, contribute, or you have an exhibition you think we'd like
to review, then just email us at

maybe.charlotte@hotmail.co.uk


You can buy issue one online @ maybecharlotte.co.uk

All proceeds go straight to my pocket. Thank you.

Goings on.....

Saturday, 21st of August, at the Arc in Stockton.
Get along to Peg Powler's Summer Soiree. Starts at 5pm. Ask Rebecca or A.J. about Zine's.....they know stuff....

Sunday, 22nd of August, Moors Centre, Danby.
If you are inspired by Trees, and let's face it who isn't....try a private view of;
Inspired by Trees 2, between 10am and 5pm. Refreshments available.
View the work of Caroline Riley & Jenny Burgess.
Exhibition runs until the 1st of September.

And, finally,to all you figurative types, www.mallgalleries.org.uk are calling for submissions for a maximum of six paintings, drawings, pastels or prints. Works must be for sale.
Deadline for receiving days is the 15th and 16th of October. Download a registration pack from the website, along with further details.

Collective meeting

Hey everyone,


We're having another meeting on Thursday 12th August. We'll be meeting in the prego cafe at mima, 6pm

Hackney Wicked Art Festival 2010: Review

Myself, and a member of mima's Modern Times group, went down last weekend to check this free festival out, and we headed for Hackney Wick on the overground from Highbury & Islington overground station. Not knowing quite what to expect, we disembarked from the train to be led by improvised signs cable-tied to lamp posts, in the general direction of 'things' and 'happenings'.

First stop for refreshment was the Wick Cafe, run by an affable Turk, who, once having established we were from Teesside, became even friendlier, explaining he was a regular visitor to the Riverside Stadium, when Turkish International footballer, Tuncay, played for the 'Boro! Amazing who you meet on jaunts such as this. Huge portions swiftly followed.....and reasonable, too ! Not a bad start. This place is a favourite haunt of the resident artists, no wonder!

The Hackney Wicked Festival area is quite spread out, the best plan would be to do one area a day, to save on the shoe leather. After all, six hundred and twenty four artists live and work in this small area, (allegedly the greatest concentration on the planet today).

Centred around Hackney Wick rail station, the main areas are Wallis Road and Whitepost Lane, which comprise of the galleries at Felstead Street, Beard , Main Yard, Schwartz, Roach Road, Elevator and Canal Bridge. The second concentration of galleries is on Fish Island, a ten minute walk away beside the River Lea, the areas of interest here are: The Stour Space, Counter Cafe (run by a couple of nice Kiwi's), Kids Gallery, Vitoria Wharf, Forman's Smokehouse ( a salmon smokery with the gallery above) and 22 Smeed Road. Two further out locations were the Lighthouse Pub, (where Gavin Turk's Agile Rabbit show was located) and the View Tube, a gallery made from green shipping containers, showcasing the work of local 2D & 3D artists. The Container Cafe is located here, too, down by Pudding Mill Lane station. Vyner street is also another possibility with galleries not too far away, but not actually part of the Hackney Wicked Festival.

In addition, seventeen varied old industrial factory buildings house the numerous studios open for the Festival days, so one could have a nosey, and a chat with the artists, lubricated by ample booze provided in the various graffitied improvised bars, or ice buckets, located everywhere, for the copious (and mostly free) beer stocks. Mojihto's, Wine and Tequila were all offered (foc) on more than one occasion, too. Barbecue smoke permeated the air, whilst games of street basketball also took place on Fish Island.

The whole landscape is full of hidden spaces, with huge sofas randomly strewn everywhere, to plonk youself into, when the old 'plates' start to give you some gyp, or for the 'tired and emotional' to cat-nap back to alertness, from the indulgences of the night before....

Buildings several stories high, overlooking the River Lea and the new Olympic Stadium, had their rooves astro-turfed for the late night parties. Starting at about 6pm, silhouettes started gyrating to the cool sounds vibrating around the rooftops and elsewhere, giving a kind of surrealness to the whole affair.

Just off the train, we swiftly got chatting to an american sculptor and his mate, a carpenter who had just done work for the Royal Family in Bahrain. Free Corona's were duly decapitated and swallowed, whilst we chewed the artistic fat, before we decided to get more of a feel for the area. Rounding the corner from the station, a disused pub, The Lord Napier, was simultaneously being stocked with booze for a rave and spray painted in gold and silver shades. Queens Yard was to be the hub for shopping, dancing and eating (plenty of lebanese food and minted pea ice cream, to name but a few..). It was also home to one of the music stages dotted around the site.

Two things were apparent to me, the laid back nature of things, and the lack of policing......do the two go hand in hand? I wonder. As the Festival is frequented by almost exclusively artists and art lovers, a very free and easy, non-threatening atmosphere prevailed. Highlights were the open studio's, cutting edge artwork, including a couple of interactive workshops ( we made a 'news' brick, part of a wall to be built on Sunday). The whole area looks as though it has been squatted in after an air raid.....reminds me of a cross between Stalingrad and the New York brownstones, occupied by Andy Warhol and Co. back in the 70's. It makes 'Boro look positively posh! A true artists working commune.

My own personal experience of East Enders has always been good, and artists are always interesting company anyway, so it was a bit of a paradise for us. Further highlights included the work of Sardine and Tobleroni, Pussy Power, Ben Woodeson's Basic Rough as Fuck Spinning Spring Jumps out of your Skin Hazard and Schlagboher, a remote controlled lump hammer, that systematically desroys an Elevator gallery wall over the course of the festival, and chatting with numerous working artists, in particular Aly Helyer, and Canadian Ehryn Torrell, in the Maryland Studio's. Too much going on to mention it all!

Oh, and of course, the music, supplied by Little Eris, Wara, Trench City, Nila and the Rajas, Plubic Speech, Spiritwo, Dilanga, Cheeseburger, Outakes, The Cracked, Gravy Train, the Punk Choir serenading alighting passengers from the Overground trains, and last but not least, The Travel Agency.

Put this one down in your diary for next year, and try to encamp close by (Stratford or Hackney, perhaps?) so one can indulge in the rooftop raves and the many, many party opportunities that present themselves to be availed of. Ask at The Hackney Pearl cafe bar,It would be rude not to indulge..... get there before the Olympics, and before they over organise it, the flavours just right at present and for my money it's a rare, unpretentious insight to a real working artists hub. It's a must do for all artists !! Go while its still alive and kicking!! Will they burn another Wicker Chicken? hope so...all in all, Wicked stuff !!!

Collective meet

Good news everyone!

Gap

Thursday 5th August meeting

gap

Our second ever 'informal art collective' meeting is happening tomorrow at 6pm! We're meeting at the pop up shop on Newport road. Come along, have some fun and discuss the future, funding and studio spaces, plus much much more!

Creative event.

Calling all creatives, artists, musicians, film–makers, writers and performers……

Middlesbrough Council Arts and Events Team would like to support a series of artist-initiated events, to encourage artists to network and share best practice.

Do you have an idea for an event, which could take place in Middlesbrough? You need to be currently living in Tees Valley, and you must state in your proposal, how your event benefits the local creative community.


Kerrie Page
Arts Development Officer
(Job share - working Mon-Wed)

Arts and Events
Culture and Tourism
PO Box 504,
Civic Centre,
Middlesbrough,
TS1 9FY

Music -Zine

Over:Drive Events and The Crown, Middlesbrough is looking for new ways to encourage and advertise live music.

They're interesting in creating a Music Zine (small, informal magazine) which combines flyers and promotions for upcoming gigs, with band interviews, reviews, art, illustration, articles, comics and anything else we can think of.

I'm looking for anyone who wants to be part of a group that contributes to this Zine, Ideally they would be interested and enthusiastic about the local music scene.

The Zine would have to be ready around the beginning of september to be published for freshers week.

Material/paper/printing costs will be funded by OVER:DRIVE, entrance to the gigs, travel costs and any access to the bands or backstage would be taken care of, however, this is still unpaid. But, hundreds of people will see your work and it's a great way to both get noticed and help your local music scene.


We're looking for jounalists, writers, photogaphers, illustrators, people with a sense of humor, ANYONE with a love of live music and some thing to say about it.

No idiots. Thank you.

Collectives we like

improveverywhere.com

This is where all the 'Cool' people are going tomorrow

From the people who brought you 'The story of Grass' exhibition comes ANIMALISTIC. I am so there. They always have free cake too.

This Tuesday! 13th July.....6-9pm

Peg Powler Gallery at the Green Dragon Studios, Stockton on Tees

"A solo show with new works by Audrey Newhouse. Exploring the animal elements inside everyone, weather they be strengths or weaknesses, what we are scared of or what we wanna be. Come enjoy food and drink for the opening night and show your support"

PEGPOWLER.com

INVITE TO PYTHON SHOW!

Hello,

I would like to cordially invite you to the Private View of the next exhibition at pythongallery on Friday 9th July 6-8pm.

The ReVision 1 exhibition is the first of two consecutive shows which celebrate the creativity of the recent graduates from the University of Teesside's Fine Art Degree Programme.

Featuring Paintings, Drawings, Prints and Sculpture, the show is a vibrant and exciting showcase that clearly demonstrates the wealth of emerging creative talent
from this region.

Please come along and enjoy a relaxed and vibrant evening and help celebrate the achievements of these artists as they confidently make the transition from university to professional artistic careers.

Refreshments and good company will be provided!

Best wishes, Peter Heselton
(pythongallery Curator)


PS Please feel free to extend this invitation to anyone who would like to attend.

Networking event for artists and creative types!

Thursday the 8th of July 2010

4pm (3pm if you want to make a Zine)

At the 'Pop-Up-Studio' on Newport road, Middlesbrough town centre.


A second opportunity for you, your friends and associates to come along and meet other like-minded individuals, watch a few presentations, discuss life/work/art or just mingle...
And if you would like to come along early the lovely people currently resident at the Studio have everything you need to make, or will assist you to make, your very own zine!

Come join us!

Hi and welcome to Teesside-Informal-Art Collective's very first post.

We are a 'collection' of 'artists' based in and around Teesside with the general aim of getting together once in a while, socialising, sharing ideas, collaborating on projects/exhibitions and generally being supportive of each other.

Watch-this-space for upcoming ideas, events, and information. :)