Saturday, November 21, 2009

How could I have not posted in here since February?

I mean, I've blogged a lot this year - just not in this one. It's been a rollercoaster of a year, too.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Come to the Birmingham Photospace FlashSwap Event?

So, as some of you may know I'm part of a small (but perfectly formed) group of volunteers who are gathering to try and raise support for (and eventually set up!) a photography gallery and photographers' centre for Birmingham (UK).

We're having our first event next month - a sort of grand 'hello world!' if you like - where we are giving photographers the chance to come and exhbit their a print (or two...or more) of their work and then swap it for someone else's.

Our press release (ooh!) says:

Local photographers are being invited to exhibit and swap their work for free at Birmingham’s Custard Factory.

Birmingham Photospace, a voluntary group dedicated to finding a permanent space for photography in the city, is hosting ‘Flash Swap’ – an event on Saturday 21st March at the Custard Factory’s Vaad Gallery for photographers of all levels to showcase their work for free.

The event will allow people to be part of a ‘swap session’, where they can take home their favourite image from the exhibition, providing that they have left one of their own prints in exchange. This picture exchange will give people the chance to meet fellow photographers over a drink and to display their artwork, but is also intended to raise awareness of the organisers’ long-term goal: to establish a permanent photography gallery in Birmingham.

It is the group’s first event in the city, and will take place on Saturday, 21st March with submissions accepted from 11.00am – 4pm and viewing and swap session from 5pm – 8pm at the Custard Factory’s Vaad Art Gallery in Digbeth.

I hope some of you will come along. Do comment on this post if you need any more information.

See you there - it's going to be loads of fun!

Friday, January 16, 2009

The next post is a request from Beth.

She asks what the best things to do when visiting England are.

This post - I shall answer in stages. The first thing you should do when visiting the UK is spend a few days in London. Why? Because despite everything, it's a fantastic city. The top 5 things you should do in London then:

1) Spend time with me. Let me show you round. I first moved to London in 1986, and left in 1999, so I know bus routes round the city and won't get lost. I don't know any of the new bars or restaurants though, so I'll have to dig out my Time Out Eating and Drinking guide.

2) Museums. If it were up to me, and time was limited, I'd force you into the British Museum, if only to see my favourite exhibition Living and Dying and of course the Rosetta Stone.
You'd then be forced to the Tate Modern across the wobbly bridge from St Paul's.

3) Take a boat trip up the Thames to Kew. I think it's the nicest way to see the bridges, and Kew is just wonderful. If it's cold we could hide in the tropical house.

4) Shop! Come and see the amazing variety of shops London has. Come and admire the cheese with me at Neal's Yard, covet the style in Liberty...or just stare at the gorgeous building (come and see the parrots on the wall in the jewellery dept!).

5) See some live music. Every night in London there's some great music playing. Tickets are easier to come by than you might think. We have some great music venues in London -just promise me one thing? Stay well away from the Hammersmith Odeon.