Great news for 7inch Cinema

Well done to the folks at 7inch Cinema who have received funding from the UK Film Council for their fantastic Flatpack Festival. Starting just 5 years ago as a short film night at the Rainbow in Birmingham 7inch events have grown to include: archive projects, gallery residencies, touring events and the festival itself; a programme of activity which reaches thousands of people every year across the UK and beyond.

Comments from Ian Francis – Programme Director:

“This is a fantastic endorsement from the Film Council. Competition for the fund was really fierce, and for a young, adventurous event like Flatpack to be awarded is a massive boost for us and for Birmingham.”

Flatpack have received £70k over 3 years which is sure to help them continue the great work they do. Peter Buckingham, Head of Distribution and Exhibition at the UK Film Council:

“Flatpack put in a very impressive application and I’m delighted that we are supporting them. Their innovative approach to screening films in churches, warehouses and shopping centres as well as cinemas and gallery spaces is a brilliant idea because it helps to attract new audiences to some great short films, animation and live film events.”

Check out their forthcoming events:

A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS – Weds 25 June at the Ikon Gallery
Q&A/slideshow with Ian Francis (7 Inch Cinema co-director)

7INCH 5th BIRTHDAY SHINDIG – Sat 28 June at the Rainbow, Digbeth
Featuring Juneau Projects, Mike In Mono, Jaygo Bloom, Prime Objective

FLUMMOXED – Thurs 3 July at the Rainbow Warehouse, Digbeth
An unpredictable evening of music, film and performance

SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL – 12/13 July at the Custard Factory
Film programme as part of Capsule’s annual music festival.

KNITFLICKS – 19/20 July at Compton Verney, Warks
Rolling programme of shorts and animation on a knitting theme

GREEN MAN FESTIVAL - 15-17 August in mid-Wales
Including 7 Inch Cinema programme with a mix of screenings and live acts

INDIVIDUAL HAPPINESS NOW – 6 September at Ikon Eastside
A celebration of pioneering artist and filmmaker Len Lye

I went to Ikon Eastside last night and all I got were some flip flops

The launch of Ikon’s new Eastside space in Birmingham last night was quite a lot for the senses to take in.

Turning up at about 8.30pm the space was in almost complete darkness with people sitting on the floor and milling around looking bemused. Having managed not to trip over the bodies on the floor – and with my eyes getting used to the lack of light – I realised that I was indeed walking over Soi Project’s Island and nobody seemed to mind… until the lights came up.

The work is made up of 3-dimensional Islands on the ground which are covered in Google Earth images. Visitors navigate their way around the islands via the sea and are invited to put stickers on the island to influence the useage of the space. But the really clever thing is that over 24 minutes (rather than hours) the passage of time is simulated using the lighting in the space which takes us from almost pitch black to bright daylight – and the warming effects of the light almost feel like sun (although i’m not sure that was the intention).

So when daylight arrived I was spotted and promptly directed to the door to collect some flip flops (I was wearing heels – big faux pas for this particular exhibition). The flip flops (I assume) are to be worn so you don’t damage the work as you walk around it or on top of it which also seemed to be encouraged.

But don’t be alarmed the flip flops were new and I was allowed to take them home with me which felt like a little gift to remember the work by.

The space used for Ikon Eastside is soon to be ‘Fazeley Studios’ (owned by the Custard Factory) – a large complex of office and workshop space which will be completed in about 6 weeks.

Ikon Eastside Opening Party

Tonight sees the openin of Ikon’s new Eastside space at 183 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. The opening exhibition is SOI PROJECT Island comprises a 3D island covered in satellite images from Google Earth.

Established in 2003 by Japanese architect Jiro Endo and Thai artist Wit Pimkanchanapong, Soi Project is a group of artists, musicians, architects and designers engaging audiences in interactive and social situations. Soi launches Ikon’s new Eastside space with a three-dimensional island, an imaginary land mass made from a composite of satellite images drawn from Google Earth™. The passage of time on the island is simulated through the use of lighting that gradually shifts from night time darkness through brilliant daylight over a 24 minute cycle. Visitors are encouraged to influence the landscape and occupy areas of their choice by attaching templates of buildings, swimming pools and beach umbrellas.

There is a free bus running (7.30pm & 8.00pm) from Ikon Brindleyplace – where there is also a private view of the Lutz and Guggisberg exhibition.

Images from Ruth Claxton Exhibition

Fused popped up to the Private View of Ruth Claxton’s exhibition at the IKON gallery this evening (see post below). Dave Fused kindly handed me his iPhone so I could take a few pics of the work.

It is the first time I have seen Ruth’s work on such an extensive scale and the sculptural pieces mixed with the ornaments look very impressive. The gallery space is filled with mirrored shiny round structures on which the pieces sit and it makes for a great display.

Here are a few of my personal favourites:

Whilst at the exhibition we also bumped in to curator Gavin Wade who filled us in about the new Eastside Art space that he is director of. Sounds like he has some exciting plans and will be working with both Birmingham based artists as well as International  artists.

We also had a quick chat with award winning photographer Stuart Whipps whose images will be on display at New Art Gallery Walsall. The private view is this Thursday and the exhibition is accompanied by an 80 + page book designed by James Langdon and  features 2 essays. Most of the images haven’t been exhibited before and are from Stuart’s Longbridge and Nanjing series.

Ruth Claxton exhibition launch

Ruth Claxton’s first major museum exhibtion launches tonight at the IKON gallery in Birmingham. For those of you who have followed Fused since the early days you may remember she was one of the artists chosen to exhibit in Fused’s CLASH exhibition.

For those who do not know her work she has become known for her ‘blind’ pieces which include porcelain figurines which are mutalated and given a new identity.

Ruth Claxton.
Lands End, 2008 (detail)