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All Posts in Culture
Behance Portfolio Review week, is global event happening in hundreds of towns and cities across the world organised on behalf of the online portfolio service now owned by Adobe. Last night was the Manchester event, and Jonny Evans at Degree53, who was hosting the night was good enough to ask me to help out and take one of the feedback sessions.
The night started off with a talk from Brendan Dawes, which took us through his work and general search for serendipity (and chaos). Brendan’s work has been featured in numerous journals including idN, Creative Review, MacUser, Computer Arts, Create, Wired, Eye, The Guardian, The Times, Communications Arts and was interviewed by Computer Arts in December 2008 for their "Design Icon" series.
The whole group then split into groups 8 or 9 groups for the portfolio reviews. I lead one group, and it was an enjoyable experience. I was impressed with some of the work on display and it was great to meet so many people passionate about design, illustration and photography.
I would like to say a big thanks to Jonny at Degree53 for taking the time to organise the event. Hope you don’t mind but I’ve also pinched some of your photos from the night.
For more photos check out the Degree53 facebook page.
Follow Manchester Behance Reviews on Twitter: @BeReviewsManc
Table Hosts:
Mark Stringer, Managing Director at Ahoy Digital (@ahoymark)
David Newton, Creative Director at Ahoy Digital (@LetsNotPretend_)
Simon Vaughan, Exec Creative Director at Amaze (@amazeltd)
Paul Normington, Art Director at Amaze (@Norm_ski)
Jade Sahota, Head of Design at Degree 53 (@jadie0503)
Tash Willcocks, Programme Manager at Hyper Island (@tashwillcocks)
Michael Watson, Creative Director at Project Simply (@projectsimply)
Speaker - Brendan Dawes (@brendandawes)
Host – Jonny Evans (@jonnylikes2rant)
Wednesday 29 October
Manchester School of Art
Benzie Building, Higher Ormond Street, Manchester M15 6BR
Last night I attended, “North: The Great debate”, a discussion between prominent members of the Manchester and UK creative industries as part of the Design Manchester festival at the Stirling Prize shortlisted Benzie building. The debate was chaired by Robert Yates, Assistant Editor of The Observer, with a panel including Sir Richard Leese, the Leader of Manchester City Council; Lou Cordwell, founder and CEO of Magnetic North; Professor David Crow, the Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor of Manchester School of Art; and Caroline Norbury, the CEO of Creative England
It was billed as “Growing by Design: the role of the creative industries in building a northern powerhouse” taking place against the backdrop of a seemingly unstoppable movement towards more devolution between the cities and regions, with the recent publication of One North and the plan by the leaders of Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield; Design Manchester’s Great Debate looked at how the creative industries can stimulate and create a prosperous and successful northern economy.
There was strong discussion with several outspoken members of the audience being vocal in their opinions and whilst others had travelled from across the country to participate. The one area the debate was let down for me was the lack of an opposing voice in the panel with the members being predominantly Manchester based/focused. Although I suppose that is to be expected of a discussion happening in Manchester, with the main topic of conversation being Manchester.
'The cities of the North must have control of their own destinies' - @SirRichardLeese #northdebate
A recurrent theme was Manchester and its own (and often lack of a) narrative compared with other major hubs such as London. Personally I think Manchester has a pretty strong identity, and although creatively its reputation isn’t as strong globally as London, it however shouldn’t being trying to replicate that and instead play to its own strengths. Not that any of that really matters, for me if those in power want to turn ‘The North’ or Manchester into a globally renowned centre for the creative arts, its not about how to PR the region but rather to create a climate in which creative business want to setup in Manchester and can then operate successfully. This means having great infrastructure and office space at affordable rates to entice more business in, which then in turn creates more jobs and demand for talented individuals.
Further reading: Read Robert Yates’ article in The Observer.
Sponsored by Images&Co
Event partner: Manchester School of Art
Supported by APDIG (All-Party Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group) and Shoosmiths.
I was fortunate to enough to be interviewed for this months edition of Computer Arts magazine regarding my new job. I have subscribed to the magazine for a number of years I feel pretty honored to grace a full page of the newly redesigned and industry renowned magazine.
Go check it out, available at all good stockists...
Over the Bank Holiday weekend I spent a day in London where I was lucky enough go up the Shard, visit the Lichtenstein exhibition at the Tate as well as go for dinner and drinks along the Thames.
Having never got round to going on the London Eye, and generally doing my best to visit the viewing platforms of the tallest buildings whenever I visit new cities I had been desperate to visit the viewing platform at the top of the Shard. And it didn't disappoint, on a clear day you can apparently see for 40 miles from the 72nd floor and with London's skyline still relatively low in comparison to other major cities you get a great vantage of all the major landmarks.
Whilst on the outside viewing platform, two guys on harnesses put on a bit of a show. I'm not entirely sure what they were up to, but I'm not sure I fancy his job.
The view from lunch was pretty decent.
After a spot of dinner we talk a walk along the south bank to the Tate Modern to check out the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective exhibition. "Lichtenstein: A Retrospective is the first full-scale retrospective of this important artist in over twenty years. This momentous show brings together 125 of his most definitive paintings and sculptures and reassesses his enduring legacy."
Roy Lichtenstein Whaam! 1963
Acrylic and oil on canvas support: 1727 x 4064 mm frame: 1747 x 4084 x 60 mm
Purchased 1966© Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
To finish off the day we had a few drinks a short walk further down the south bank at a new pop-up bar outside the National Theatre created entirely from spare props and scenery.
Finally, I had not been to Kings Cross station since it had been redeveloped, and it is so much nicer. The new ceiling is incredible and the Fullers pub, the Parcel Yardputs all other train station pubs to shame. Pro-tip if you need the loo, go upstairs into the pub and use the ones there and save yourself 30p!
This week I was back in Salford Quays after my recent photography workshop, taking part in NVA's Speed of Light Salford.
Speed of Light was a centrepiece of the Edinburgh International Festival and recently staged an event in Yokohama Japan. The night-time work uses light, intentional movement and sound to change the way we see and feel about a chosen environment.
Speed of Light Salford features one hundred runners in specially commissioned LED light suits will create beautiful, choreographed patterns of light flowing through streets, over bridges and around public spaces and buildings. Free and non-ticketed for the watching audience, it can be seen as a piece of abstract art on the grandest scale: monumental but surprisingly quiet and reflective.
The most important part of taking part as a runner was to maintain an even gap between the participant in front and behind you especially as gaps were extended and reduced on the fly.
I've made a conscious effort recently not to blog other peoples work as much, and concentrate more on personal topics. Others peoples work is better for sharing on twitter and/or pinterest. However recently I was asked to write a blog post for the TBWA\Manchester blog about something that inspires me, so i thought I would share it here too.
As a designer attention to detail and craft is important to me, but micro-sculpter Willard Wigan MBE takes this to a whole new level with his miniature sculptures which are almost invisible to the naked eye. He possesses a complete control over hand and body to move minute tools and mould molecular fibres. Wigan creates his sculptures which he displays mounted on pin heads or within the eye of a needle, using homemade tools and then paints them with a hair removed from a houseflys back.
Because the works are microscopic, the sculptor has learned to control his nervous system and breathing to ensure he does not make even the tiniest movement. Wigan, when working, enters a meditative state in which his heartbeat is slowed, allowing him to reduce any hand tremors and work between heartbeats. BETWEEN HEARTBEATS. Just think about it for a second.
His work and artistry is truly inspiring, if we all attempted to take this much focus and concentration with our work, then the world would certainly be a better place for it.
More of Willard’s work can be found at willard-wigan.com or you can listen to him talk about his process and inspiration with his TED talk.
'The burning house: what would you take?' is a blog that has been turned into a book by Portland-based photographer Foster Huntington.
The project is a growing collection of images that people have curated of their belongings based on what they would bring with
them if their home was to be on fire. The selection is insightful and intimate, bringing attention to the things that are most important
to people in their lives.
This collection belongs to:
Alice Bernardo
Age: 31
Location: Minho, Portugal
Occupation: Finder of really good stuff
This collection belongs to:
Ben R.
Age: 28
Location: Germany
This collection belongs to:
Erin wallace
Age: 28
Location: Maine
Occupation: Photographer
This collection belongs to:
Joshua Lee Bacon
Age: 20
Location: Boone, Iowa
Occupation: Student
This collection belongs to:
Miguel
Age: 36
Location: Porto
Occupation: Bike shop man
September 17, 2009 - No Comments!
Japan + alcohol = ????