Uncanny Views from Bristol's nomadic gallery

Those of you who follow the artistic happenings of our fine city may be aware of the roving gallery that goes by the name of Antlers. In its previous incarnation it housed a choice selection of grotesques just off Whiteladies Road. That installation done with, it has relocated to Park Street to present an impressive and varied array of landscapes. 

ALT . . . young people promoting young artists

So it's been a while, but there is something I've wanted to blog about for a while.
It seems that young artists are desperate to get their work out there but are usually too broke to be able to afford a spot in the huge exhibitions which allow them to showcase their work, enter ALT, a completely new way of conceiving artistic promotion.  Recent graduates Alice and Lucy decided it was time to give everyone a space in which to exhibit and perform.



Firstly, why ALT?

-"We wanted people to have another look at things, to broaden the idea of what art is and what it can be so we came up with ALT, short for alternative as well as being german for stop.  It kind of tries to make you look twice."

What decided you to put together ALT?

-"Well, we know a lot of talented people who have a lot of trouble getting their work out there and it's a shame that many artists feel that they have no way of starting up."
-"This way you get to meet the artists, we even have some of them creating on the spot, painting or drawing so that others can ask about the creative process.  We're trying to make art more interactive, a social event rather than just something to look at, that's why musicians perform whilst others paint and you can wander, have a drink, chat, dance, ask . . . it's a different kind of night out."

Is that why you chose a pub venue?

-"Yea definitely, it also helps to popularise the event, you don't have to be a regular museum goer to come along, you can also just enjoy the music and drinks."

David Russel, an undergraduate in graphic design said:
"It's a great chance to exhibit and quite frankly I love doing this kind of stuff.  Most graphic artists take on jobs in order to save the cash to pay for an exhibit of their own work, but that takes years to be able to do.  This allows me to just jump in."

So what's in store for the future?

-"We're not sure to be honest, it rather depends on how it goes."
-"I mean if we get in enough artists and customers we could even look into trying to make an under-18s event but it's all just ideas for now."

Another event is currently being planned for mid-April in London, so if you're around and fancy spending one evening with culture as well as booze make sure you keep an eye out.

MM

Who Dares Writes: Lost & Found

When: 7.30pm, 11-12th February 2011

Where: MR5C, Bristol Student Union

What: This year's showcase of Bristol Uni's new writing, directing and acting talent opened last night with 2011's Who Dares Writes- and it's bloody funny! With ten ten-minute pieces of drama, all based around a "lost and found" theme and written by students,  it's well worth a watch for theatre-lovers everywhere. We promise you an evening's entertainment of angry teddy bears, stationary zealots, pre-teen romances and pepper seeds...

How Much: £2

Wild Sex

That's right - the Natural History Museum's new exhibition, 'Sexual Nature', explores the sex lives of animals in the Wild. Did you know, female orangutans like to use tree bark for pleasure? And ring-tailed lemurs see off sexual rivals with stink fights? For more fascinating facts, check out the exhibition. It runs from 11 February - 2 October 2011.

BBC News

E.D.

Save the World, No Effort Required!

I've been meaning to write a blog about Avaaz for a while now. Avaaz is a HUGE online campaign community that has been raising its voice since 2007, and now has (at the time of writing) over 7 million members. That's a lot of people power!

Basically Avaaz utilizes technology to create huge responses to global events and injustices; by signing up to their mailing list you will be sent details about each new campaign, and can sign epetitions with a click of a button. Small actions, but big results.I won't go into the many success stories they have to show for themselves, but if you're interested then the website makes inspiring reading.

It literally requires no time or effort on your part. Cash donations, though appreciated, are optional. Just follow this link and type your email address in under "Join now", and add your voice to the international movement.

There's no excuse not to!


LE.

Penguin Cafe Orchestra & Portico Quartet.

Calling all hard-core obscure electronic Jazz fans; Penguin Cafe (of Napolean Dynamite OST fame) coupled with the Mercury nominated Portico Quartet are coming to our very doorsteps later this month, playing the Colston on 15th Feb.




A wonderfully eccentric (and oh so slightly late) Valentine's experience - ethereal clatters and rhythmic Sax aplenty!

Tickets - http://www.colstonhall.org/whatson/Event1948