Culture Diary w/c 10-07-2017
Our pick of this week’s arts, design, film and music events from around the UK – and most of it’s free!
Monday — As I Open My Eyes (2016) 6pm @ Picturehouse At FACT, Liverpool — £5
A winner at Venice Film Festival and Cannes, Director Leyla Bouzid’s Tunisian-set drama sees young protagonist Farah (played by Baya Medhaffar) torn between political rebellion, a rock band, and studying at medical school. Meet the lead tonight at a post-screening discussion organised by Liverpool Arab Film Festival – which continues all this week with some cracking events (until Sunday, see full programme here).
Exhibition Open: Ark 10am—5pm @ Chester Cathedral – FREE
A huge new sculpture show featuring Barbara Hepworth, Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley, Lynn Chadwick, Sarah Lucas, David Mach, Jon Buck (pictured, below) and many more, set in an exceptional, historical setting, and paired with a series of workshops and lectures. Not to be missed; see it until 15 October.
Wednesday – Exhibition Opening: Soul Of A Nation: Art In The Age Of Black Power 10am—6pm @ Tate Modern, London – £16.50/14.50
Exploring America between 1960s—80s, at the turbulent height of its Civil Rights movement, expect a wide variety of important artworks; including African American photographer Dawoud Bey’s A Boy in Front of the Loews 125th St. Movie Theatre, Harlem, NY (1976), and conceptual painter Barkley L. Hendricks’ Icon for My Man Superman (Superman Never Saved any Black People – Bobby Seale) (1969; pictured, below). There’s an impressive line-up of film screenings and talks too – like Wednesday’s sold out in conversation event with hyper-influential film director Spike Lee. See the show until 22 October.
Talk: Maria Fusco 10am—12pm@ Annexe G09, 70 Oxford Road, Manchester — FREE
Invited by Manchester School of Art’s Nothing Abandoned (a reading group inspired by the theme of surplus, or abandoned material), Belfast-born writer and critic Maria Fusco performs live readings this morning from her new novella Legend of the Necessary Dreamer – described by Chris Kraus as “a new classic of female philosophical fiction”.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Thursday – Exhibition Opening: CcTV17 6—9pm @ Caustic Coastal, Salford – £3
In homage to classic, chaotic live TV that defined a generation (think TFI Friday and The Word), Caustic Coastal’s new show will be filmed tonight in front of a live audience and streamed online. Featuring upcoming artists including Beth Kettel, Aliyah Hussain, Mariel Osborn, and Lucy Vann; all alongside Mark Joshua Epstein’s “hedonistic wonderland” solo exhibition.
Talk: Liverpool Minus Francesco Manacorda @ The Serving Library c/o Exhibition Research Lab, John Lennon Art and Design Building, Liverpool — FREE
Say goodbye to Tate Liverpool’s Artistic Director Francesco Manacorda (before he leaves for V-A-C Foundation) in style; discussing a dream exhibition he never got to make. Expect to hear about those dream Italian artists — Michelangelo Pistoletto, Lara Favaretto, and Bruno Munari – in addition to talk of the future. The last event before The Serving Library closes for the summer (reopening in September).
Exhibition Opening: NAWKI 6.30pm @ CBS Gallery & Studios, Liverpool PLUS Venues Nationwide – FREE
An experimental art fair model (pictured, above), collaborating with loads of well-regarded organisations — including Eastside Projects (Birmingham), Focal Point Gallery (Southend-on-Sea) and SERF (Leeds) — expect simultaneous film screenings at said orgs across the UK tonight, with each one picking their favourite digital and video works. See website for a full list of participating venues.
Friday – Exhibition Opening: OH 6.30pm @ Bridewell Studios, Liverpool — FREE
What do costumed sprites, rainbows, and revolutions have in common? They’re some of the surreal subject matter depicted by artists Chiz Turnross, Tina Connelly, Jason Thompson and Penny Davenport (pictured, below) in this new show. Expect dreamlike and abstract drawings, paintings and sculpture, alongside live music tonight only. Show continues until 26 July.
Saturday — Exhibition Opening: Plymouth Contemporary 11am—4pm @ Peninsula Arts And KARST, Plymouth — FREE
In the second edition of this open submission exhibition, artists have been asked to respond to the theme of Visions; resulting in a heady mix of political, social and dystopian subject matter. Expect upcoming and established artists – including James Hardy, Corinna Spencer, NaoKo TakaHashi, Jennet Thomas, and Plymouth Young Contemporary Winner Liam Symes, plus many more – across two venues, until 2 September.
Sunday – Citadel Festival @ Mile End, London — £49.50/5
Don’t loaf on the sofa this Sunday; for under 50 quid you can enjoy live music from Foals, Wild Beasts, Maggie Rogers (main pic), Laura Marling, Dan Croll, Twin Peaks, and more, for one day only, in the (hopefully sunny) surrounds of Victoria Park. With added value in the shape of Sunday Papers live, a gin and tonic bar from Fever Tree, or workshops and discussion from the Science Museum.
Laura Robertson, Editor
Images, from top: Noah & The Raven (1988), bronze by Jon Buck., courtesy the artist. Currently on show at Ark, Chester Cathedral, 2017. Barkley L. Hendricks Icon for My Man Superman (Superman Never Saved any Black People – Bobby Seale) 1969 Collection of Liz and Eric Lefkofsky © Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks. Courtesy of Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. Superman S-Shield © & ™ DC Comics. Used with permission. Poster for NAWKI 6.30pm @ CBS Gallery & Studios, Liverpool, 2017. Penny Davenport, watercolour, on show at OH, Bridewell Studios, Liverpool, 2017. Main image, musician Maggie Rogers, courtesy the artist
