Culture Diary w/c 19-01-2015
What’s hot this week? Our pick of the listings from around Liverpool and the rest of the UK…
Monday – LS Lowry and Theodore Major: Two Lancashire Painters 10am-4pm @ The Atkinson, Southport — FREE
Opening last Saturday, this retrospective of two Lancashire-born, 20th-century painters – L.S. Lowry and Theodore Major — explores somewhat the paths of success and recognition. Both exhibited together back in 1951; Lowry went on to become a British icon, whilst Major fell into virtual obscurity, selling work only to a select few, and exhibiting work locally. Running until 29 March 2015.
Preview Screening: Beyond Clueless (2014) & Q&A with director Charlie Lyne 8.30pm @ FACT, Liverpool — £10/8
A dreamlike documentary about teen movies, Guardian film critic Charlie Lyne’s directorial debut is a homage to growing pains and growing up: a pithy tour through cliques, conformity, sexual awakening, repression, anarchy and, eventually, moving on. Read our interview with the director here.
Tuesday — Digital Utopias 10am-7pm @ Hull Truck Theatre – £6 (waiting list only)
An Arts Council/Abandon Normal Devices one-day conference aiming to ‘inspire and incite debate about how new technologies are enabling creativity across the arts’, the diverse programme includes talks and workshops on every aspect of digital art, including contemporary archiving, publishing, generative literature and minecraft. All topped off with the fabulous Marshmallow Laser Feast and Alexander Whitley Dance Company, who perform The Measures Taken (read our interview with Whitely here).
Wednesday – London Art Fair 11am-9pm @ Business Design Centre, London– £20 OTD/£14 ADV
Now in its 27th year, the London Art Fair is back, featuring 128 galleries with works from the early 20th century to the present day and covering photography (today is its Photography Focus Day, talks listed here), sculpture, painting and ceramics. Catering to a variety of tastes and disciplines, as well as a variety of incomes, the pricing of the artwork allows for all who attend to at least have the possibility of getting their hands on some original artwork.
Torque Symposium: An Act of Reading 11am-6pm @ FACT, Liverpool — £5/£6
Evolving from Nathan Jones and Sam Skinner’s work Torque #1 (a triptych of speed reader, ebook and print in the FACT foyer), today’s talks aim to tackle commonly held understandings of reading and how they are being challenged by contemporary technologies, politics and lifestyles. Expect discourse on new forms and opportunities for publishing, political theories, and a special evening performance — including works by Tim Etchells, James Wilkes and Anna Barnham — 8-11pm at Static Gallery.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Exhibition Preview: Metamorphosis Of Japan After The War 6-8pm @ Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool — FREE
Promising ‘a vivid narrative of the convoluted aspects of this complicated era’, Open Eye hope to express the two decades of creative energy produced by post-war Japan — between 1945 and up to the Tokyo Olympics of 1964. Expect to see over 100 black and white photographs by 11 leading post-war Japanese photographers — including Yasuhiro Ishimoto, Shomei Tomatsu, Eikoh Hosoe and Ken Domon — split into three areas: The Aftermath of the War, Between Tradition and Modernity, and Towards a New Japan.
Thursday – PressPausePlay (2011) & Post Screening Discussion 6.30-8.40pm @ FACT, Liverpool — £10/8
Winner of Best Documentary Feature and Outstanding Achievement in Documentary on its release, filmmakers David Dworsky and Victor Köhler examine the upsides and drawbacks of the new world of digital expression, by interviewing a gang of super creative people including Moby, Bill Drummond, Seth Godin and Lena Dunham. Our editor Laura hosts the (hopefully heated) post-screening discussion, speaking to designers, musicians and artists about how using tech in their practice is both freeing and restricting in equal measure.
Kolours Launch Party 9pm-3am @ Rat Alley, The Kazimier, Liverpool — £3
Described as ‘a brand new multi-dimensional Afro-Centric Electronic experience’, expect The Kazimier’s new club night (in the teeny tiny Rat Alley space, limited to 50 places) to offer Afro-House and Tropitronica stage acts and DJ residents, enhanced and intensified by visuals from organiser and everisland founder Samual Garlick.
Friday – Exhibition Preview: Listening: Hayward Touring 6-9pm @ The Bluecoat, Liverpool — FREE
Investigating the act of listening, curator and sound artist Sam Belinfante manages to create a varied exhibition that somehow, cleverly doesn’t drown out all the featured works in a cacophony of sound. Expect artists Laure Prouvost (the Turner Prize winner presents a funny and irreverent installation), Prem Sahib (a banging disco with no doors), and Hannah Rickards (a stretched-out and re-recorded clap of thunder); read Mikhail Karikis’ feature on his film based on the real SeaWomen of South Korea here.
Saturday — North End Writers Workshop 11am-1pm @ Victoria Gallery & Museum, Liverpool – FREE (booking required)
Ever fancied keeping your own journal? Haven’t got round to it but like the idea? Now’s your chance! Using the texts and artefacts in the upstairs Dorothy Wordsworth exhibition as inspiration, develop your own ideas and creative approaches to journal keeping with this local and friendly writing group. No experience necessary.
Sunday – The Critter Shed: 1st Birthday 6pm til late @ the Zanzibar Club – FREE
Indie printing press The Critter Shed return for a one year anniversary party. Including the launch of their latest print pack, Creatures of the Night (a collection of drawings and illustration from a selection of contributing artists), plus their first comic Life Death (both available to buy on the night), expect music, live drawing, a pop up shop, and a good old-fashioned knees-up.
