Culture Diary w/c 02-12-13
What’s hot this week? Our pick of the listings from around Liverpool and the rest of the UK…
Monday – Photorealism 10am-5pm @ Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, £6.50
Wowing audiences in Madrid earlier this year (a friend described the atmosphere as “like a rock concert — the audience were so vocal”), the exhibition puts on show key photorealist artists from the 1960s to the present day. This large retrospective (and the only UK stop-off on a European tour) aims to ask us what makes an authentic image, making us think again about ‘the ways in which we perceive the world.’ Expect gasps/animated commentary along the lines of: ‘are you sure this isn’t a photograph?’ We included it in our 10 Essential Exhibitions.
Print Sale 8am-6pm @ the Bluecoat until Thursday, FREE
Sick of buying mass-produced tat for your loved ones at Christmas? Instead, buy original and limited edition art directly from the lovely Bluecoat Print Studios. With a new studio manager on hand to guide you, it’s an opportunity to see how the prints are made, as well as choosing from a wide varitey of lincuts, screen prints, wood enravings, etchings and monoprints.
Tuesday – Peace & Drenge 7pm @ East Village Arts Club £15.50
Peace and Drenge: two bands who, between them, have enjoyed one very good year. The former invoke 1990s baggy, while Drenge (almost remarkably the evening’s support act) have matched them for buzz, and appeared on Jools; brothers Eoin and Rory Loveless are arguably the better long-term bet.
Wednesday – Yo La Tengo 7.30pm @ East Village Arts Club £16
From Hoboken, New Jersey, Yo La Tengo (around for an impressive quarter of a century) deserve your attention for longevity alone. That they continue to make innovative and varied music way after your average band exceeds expiry is a point verging on the miraculous; but make it they do, most recent album Fade richly deserving of its strong showing with the critics.
Thursday – Dirty Wars + Panel Discussion 6pm @ FACT, see ticket prices
Despite attracting criticism for his filmmaking techniques, most reviews have praised this hard-hitting doc from Jeremy Scahill. The film exposes the US military covert operations being sanctioned all around the world, unknown to the public, and carried out by soldiers who may never be held to account. We have no idea who’s on the panel (no one’s been announced yet) but it’s sure to be a good opportunity to discuss the film’s themes of morality, politics and security.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Friday – Little White Lies Weekender @ ICA London, weekend tickets £40, individual screenings £10
One of our favourite publications teams up with one of our favourite venues. Last month, the self-styled “world’s most beautiful film magazine” Little White Lies celebrated its 50th issue. The festivities continue this weekend with three days of amazing ‘supercharged’ cinema – screenings include Mulholland Drive, Gummo and Still Walking – at the wonderful ICA.
GIFs and Glitter Party 8pm @ The Royal Standard Gallery & Studios, £3 donation OTD
Instead of hosting just a boring old private view for their new internet-inspired exhibition, Different Domain, The Royal Standard have blown the budget on a GIFs and glitter party. Expect live music from Bantam Lions, AKASA, Acrobat and Kepla, as well as round two of Deep Hedonia’s insane, ridiculously fun, Glitch Karaoke (it nearly caused a riot at our joint Light Night Party).
Saturday – Alvin Baltrop and Gordon Matta-Clark: The Piers From Here 10.30am-5.30pm @ Open Eye Gallery, FREE
In a UK first, Homotopia and Open Eye showcase the work of photographer Alvin Baltrop and ‘anarchitect’ Gordon Matta-Clark, using the dilapidated Piers in New York City during the mid 1970s as a way to discuss both urban regeneration and the sexual revolution. A unique chance to see beautiful and thought-provoking photography from both artists.
Sunday – Generosities in Economy Symposium 11am-5pm @ Homebaked, FREE
Five speakers share their research and life experiences during this unusual symposium, all around the ideas of gift, generosity and exchange. Topics include what it’s like to donate and receive bone marrow from strangers, how football can benefit the community (ironic considering the location?), and the history of bread and protest. With poetic interludes from local wordsmith Fred Brown, discussion time and lots of homemade food from the excellent Homebaked oven.
