With Mr Beard getting in on the action.
Tuesday 18 December 2007
Wednesday 12 December 2007
Monday 10 December 2007
Erdington Arts Forum links hands with North Birmingham Community Arts
This years AGM saw the voting in of Mr Paul Brian Tovey as Vice Chair to replace the outgoing Tina George. Paul has been a member of the forum for some time now and we welcome his expertise in the field of arts and mental health.
NBCA was set up by Paul and myself some eighteen months ago, firstly as an on-line entity and then, on receipt of a grant from Awards for All we were able to establish regular sessions at the 610 centre in Kingstanding where we meet to practice art, design and fellowship for mental health service users from all over the city. We felt that it was important to create an organisation that addressed these issues in the north of the city as there is an apparent lack of provision for the arts in general and mental health arts in particular.
This position (proposed by myself) and in consultation with Paul and Patrick will firstly allow for a small joint publicity venture using a portion of NBCA funds to create a set of postcards which will promote both organisations as well as our locality and over time, help to further develop EAFs' links with the community and bring dynamic interest and diversity into the forum.
Pauls work as an artist is very much focused on locality and family narrative and his and my interest in these issues as well as links with Highcroft Hospital have brought us together in exploring some common goals; how art and art practice can be a corollary to mental well being (without being considered therapy), support recovery and help to develop individual independence, serve as a vehicle to explore the notion and sense of locality and give the opportunity to meet up and have fun!
We have yet to confirm the details but expect that a small number of different designs will be required and as well as Paul creating some unique cartoons for us there may be the chance to put your own designs forward for consideration.
This is just a small beginning and we hope that more promotions projects will be getting off the ground pretty soon and links with more organisations will be forged. There's strength in numbers and we can create an ethos of mutual support which will help us grow as a group and spread a little art magic around Erdopolis.
sdh.
NEWS
Contemporary Art practice in Erdopolis.
This coming Friday (14th) between 4.00 & 6.00pm. Birmingham based artist Alicja Rogalska and students Kate, Nicola and Fay from BCU MA course in Contemporary Curatorial Practice (http://thekeeperstricks.blogspot.com/) will be setting up outside the library and projecting text which comments on cultural identity with particular reference to the Polish community and then gauging the response of passers-by. We will be documenting their activity for inclusion on the EAF blog site (http://erdoarts.blogspot.com) and we welcome them to Erdington. It is hoped that sometime soon Alicja will be visiting the forum to give a talk about the project and this will serve to continue an ongoing process of art practice in the town which is beginning to gain momentum.
sdh.
Proposed design for database booklet
Inspired by the work of Paul Renner (designer of the Futura font family)
but with a little fuzzotronic mash-up also.
Monday 3 December 2007
Tuesday 27 November 2007
Friday 16 November 2007
Saturday 10 November 2007
Monday 29 October 2007
Missive from Patrick Hayes
Some brief thoughts on Wilberforce Day held at Rookery House, Erdington, Saturday October 20th 2007.
God did indeed smile on us last Saturday when a bright chilly morning slowly turned into warm autumn sunshine. Despite the dilapidation of the house, one can still feel its dignity and indeed charm as the warmth of past years and life greets the visitor upon entering the hallway. Even if there is bare brickwork and hazard tape in the corridor by the former ballroom the feeling of, “This was a happy house” is almost certain.
So, we celebrated the first ever 'William Wilberforce Day' at the house which had taken weeks to plan and prepare. The doors opened at 11.00 and there was a feeling of anxiety when by 11.30 only a couple of people had come to the day. However, by midday the numbers swelled and around 300 people enjoyed the day.
There was an eclectic mix of activities; the children enjoyed Ev's African mask making workshop whilst adults pursued the informative exhibition on Wilberforce and his friends diligently created by Simon and Andy, and various arts and crafts as well as chatting to members of the Rookery House Trust.
The day was officially opened by Bishop Joe Aldred who spoke on the abolition of the slave trade and Phil Mist encouraged the audience to join the Trust and Jim and Mike sang a blues version of 'Amazing Grace.' However, probably the highlight of the day was the wonderful tour of the grounds and house where guests met Barbara Spooner who was born and brought up in the house and later married William Wilberforce, Wilber himself as well as John Newton who penned the famous hymn, 'Amazing Grace' and Equiano, a former slave who joined the abolition movement.
There were some magical, memorable moments especially when the audience could see both Wilber and Barbara walk down the tree lined path towards them and later being served cake by Barbara in the courtyard! It was if we had all genuinely been taken back in time and caught a privileged glimpse of those that have now gone before us. Then there was Equiano demonstrating with the use of a small wardrobe the space a slave had to endure for the harsh atlantic crossing. And let us not forget John Newton kneeling on the main stairs, where usually the sound of office workers feet can be heard was replaced by the opening lines of 'Amazing Grace' and John's heartfelt confession of being part of that hideous trade.
On a lighter note there was a chance to learn regency dancing with Cathy in her empire dress, which quite a lot of people did and it was wonderful to see the large Georgian room full of dance and dancers, just as it would have been all those years ago.
To finish there was Ozzie's Caribbean food and tradition tea and sandwiches to be sampled in the courtyard café and business flowed throughout the day!
It was a successful and enjoyable day and I would like to end with a suggestion. Birmingham celebrated Trafalgar Day on the Sunday. Could we not have a Wilberforce Day? I feel slightly uncomfortable that we celebrate and constantly remember a violent battle, albeit a victory, with what are now our European friends and cousins and perhaps tend to forget Wilberforce and his wife, Barbara who were so instrumental in ending a shameful, pernicious practice and saved so many innocent lives from such evil.
Let's have a William Wilberforce Day every year!
Patrick B Hayes.
(See also photographs below)
God did indeed smile on us last Saturday when a bright chilly morning slowly turned into warm autumn sunshine. Despite the dilapidation of the house, one can still feel its dignity and indeed charm as the warmth of past years and life greets the visitor upon entering the hallway. Even if there is bare brickwork and hazard tape in the corridor by the former ballroom the feeling of, “This was a happy house” is almost certain.
So, we celebrated the first ever 'William Wilberforce Day' at the house which had taken weeks to plan and prepare. The doors opened at 11.00 and there was a feeling of anxiety when by 11.30 only a couple of people had come to the day. However, by midday the numbers swelled and around 300 people enjoyed the day.
There was an eclectic mix of activities; the children enjoyed Ev's African mask making workshop whilst adults pursued the informative exhibition on Wilberforce and his friends diligently created by Simon and Andy, and various arts and crafts as well as chatting to members of the Rookery House Trust.
The day was officially opened by Bishop Joe Aldred who spoke on the abolition of the slave trade and Phil Mist encouraged the audience to join the Trust and Jim and Mike sang a blues version of 'Amazing Grace.' However, probably the highlight of the day was the wonderful tour of the grounds and house where guests met Barbara Spooner who was born and brought up in the house and later married William Wilberforce, Wilber himself as well as John Newton who penned the famous hymn, 'Amazing Grace' and Equiano, a former slave who joined the abolition movement.
There were some magical, memorable moments especially when the audience could see both Wilber and Barbara walk down the tree lined path towards them and later being served cake by Barbara in the courtyard! It was if we had all genuinely been taken back in time and caught a privileged glimpse of those that have now gone before us. Then there was Equiano demonstrating with the use of a small wardrobe the space a slave had to endure for the harsh atlantic crossing. And let us not forget John Newton kneeling on the main stairs, where usually the sound of office workers feet can be heard was replaced by the opening lines of 'Amazing Grace' and John's heartfelt confession of being part of that hideous trade.
On a lighter note there was a chance to learn regency dancing with Cathy in her empire dress, which quite a lot of people did and it was wonderful to see the large Georgian room full of dance and dancers, just as it would have been all those years ago.
To finish there was Ozzie's Caribbean food and tradition tea and sandwiches to be sampled in the courtyard café and business flowed throughout the day!
It was a successful and enjoyable day and I would like to end with a suggestion. Birmingham celebrated Trafalgar Day on the Sunday. Could we not have a Wilberforce Day? I feel slightly uncomfortable that we celebrate and constantly remember a violent battle, albeit a victory, with what are now our European friends and cousins and perhaps tend to forget Wilberforce and his wife, Barbara who were so instrumental in ending a shameful, pernicious practice and saved so many innocent lives from such evil.
Let's have a William Wilberforce Day every year!
Patrick B Hayes.
(See also photographs below)
Monday 22 October 2007
Saturday 6 October 2007
Friday 28 September 2007
North Birmingham Artists Database
We are seeking submissions from artists based in North Birmingham for a database that will be published as a brochure and be made available through Local Libraries and Birmingham City Council.
This will allow those seeking artists to find what they're looking for and enable the artists themselves to advertise their practice and find new audiences for their work.
If you would like to be included please email us for an application form at admin.erdo@gmail.com
This will allow those seeking artists to find what they're looking for and enable the artists themselves to advertise their practice and find new audiences for their work.
If you would like to be included please email us for an application form at admin.erdo@gmail.com
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