Anyone walking or cycling along the Regent's Canal last Sunday will have been surprised by some curious events, including the sound of horses' hooves under bridges, King's Cross development displays and a mustachioed man in a top hat telling passerby the history of ice cream in an outrageous Italian accent. All this activity was the product of 're:fresh Regent's Canal', part of the London Festival of Architecture and sponsored by Conisbee, Argent and British Waterways.
The King's Cross-based design studio I co-founded last year designed the identity, website & programme brochure for the event, as well as signage throughout KX to help people find their way around this sometimes confusing area. We were kept on our toes with related projects, too, such as an educational activity booth for Thornhill Community Gardens which went down a hit with local kids and parents. In fact, whenever I stopped by, the adults were the ones 'restocking the warehouses' in a game we designed based on a 19th-century industry map of Battlebridge Basin.
Keeping our installation up against the uncooperative forces of nature was a challenge, but people enjoyed the unexpected sound of hoofbeats under the Maiden Lane bridge, a reminder of the days when the towpaths were used for labour rather than leisure.
It was great to be part of this event, with such an exciting mix of history, community and future development of the KX area. From the ineffable actor playing ice entrepreneur Carlo Gatti, to those who took part in the construction (and destruction) of an oragami city, participants and visitors seemed to have lots of fun - despite the wind and rain!
Check out photos of the event on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/refreshregentscanal
or visit the website at http://www.refreshregentscanal.co.uk/
Rebecca Pohancenik
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
The Island- London Series
The Crypt St Pancras Church on Euston Road- February -2 March
Stephen Walter’s intricate drawings of London isles were a wonderful psychogeographic experience of the changing face of a very personal but also very public London and its environs.
Each London isle was neatly indexed and numbered so you could travel around London and stop and examine the various comments, official and unofficial toponyms and tags for the various landmarks and quarters of London boroughs, high streets and parks. Hackney is qualified with a sign saying ‘spot the artists’, St.Pancras is indicated by a ‘man at work’ triangle and Burgess Park carries a warning not to walk at night. These are a but a couple of the graffito or scrawling that make up this well documented historic A to Z of London that is then neatly translated into the large map encompassing all the isles. The labyrinthine crypt became a wholesome portrait gallery of London's aspects. Each section or island of London with its scrawls, scribbles and illustrations seemed to represent the weather beaten, well trodden face of a particular geographic personality London that had seen and will continue to see change.
This particular portrait of London will serve as a specific historical map of London for the future as the city continues to evolve and it is well worth preserving for future occasions.
The Crypt St Pancras Church on Euston Road- February -2 March
Stephen Walter’s intricate drawings of London isles were a wonderful psychogeographic experience of the changing face of a very personal but also very public London and its environs.
Each London isle was neatly indexed and numbered so you could travel around London and stop and examine the various comments, official and unofficial toponyms and tags for the various landmarks and quarters of London boroughs, high streets and parks. Hackney is qualified with a sign saying ‘spot the artists’, St.Pancras is indicated by a ‘man at work’ triangle and Burgess Park carries a warning not to walk at night. These are a but a couple of the graffito or scrawling that make up this well documented historic A to Z of London that is then neatly translated into the large map encompassing all the isles. The labyrinthine crypt became a wholesome portrait gallery of London's aspects. Each section or island of London with its scrawls, scribbles and illustrations seemed to represent the weather beaten, well trodden face of a particular geographic personality London that had seen and will continue to see change.
This particular portrait of London will serve as a specific historical map of London for the future as the city continues to evolve and it is well worth preserving for future occasions.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Bloomsbury below stairs - Grace Higgens at Charleston, 1920–1970
This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see the famous Bloomsbury Group in a very different light. Grace Higgens- affectionately known as ‘the angel of Charleston’ was the cook and housekeeper at the group’s country escape in Sussex for over 35 years where she looked after the Bell family and other prominent members of the Bloomsbury group such as the Woolves and Keynes.
Through the archives of Grace Higgens, you can see the unconventional members of this famous group in a very ‘domestic’ and intimate way. The extracts from Grace’s diaries and correspondence; the photos and shopping lists and recipes on display show the circle of friends from the inside out and provide very deep insight into their culinary tastes, domestic habits and family life and laughs. You also however get to know Grace herself as an attractive, bright, loyal and well loved member of the household who was not without culinary talent and idiosyncrasy. There is a note from Virginia Woolf asking Grace for a cake recipe and she also features in the ‘Charleston Bulletin’ having caused quite a stir when she paraded in front of the local vicar in riding breeches.
This exhibition with its colourful features, displays of cover designs and kitchen objects succeed in conjuring up the warmth and charm of the house and what it was like in the artistic hands of the Bloomsbury Group and the domestic brilliance of Grace, commemorated by a plaque in the kitchen –‘ a good friend to all Charlestonians’.
Bloomsbury below stairs is at the British Library at the Folio Society Gallery 30 January 2008 – 20 April 2008
This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see the famous Bloomsbury Group in a very different light. Grace Higgens- affectionately known as ‘the angel of Charleston’ was the cook and housekeeper at the group’s country escape in Sussex for over 35 years where she looked after the Bell family and other prominent members of the Bloomsbury group such as the Woolves and Keynes.
Through the archives of Grace Higgens, you can see the unconventional members of this famous group in a very ‘domestic’ and intimate way. The extracts from Grace’s diaries and correspondence; the photos and shopping lists and recipes on display show the circle of friends from the inside out and provide very deep insight into their culinary tastes, domestic habits and family life and laughs. You also however get to know Grace herself as an attractive, bright, loyal and well loved member of the household who was not without culinary talent and idiosyncrasy. There is a note from Virginia Woolf asking Grace for a cake recipe and she also features in the ‘Charleston Bulletin’ having caused quite a stir when she paraded in front of the local vicar in riding breeches.
This exhibition with its colourful features, displays of cover designs and kitchen objects succeed in conjuring up the warmth and charm of the house and what it was like in the artistic hands of the Bloomsbury Group and the domestic brilliance of Grace, commemorated by a plaque in the kitchen –‘ a good friend to all Charlestonians’.
Bloomsbury below stairs is at the British Library at the Folio Society Gallery 30 January 2008 – 20 April 2008
Friday, 11 January 2008
Wellcome Collection – Sleeping & Dreaming
This multi-artform exhibition intermingles artistic and scientific interpretations of sleeping and dreaming, and is a fascinating and informative insight into the world of these phenomena. One exhibit is a ‘sleep test’ where you are asked to look at a computer screen and click the mouse when you see numbers appear. The test works by calculating the time it takes you to respond to the on screen stimulus, 220 milliseconds is considered ‘good’ and 300 milliseconds would be when tired. I achieved 265 milliseconds which on a Friday afternoon, in a darkened room with images of people sleeping, was an achievement. Other exhibits include artists’ interpretations of their dreams and pictures drawn by subjects in Freud’s sleep experiments. This exhibition answers those questions you have always pondered like what are blind people’s dreams like, and do animals dream? I thoroughly recommend a visit.
The exhibition is open 29 November 2007 – 9 March 2008. Admission is free. Visit www.wellcomecollection.org for more information.
The exhibition is open 29 November 2007 – 9 March 2008. Admission is free. Visit www.wellcomecollection.org for more information.
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
Semiconductor
One of many highlights of Arrivals was the commissioning of Time out of Place a film by Semiconductor (aka Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt)
The Kings Cross area in London is rapidly transforming, creating a city in flux. Semiconductor captured this moment in human history by documenting the day to day happenings in a short moving image work. The linear nature of time makes us have a very fixed experience of it; constantly stuck in the present. To break free from these constraints Semiconductor devised a process where by we see the past present and future simultaneously. This act of seeing time reveals a different visual landscape then we are accustomed to, as multiple patterns of motion emerge to reveal a new rhythm to the city. Bearing witness to these events we perceive a place in transition, beyond our everyday experiences
The film premiered at the Arrivals opening party at the Big Chill House and could be viewed there over the whole festival. It then received a cinema screening with other artists films by Andrew Cross and Minnie Weisz at the new cinema in Birkbeck College : a lovely intimate space to watch films with great sound and visual projection.
Time out of Place rewards repeated viewing as different things are revealed every time. Do you remember the souls streaming from bodies in Donnie Darko? Semiconductor create a very similar effect beautifully and it transforms ordinary commuter and passers-by into ethereal beings, and another world is fashioned from the King's Cross rush hour...
http://www.semiconductorfilms.com/root/TimeOutOfPlace/TOOP.htm
The Kings Cross area in London is rapidly transforming, creating a city in flux. Semiconductor captured this moment in human history by documenting the day to day happenings in a short moving image work. The linear nature of time makes us have a very fixed experience of it; constantly stuck in the present. To break free from these constraints Semiconductor devised a process where by we see the past present and future simultaneously. This act of seeing time reveals a different visual landscape then we are accustomed to, as multiple patterns of motion emerge to reveal a new rhythm to the city. Bearing witness to these events we perceive a place in transition, beyond our everyday experiences
The film premiered at the Arrivals opening party at the Big Chill House and could be viewed there over the whole festival. It then received a cinema screening with other artists films by Andrew Cross and Minnie Weisz at the new cinema in Birkbeck College : a lovely intimate space to watch films with great sound and visual projection.
Time out of Place rewards repeated viewing as different things are revealed every time. Do you remember the souls streaming from bodies in Donnie Darko? Semiconductor create a very similar effect beautifully and it transforms ordinary commuter and passers-by into ethereal beings, and another world is fashioned from the King's Cross rush hour...
http://www.semiconductorfilms.com/root/TimeOutOfPlace/TOOP.htm
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Takeaway Shows
Fancy being an extra in a unique music video ?!
Julie Tippex Productions present the British premiere of Takeaway Shows - a French live podcast project that has featured Arcade Fire & The Shins, filming musicians performing in unusual, urban environments in single shots which can then be downloaded. For this special Arrivals edition filmed by la Blogotheque, Take-Away Shows invites a diverse and eclectic range of French and British talent to perform impromptu sets around Paris and London: Serafina Steer (harp, London), former This Heat member Charles Hayward (percussions, London) and Neman (drums, Paris) and Etienne Jaumet (Paris).
Further information3.30-5pm St Pancras International and Kings Cross, London
For more information visit Julie Tippex's site or Arrivals2007.org.uk
ETA - this weekend
Friday, 16 November 2007
L'Arrivee at St. Pancras - Saturday 17th Nov 2-5pm
Been down to the station yet? Seen the amazing Barlow shed? Marvelled at the beautiful replica clock? Yes, it's all very interesting, but you ain't seen nothing yet. Come down tomorrow for when the real fun starts with L'Arrivee...
To whet your appetite, in front of your very eyes, culinary gypsy band Taraf Goulamas will prepare a dish of snails in their portable kitchen, without even stopping the music! Catch the hilarious antics of award winning French Compagnie Joe Sature et les joyeux osselets presenting the UK premiere of “Out Of Service” a glimpse into the world of silver service waiters, choreographed with style and panache. Watch world famous illustrator Quentin Blake create a large scale drawing exploring the world of travel with assistance from the audience. And step, if you dare, into the barber’s chair and get a make over from Spanish hair art company Osadia who will be creating magnificent sculptures to drive away bad hair days!
Plus music from18 piece orchestra La Fanfare Jo Bithume - a cross between a philharmonic orchestra and a Dixieland jazz Band!
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Community Lens - part of Arrivals
Camden Arts and Film takes great pleasure in inviting you to the premiere screening of films made by budding filmmakers from Islington and Camden communities around the themes of identity and the changing environment of King's Cross St Pancras. For more information about the event and to book a place contact the Arts and Tourism Team.
Email: Arts.Tourism@camden.gov.uk
Free – 11:00 am, 17th November 2007
The Renoir Cinema, The Brunswick
Closest underground Russell Square and King's Cross St Pancas
Without Limits films
A collaborative project between the London Boroughs of Camden& Islington and Film London Borough Challenge Fund. Local young people are assisted in making their film by professionals from Guardian Films and Sci TV.RKX A short film on the theme of Arrivals and young people's hopes for the future of their home - King's Cross St Pancras. Produced byThe Place and directed by dance filmmaker Michelle Kettle. History KX A short film created by young people with Shake Ur Arts in partnership with Somers Town-based youth music facility The Shed.
Email: Arts.Tourism@camden.gov.uk
Free – 11:00 am, 17th November 2007
The Renoir Cinema, The Brunswick
Closest underground Russell Square and King's Cross St Pancas
Without Limits films
A collaborative project between the London Boroughs of Camden& Islington and Film London Borough Challenge Fund. Local young people are assisted in making their film by professionals from Guardian Films and Sci TV.RKX A short film on the theme of Arrivals and young people's hopes for the future of their home - King's Cross St Pancras. Produced byThe Place and directed by dance filmmaker Michelle Kettle. History KX A short film created by young people with Shake Ur Arts in partnership with Somers Town-based youth music facility The Shed.
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
New Art Club - The Visible Men
New Art Club
The Visible Men
29th October at The Place
The Visible Men
29th October at The Place
'Close'……………... 'Open' the instructions given to the packed audience at various intervals during the performance last night at The Place. The audience were given the rules of the game at the start of the show, on hearing the word 'close' the audience were to close their eyes and on hearing the word 'open' they were to open them again. An ingenious idea from Pete Shenton and Tom Roden who create the winning partnership called New Art Club. The Visible Men is developed from the original idea for New Art Club's 2004 Place Prize piece The Short Still Show which involved strategically placed blackouts. The essence of the idea remained, the importance of the invisible, the things we cannot see, but are none the less essential elements of a dance performance. This was a fascinating look at the unseen in performance, while breaking a few fundamental laws of physics, and revealing our true colours in the process.
When asked by Pete who had ‘cheated’ and opened their eyes, the vast majority of the audience admitted to this, including me. I had the desire to see the invisible but upon seeing it, much like a card trick explained, the magic disappeared. I therefore decided to revert back to ignorance, which for this game was bliss. There were moments where I opened my eyes and thought ‘how did he get there?’ Of course you assume that Pete or Tom had run across the stage while your eyes were closed, but without witnessing this, how did you know?
As ever New Art Club’s brand of dance philosophy was humorous yet thought provoking. I left the performance with aching eyelids, a smile on my face, and many questions. Another triumph for New Art Club!
When asked by Pete who had ‘cheated’ and opened their eyes, the vast majority of the audience admitted to this, including me. I had the desire to see the invisible but upon seeing it, much like a card trick explained, the magic disappeared. I therefore decided to revert back to ignorance, which for this game was bliss. There were moments where I opened my eyes and thought ‘how did he get there?’ Of course you assume that Pete or Tom had run across the stage while your eyes were closed, but without witnessing this, how did you know?
As ever New Art Club’s brand of dance philosophy was humorous yet thought provoking. I left the performance with aching eyelids, a smile on my face, and many questions. Another triumph for New Art Club!
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