Little Italy

Yesterday evening I was lucky enough to experience a piece of 'Little Italy' right on my doorstep. The Islington Museum, and all those involved in the showcasing of their new exhibition, Little Italy got together to celebrate its sucess! With wine, focaccia, and a lovely range of cheeses and salami, the ambience was fitting for this commemoration of the Italian community who settled in Clerkenwell and Holborn from the early nineteenth century onwards. The Italian church of St Peter and Gazzano's cafe on Farringdon Road are just a few of the Italian landmarks surviving today, which play a part in the historic story of Clerkenwell's Italian past.

The exhibition offers a wonderful collection of photographs from the period, and the rather more unique pictures of a young boy with a monkey and craftmen at work really takes you back into a time when ice creams were 'penny-a-lick'. Contemporary quotes and extracts from local press illustrate the impact of the Italian community on Clerkenwell and nicely capture the introduction of ice cream to our culture - with an authentic ice cream machine on show! The exhibition unveils the Italian story and the oral history accounts brings the exhibition to a close with the voices and music of the Italian quarter coming back to life.

Following a speech of gratuity to Camden archives and the support from Friends of the Museum we were all honoured with the playing of the Chiappa family's louder than life, hand made organ - which brought smiles of delight all round!

Little Italy @ The Islington Museum, 245 St John St (below Finsbury Library), London, EC1V 4NB, on show until 31st May.

Madness and Modernity: Mental illness and the visual arts in Vienna 1900

Vienna 1900 was a time of great artistic efflorescence... When artists, writers and the likes would meet at coffeehouses to discuss all that was modern, from art and politics to medicine and social change.

It is in this period that Freud published his first writings on psychoanalysis in Vienna. The Wellcome Collection has brought Vienna 1900 to life with a display of architecture and visual art produced in this exceptional age. The exhibition begins with a film of 'The Tower of Fools' (a purpose built institution for 'dangerous lunatics') which brings to life the reality of medecine and madness in 18th - 19th Century Vienna. Its exploration of the geometric precise building, past skeleton cases and locked doors, is soundtracked by echoing footsteps that chase you through the empty corridors. By highlighting the thought behind developments to mental hospitals of physical beauty and Freud's infamous consulting room this history of medecine really explores the changing perception of the insane and their cure.

The fine line between mental illness and artist is ever present, from Franz-Xaver Messerschmidt's series of grimacing heads - it is believed by some to be self portraiture of his different personalities - to the pathological art exemplified in Egon Schiele's persistent scrutiny of face and body. Much visual art depicted the idyosyncracies and characteristics of indiviudals suffering from mental illness with twitching faces and withered bodies. Such portraits of the mentally ill registered it as a modern condition and highlights the mutual relationship between mental illness and the arts.

This exhibition is showing @ The Wellcome Collection until 28th June but there is also Bobby Baker's Diary Drawings: Mental Illness on show until August and a campaigning workshop is being held on Saturday 18th April.

A busy week...

D Fuse @ the German Gymnasium

Pathways: King's Cross investigates how we remember and imagine a place and how we document change. Create KX and King's Cross Central commissioned D Fuse to reflect on this process in King's Cross. The group of designers and artists explore the relationship between image and sound. For Pathways they have drawn inspiration from the development underway in the area today as well as through stories and images from the past. Their interesting use of oral history gives the audience a unique and very personal experience of the changes in King's Cross. Its diverse nature is captured by the soundtrack of different voices revealing memories and tales from the past; the old Scala Cinema, now popular music venue, is given a humourous depiction as an old photograph is shown on the transparent screen. Their film of famous King's Cross landmarks taken from still images of old films and photographs is projected on to layers of transparent screen. A mirror image is then shown of the same view but from present time. This crossing of time and the layered visual effect depicts the concept of memory and history itself- as simply a reconstruction of what is rememebered and documented. As a King's Cross resident its fascinating to hear stories from the area, which otherwise would be missing from our understanding of history- Who would have thought Pentonville Road used to be referred to as the river Jordan!
Come and pop in and discover something a bit different about living in King Cross, on show until April 5th, opening times weekend 11am-5pm, Thurs/Fri 12pm - 7.30.

Big Chill House, 257-259 Pentonville Road, King’s Cross, LondonN1 9NL

The shock of summer sun last week meant that the The Big Chill's fun loving crowd all headed out on to their comfy roof balcony last Saturday night. Many a-sipping fruity cocktails whilst trying to convince their goosepimpled arms that this was how March in London IS. That is the great thing about the Big Chill house, its holiday vibe, a care free realm very distant from the grey city streets of King's Cross. Luckily, I ventured indoors in time to hear the amazing Laura J Martin. A very talented flute player who has brought Hip Hop to a different level. Soon to follow were 6ix Toys, a 7 piece funk band currently based and gigging out of Liverpool. Its jazzy beats really worked with the crowd, and their interactive performance enusred the whole room were hanging off every beat. Check out what the house has to offer on: http://www.bigchill.net/house/?site=house

'From Grass Roots To Virtual Worlds', VisitKX @ The Wellcome Collection.

It has been a busy week at CreateKX, with three different events being brought to the creative community of Kings Cross. This seminar looked at communications and the many varied and innovative ways of guaranteeing that your arts organisation/venue stands out in the crowd, particularly when the competition to attract visitors is becoming fiercer then ever. Led by social entrepreneur Jude Habib, founder and Creative Director of Sound Delivery, the very productive morning covered the wide ranging communication techniques available to us today and their essential utility to charities and small organisations. I think it was Jude's interactive approach to the morning's session which ensured we all went away with a practical approach to overcoming a few of our challenges...

1)How do you currently communicate? Websites, Yell.com - funky venues, E-mail existing customers, Advertising, Press Editorial, Leaflets in public places, Social networking sites, Print Marketing.

2)Challenges? Keeping clients, Growing, Content - combining critical interest with commercial viability, Attracting new customers, Footfall - off the beaten track?
Getting local press on board, Saturation of market, Speed of technology development

3)What are the options available to us? Different types of Social Networking: Bebo = for the younger audience, Facebook, mySpace = Music orientated, LinkedIn = Professional, Podcasts, Twitter, Useful approaches to Twitter; following Twitter/Blog's relevant to your work, responding to groups/ organisations who use Twitter in your local area and region in order to communicate with your target audience.

CreateKX Spring Networking Event

The Only Connect theatre at 32 Cubbitt Street is a hidden gem, and a discovery which all attendees last night seemed to get excited about! CreateKX were delighted to be hosting one of their lively and entertaining networking events within this former Baptist Church. The warm and welcoming theatre was dimly lit and provided great ambiance. (Its intimate and unique feel has really encouraged me to return and watch one of their full stage theatre productions!) Armed with wine and nibbles our Kings cross guests soon got chatting about their various developments and projects within the local creative and cultural realm. It was invigorating to hear new ideas on the loose, avid chattering as well as objective dicussion.

Once sustenance was restored Mark McGuiness brought us all to a hush with his mention of the notorious ENNEGGRAM. He had sent us all the personality test to fill out on invitation so many of us felt that unnerving sense of exposure- will my caring nature be seen as cowardly or ruthless ambition a sign of self absorption?! But it was far more constructive than instructive. Guided by his story based on King Charles I himself we were challenged to bring our inner court 'joker' out from within.

For a social evening Mark provided a great starting point, educating the room on how to observe oneself, and most importantly develop compassion for ourselves and others. What's more it was a fantastic opportunity to come and meet the Only Connect team, and find out more about their work and plans for King’s Cross.

The pleasures of work...

A mid week entry from the CreateKX team today because The School of Life have come up with one of their many new and alternative ideas- bringing us all a little refreshment to our Wednesday afternoons! Turning order on its head The School of Life is reinventing itself as an alternative job centre throughout April. Rather than invite employers to advertise jobs for us to squeeze ourselves into, you are given the opportunity to write an ad for the job of your dreams, and let employers decide if they are able to offer it to you!

Instructions:
Write your personal ad, which advertises to the world the kind of person you are and what you care about- include name, personal qualities, talents, values & ambitions plus contact details and send to:info@theschooloflife.com

a walk through the ages...



What's more, for those of you who take an avid interest in your local urban landscape and its changing face, King's Cross Railway Lands Group is going to be taking a walk through the ages this Saturday 21st March. Departing from The British Library at 2.30pm guided by Linda Clarke, who has a PHD in social and economic history, you will be taken on an informative and intersting amble in and around the old Kings Cross railway lands.To really appreciate present developments and their future prospects it is often useful to get to grips with the past. So why not catch some rays this weekend and take away something new from the fascinating history of your locality.

Radical Roots - Education Workshop

I want to share this great opportunity hosted by the Islington Museum for those aged between 14 - 19 years old.

Islington Museum
243 St John Street,
Islington,
London, EC1V 4NB

Contact details: alex.smith@islington.gov.uk

Book now for FREE workshops and courses run by award-winning music college Point Blank. Point Blank is the most innovative music, media and arts training centre in the UK, voted 'Best Music Production and DJ College' for six years running by the readers of DJ Magazine. Islington Museum have teamed up with Point Blank to offer free courses in Radio Production, Music Production or Digital Art.

Your tutors will be highly experienced industry professionals who have worked with major recording artists such as Leona Lewis, Sugababes, Oasis, Natasha Bedingfield and Massive Attack. This is your chance to learn the skills you need to get ahead in the media industry.Come along to a taster session to get an idea of what it’s all about. Courses are free, open to anyone aged between 14 and 19, and will run throughout school holidays in spring 2009. You will receive an accredited award, and – if you’re determined – could be awarded a scholarship to study at Point Blank Music College in Hoxton. What’s more, the work that you create will go on public display for 3 months as part of an exhibition in Islington Museum.

So if you’re aged between 14 and 19, don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to get creative, produce your own work, and be noticed!

Taster Sessions:
Thursday 19th March 4pm – 7pm
Thursday 7th May 4pm -7pm

Courses:
6 – 9 April 2009 Music Production
14 – 17 April 2009 Radio Production
26 – 29 May 2009 Digital Art

The Art of Lost Words

The Art of Lost Words is an exhibition of design, typography and illustration inspired by forgotten words. The German Gymnasium is hosting the unique exhibition until Monday 9th March, so this coming weekend is a great opportunity to rediscover some of the obscure words which have been hiding within the depths of our language's long history. Through the exploration of language and image 41 artists have brought back to life obsolete words, exploring their mystery and meaning in witty and innovative ways - "There is...no word...which does not have a multiplicity of meanings" Nietzsche.

Here are a few of my favourite words, and their inspired works:

Morsicant – producing the sensation of repeated biting or pricking, Viviane Schwarz has humorously depicted the adjective and ingeniously grasped the element of repetition in a series of four pictures involving both biting and pricking; from a drawing of a Granny knitting in the dark to a larger than life, ‘here is one I made earlier’, coloufully crocheted biting creature.

Innocciduous – adj. a star never setting. Russell Mills work uses paper and acrylic producing a dark and mysterious expanse of emptiness, he has also used coal dust - quite fitting for a star that resists its glowing form.

Embrangle - confuse or entangle. Alan Dye/ NB: Studio designed a visual global message. Through the inspiration of this single word the artist explores Iraq on a map. The very detailed piece suggets Iraq's meaning as a country and as an area of entanglement, within itself and in relation to the rest of the world, and the confusion and entanglement that the rest of the world have brought on the country.

Benthonic is one of more surprising words meaning living on the bottom of the sea. Ellie Curtis displays an amazing ink illustration of sea creatures within a sea creature. Similarly creature inspired, Audrey Niffenegger’s piece inspired from the word Murklins meaning, stumbling through darkness, tells a 'cycle of life' tale of little murklin beings stumbling through unending darkness, they seem as lost as their very host word!

Work (and the words that inspired them) will be on display at the German Gym and available online for purchase from 6 March. Proceeds from sales will go towards the National Literacy Trust.

Pancakealympics, Sunday 22nd February
Islington town Hall, Upper Street

A fun day out for all last Sunday as Islington Town Hall hosted the annual pancake race. The celebration for ten years of farmers markets in London has got off to an energetic start - we all supported our local farmers by making pancakes with locally produced ingedients!

Sadler's Wells: The Home of Dance
Traces - Les 7 Doigts de Main
performed at The Peacock Theatre until 14th March

As I entered the small theatre and was greeted by myself on film, on stage, I knew this was going to be a performance avec un petit quelque chose!

Once everyone was seated an ominous voice, somewhere from above, brought everyone to a hush with 7 Doigts de la Main's very own ironical and humoured in-house rules. Taking on the stage head first, the four men- one woman- troupe introduce themselves primarily through dance and expression. The early dance between a man and woman is beautifully choreographed. The joint movement of the pair across the stage flows so skilfully that the viewer is led to believe that the duo cannot be separated. The personal tone of their performance was immediate. With narration, photographs and film snippets of each individual’s past the audience is invited to be a part of their story.

Traces is about how to survive the unsurvivable literally- from an edge of the seat, heart stopping onlooker - but also metaphorically. In the face of destruction, the team try to create as much as they can, making traces of themselves so that they will continue to exist into infinity. From Chinese acrobatics to ballet dancing, from skate boarding to basketball, the performers explore the concept of memory and dream. A dream of sandy beaches comes true as sand is delicately littered across the stage, the acrobats dance with the basketball so that Les 7 Doigts de la Main can physically leave their traces.

The climax of the show unravelled a body defying spectacle. The audience were really on the edge of the seats, as the troupe reached super human level. The impossible was achieved. Even if infinity cannot be reached gravity can certainly be defied! Set to a fantastic soundtrack ranging from rock 'n'roll to blues to hip hop, this is a thrill-a-minute show takes your breath away.

Mud, mud glorious mud

Volunteering with B T C V @ Bentley Priory
BTCV, 80 York Way, Kings Cross

All London city types need to step out of the capital from time to time. Even, if to simply acknowledge the world that exists outside of the big smoke’s environs. Not so long ago, a friend of mine sheepishly proposed such an opportunity - An outdoorsy, welly-wearing, do –gooding venture. I would now like to share my experience with others, to those of you who are interested in taking practical action to help improve the environment, enjoy getting outdoors or simply like to stay healthy for free!

Despite a late night last Saturday Sunday morning saw us pulling on the wooly jumpers and clearly never-been-worn anoraks, and packing the essential lunch box full of enough provisions to last a week. Surprisingly well kitted out, we headed through North London on the BTCV minibus ( passing en route ‘The Egg’, and its party harder’s, which was still pumping out the beats) accompanied by 15 fellow ‘conservationists’.

Volunteering with BTCV in London gives you the opportunity to both discover some of the 'secret gardens' across London and help transform ugly urban sites into oases of wildlife, for everyone to enjoy. We were lucky enough to be spending our day at Bentley priory, an 87 ha of woodland and meadows with two bodies of water providing a wide range of habitats for all species. It is a beautiful and well managed space and just a stones throw away from London town. The site’s leader welcomed us with an inspiring story of conservation developments in the area. The enthusiasm and love he holds for his work was infectious and really generated a motivational spirit.

Our mornings work consisted of digging a trench to drain rain water away from the footpath. We soon warmed up and felt very virtuous with bare arms in February’s chill, especially as leisurely onlookers passed by buttoned up to the chin! Time quickly went and our well-earned lunch was munched as everyone quietly took in all that nature offers. After re-fuelling we really got stuck in, clearing out a pond in time for Spring. Wading our way through the half pond/ half swamp we removed dead reeds, algae and roughage. This was highly rewarding because all the team got involved and progress was so visible, both in the making of the pond and on our mud coated attire!

As the sun lowered and contented sighs were spent I think we all felt a similar sense of achievement. The ‘hands on’ approach to work really left its mark and the feeling of satisfaction was one that is often hard to come by in the hustle and bustle of city life. The day was reflective of all of BTCVs work, which has an inclusive community focus, inspiring and connecting people with places.

S H / F T By Ellie Reid

Ellie Reid – S H / F T
@ The German Gymnasium, St. Pancras Road

As the final Interact artist, Ellie Reid’s ‘Shift’ exhibition explores the journey of construction and destruction in the 67 acre industrial development site of King’s Cross. Located in the unique grade II listed building, Ellie’s work overlooks the very construction site from which it is inspired.

The centre of the exhibition is consumed by a big air sack, which inflates and gradually deflates into varying and unpredictable shapes. The changing shapes being reflective of the ever-changing material forms produced by the regeneration project; from building - to demolished brick - into rubble – and back again. This continual process of renewal has influenced her artistic activities, which seem to evolve into something unexpected.

‘Shift’ is a display of sculptural works, drawings and film projections. The combination of different art forms is mirrored through her incorporation of unusual urban materials. Ellie’s interest in the nature of material, their abilities and their vulnerabilities is shown by her use of plastic sheeting, debris netting, wood and rubble bags.

By developing the idea of, materials and their abilities, a process of evolution occurs. This feeling of change and movement in her work surrounds you. I really grasped a sense of development and progression. It is inspiring to see such creativity materialise from the huge construction project and it is a positive symbol for Kings Cross’ creative and cultural future.

If you would like to hear Ellie discuss the work generated by her Interact placement please join us on Tuesday 17th February: The artist talk, chaired by Create KX’s Gill Henderson @ the German Gym