11-11-11

Fused Fave Mr Jon Bounds – the man behind the wonderful ‘Birmingham its Not Shit‘ site has this wonderful idea that could be either a complete sign of madness or genius – you decide:

The fine folks of Birmingham are invited to spend eleven hours on the famous eleven bus (which takes you on a tour of Birmingham’s outer circle – the longest urban bus routes in Europe) on the eleventh of November - hence 11-11-11.

On the eleventh of November we’re inviting anyone with an interest to spend eleven hours on the eleven bus starting at eleven am in “Birmingham: It’s Not Shit’s 11 11 11” (yes I know there’s four elevens there really, but even the alliteration starts to drag after a bit). The rules are

• Get on the 11C at 11am (or as near as dammit) on 11/11.
• Get off the 11C at 10pm — 11 hours later — (or as near as dammit) on 11/11.
• You can get on and off the bus as many times as you like (don’t spend more than an hour off bus).
• Document your journey; photos, film, writing, cross-stitch, knitting, amigurumi, poetry, blog, twitter, however you like.
• Meet up with others as mad as you, if you want.
• Record everything here — or on your own space and link us up.

The idea is that a snapshot of the real Birmingham from a number of different people will emerge, one that’s unedited, unspun, and unwashed. Circling the city will force the gaze inward, focussing our attention exclusively on our municipality. It’ll also freak out the drivers, who normally expect passengers to have a destination in mind.

We look forward to seeing the results which will hopefully make a wonderful archive and a potentially great art exhibition.

Converse with 1HUND(RED) contributors to Exhibit

Converse 1HUND(RED) Artist Exhibit

On 10th October – 31st October Converse will be having a exhibition at the store on Carnaby St in London featuring appearances by leading Converse 1HUND(RED) contributors Ben Drury, David Rainbird and Precious McBane, the preview will allow guests to view the collections and meet the artists behind the designs.  An impressive roster of talent from acclaimed artists in the worlds of music, art and fashion, other 1HUND(RED) Artists contributors work on display will also include new designs from Basso and Brooke, Gary Hume, Umbereen Quereshi, and Camilla Engman.

Additionally, Converse offers the capability to give the public a chance to express their originality with MAKE MINE RED  www.converseone.com.

This is certainly not an opertunity to be missed. for more information about the collection or exhibition please click the link above.

Field Of Light

From 23 to 26 October the atrium at Millennium Point, Birmingham, will be covered in a Field of Light – with 120 fabulously coloured, energy-efficient glow lights. However, UKType have made it worldwide so you don’t have to be in Birmingham to experience the Field as there will be a web-cam so you’ll be able to watch it anytime a day through via the internet. The Field is also fully interactive so you can control what the Field does. There is a website with a really simple sequencer that will allow you to programme how the lights react. Before the website goes public UKType are looking for a few people to test it out and to see what they think.
If this sounds interesting, simply go to http://www.fieldoflight.net/home.aspx and register yourself with the site. Then if you fancy it go to the sequencer page where you can create your own light sequence.

CULT of DENIM at Selfridges, London

Cult of Denim is an artistic collaboration with contemporary British artist Stuart Semple and select denim brands at The Selfridges Store, Oxford street, London.

This Fashion Forward project coinciding with Frieze Art Fair celebrates the versatility of denim in fashion and art.

Leading denim brands including Levis, Diesel, Evisu and 7 for All Mankind have opened their archives for the artist to translate their heritage into artworks painted on their own denim in place of canvas.

Exhibition runs 17 October – 15 November 2008

For more information contact the Selfridges website

‘The Joyful Bewilderment’ Tonight at the Rough Trade East, London

If your around London this evening wondering what you can do. We have news that will solve your problem.

The Outcrowd Collective proudly presents ‘The Joyful Bewilderment’ an international group exhibition show casing the out pouring of a group of 125 image makers. All the artists share the love to create magic from the mundane.

This exhibition can be seen as an expression of these artists compulsion to create. The artists will show a variety of works including pencil, ink, paint and photography.

The Exhibition is from 3rd – 27th October at The Rough Trade East, ‘Dray Walk’, Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL.

For more information contact the website

Want your work on the silver screen?

Baskerville World!
UKType and the Baskerville Project is searching high and low for examples
of John Baskerville’s most elegant and sublime typeface.

From your local street sign, to your favorite body text, we are
looking for images of Baskerville to include in the closing scenes of
the short animated film: Baskerville.

Join the hunt for Baskerville and post your contributions to our
Baskerville Project Flickr group: Baskerville Project Flickr group

Resonance Events presents…..

Friday 3rd October sees the 2nd instalment of resonance events at the Town Hall, Birmingham. With The Heritage Orchestra playing the mad music of Amon Tobin, an album launch for Nu soul and jazz singer Lizzy Parks and the cream of Birmingham’s hip-hop talent. There will be Jazz, Brassy beats, rare groove, swirling orchestral movements, lyrical skulduggery and dance offs all housed in the Birmingham Town Hall for one night only.

Wax Poetics, Rope-A-Dope and all the artists performing – including Tru Thoughts will be giving away goodies throughout the night.

The cost of this event is £15 per ticket for 7 hours of music excellence.

for more informaation and to book your tickets contact the Town Hall and Symphony Hall on;

0120 644 6028 lyle.bignon@thsh.co.uk

Come to the Fused and Urban Outfitters shopping evening

Fused and Urban Outfitters are hosting a party at the Birmingham Store and you are invited.

On Thursday 9th October from 6-9pm you can shop till you drop with 10% discount instore for one night only.

The music comes courtesy of the Bigger Than Barry boys, the drinks courtesy of Coors Light, Barefoot wine and Vitamin Water and the art from a collection of Fused’s fabulous contributors.

The first 50 people through the door will get a goody bag so make sure you join us and feel free to invite your friends.

Don’t miss out.

The 1193.6 mile long Catwalk

London Fashion week goes the extra mile this season – more like the extra 1193.6 miles. House of Fraser hosted the ‘Worlds longest catwalk’ relay from Lands End to John O’Groats, The relay taking over 382 hours walked as if on a catwalk by professional models, volunteers and House of Fraser staff through the rocky paths and English weather. The models walked in the latest trends and the highest heels to raise money for the London Fashion Week registered BFC Princess of Wales charitable Trust. They were hoping to raise a fantastic £20,000 and as the relay finished early this morning the exact about is still to be verified.

News from PLUS +

The PLUS INTERNATIONAL DESIGN FESTIVAL 2008 has now been launched. The first week of November between the 5th to 8th in Birmingham, the venue will be announced shortly.

The 2008 Festival takes as its theme ‘Hybrid’ which will be applied across a range of activities including exhibitions, talks, walking tours and demonstrations. Hybrid has been chosen as the focus of this year’s event as it not only aptly describes Britain – which is a unique country that has developed in an exceptional way – but it also expresses the current state of graphic communication.

Call for Speakers and  Exhibitors is now open as is the registration, please go to www.youplusus.net, submissions link for more information.