Residents of a small British village have reacted angrily to a 40ft gold-plated artwork that has been installed at a local nature reserve.
The 40ft tower of 'metal leaves' that is meant to reflect a birch tree, called Gold Leaf: Buried Sunlight, has been placed at Pooley Country Park in Warwickshire as part of a regeneration project in the area.
But locals have responded angrily to the monument, calling it an 'eyesore' and a waste of public money.
Local Steve Jarvis told This is Tamworth: 'We residents call it 'Polesworth Folly'. It cost £110,000 from the public purse – what a total waste of money when this country can't afford it.'
Steve added that he wrote to Chancellor Gordon Brown, as well as local government ministers and MPs objecting to the plans, but had no response.
Warwickshire County Council told the paper it had no record of the petition.
Councillor Tilly May defended the piece, calling the artwork 'different and thought-provoking', and said:
'We want to draw visitors' attention from the motorway and, of course, to encourage people when they get to the park to explore the pools and the nature reserve.'
Jean-Claude Reynal Foundation - 2011 Jean-Claude Reynal Scholarship
A 10,000 EUR grant awarded to a young artist for studies abroad Deadline: 15th November 2011
The Jean-Claude Reynal Foundation, under the auspices of the Foundation of France, in collaboration with the Fine Arts School of Bordeaux, offers an annual grant of 10,000 EUR to enable a young artist, who works directly on paper, to travel to a country of his/her choice for a period of 6 months maximum. http://www.rosab.net/bourse-reynal/accueil.php
Conditions:
Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years of age and have had an artistic practice on paper for at least two years. All artists are eligible regardless of educational background or nationality.
50% of the scholarship money will be paid before departure and 50% at the time and place of the residency.
The prize winner authorizes the Reynal Foundation to use a work of his/her choice on the media announcing the following year's scholarship competition. The chosen work will be approved by the executive committee. Modalities of participation Registration only online on http://www.rosab.net/bourse-reynal
1. fill in the application form (studies, curriculum, travel project);
2. upload your portfolio as a PDF or PowerPoint file, or as a zipped folder (maximum filesize: 10 MB). Schedule
Deadline for online registration: 15th of November 2011.
A first examination and selection will take place in the beginning of December.
The selected artists will have to send three original works on paper (drawings or prints of all kinds), the dimensions of which must not exceed 40 × 60 cm (15-¾ × 23-⅝ in.).
Works must be sent or hand-delivered no later than the 15th of January 2012 to:
The Bluecoat is a contemporary arts centre in a Grade 1 listed building, the oldest building in Liverpool city centre, and offers a contemporary offer of visual art, literature, live art, music, dance, cabaret and comedy. The programme is presented through exhibitions, performances, residencies, cross-art happenings, community celebrations and a related programme of participation opportunities, talks, tours, publications and workshops. Moreover it is a catalyst for Liverpool's creative and cultural life, developing and engaging artists, creatives and audiences and aims to fashion 'wow' moments; events and happenings that are desirable, connective, inspirational and transforming. http://thebluecoat.org.uk
The Bluecoat is seeking a visual artist with international profile and experience of engaged community practice to work with the Participation Team on a seven week residency project between January and March 2012. The project will focus on engaging children, young people and adults with learning disabilities in a collaborative creative experience that will help them connect with each other, take more notice of their environment and support each other in the community. The participant groups are already in place, along with a team of experienced staff who will support the residency.
The participant groups:
The Bluecoat's participation team is involved in two award-winning partnership programmes using the arts as a vehicle for working with disadvantaged groups to raise aspirations and increase health and wellbeing:
The Pad is a space in a row of shops in Norris Green in the north eastern suburbs of the city run by the Bluecoat and our creative partners Liverpool Merseyside Theatres Trust. Since January 2009 we have had a full-time Outreach Manager based in the area working for the two organisations. We have worked in partnership with local service providers in health, housing and local government and a range of community organisations to deliver arts programmes that tackle a range of neighbourhood objectives. There has always been an emphasis on health and wellbeing and working with young people to raise aspirations. The Pad has more recently provided us with a dedicated space, which will be a focus for this work for the rest of 2011/12. The Pad opened in early June 2011 and we have already engaged with over 100 people from the local community, mainly children and young people, through outreach work, partnership work with the Youth Service team and children's holiday activities. We are building foundations within the community.
Blue Room is an arts development programme for adults with learning disabilities from across the city. It is delivered in partnership with Liverpool City Council and is based at the Bluecoat three days every week. 32 members attend on a weekly basis, many of them for over three years now, and have developed considerable skills in a variety of visual arts media. Members have also reported improvements in health and wellbeing. Last year, the Thursday group worked collaboratively with Sonia Boyce on Like Love: Part Two, an exciting experience which lead to work being featured in the galleries at the Bluecoat. They have also met international artists through our Biennial projects but many of these meetings have been fairly brief. Most of the group have volunteered on children's programmes at the Bluecoat so have some experience of working with young people. As a group they would benefit in many ways from the opportunity to collaborate with an artist of international renown.
We are looking for an inspiring international artist to link these two exciting programmes using a creative collaboration as a catalyst and focus for discussion, sharing, exploration, healing and celebration.
The total budget for artist fees, expenses, materials and production costs is just under 15,000 GBP. The project is funded by Liverpool PCT as part of a Decade of Health and Wellbeing.
For a more detailed project brief please email Bec Fearon, Head of Participation: bec.f@thebluecoat.org.uk. Deadline for emailed submissions is 31st October 2011.
An exhibition of sculpture, painting ,photography and works on paper
at Gallery Different, 14, Percy Street, London
November 7th to the 13th 2011.
As a direct response to the sad loss of Amy Winehouse, sculptors Guy Portelli, David Begbie and Gallery Directors Karina and Neil Phillips and Eva Begbie have organised an arts charity event to raise money for The Hannah Meredith Foundation (THMF).This is an emerging, grassroots charity inspired by a teenage girl’s tragic death from heroin and focused on working with families like the Winehouses that are dealing with the loss of a loved one through substance misuse. THMF also supports friends and families of those that are struggling with their loved ones’ addiction - in addition to educating young people. Since its formation, the mission of THMF has been to improve quality of life through a balance between support groups, drugs education and the provision of quality services in response to the unique needs of individuals and families affected by addiction.
The prestigious Gallery DIFFERENT in London’s, Fitzrovia will be showing an exhibition that reflects the creative synergy between art and music.All works will be for sale and a third of the proceeds will go to THMF, to support its work in developing The Jade Project (Jump-starting Adolescence/Adults Drugs Education) programme. THMF offers tailored support and also aims to provide family & adolescence therapy especially where mental health and substance misuse needs are identified.
“For me personally I owe a great debt to Amy. From the point when I created the Amy Winehouse sculpture ‘Excess’ my world changed, and doors opened that were once closed. My invitation to be on Dragons Den, and the offer of money from Theo Paphitis,James Caan and Peter Jones, was a direct response to the Amy sculpture, ... so thank you Amy.
The Amy sculpture is in my opinion one of the iconic pieces of my pop icon collection, and the sad news left me thinking how best to use the sculpture in a positive way. For me harnessing the energy of my art, and the art of some of my colleagues, who have found art to be a positive influence in their lives was the obvious way.
It was not easy to find a drugs related charity that had the focus on young people and it came as a surprise to me to discover that there isn’t one rehab clinic for young people in the UK yet research shows over 20,000 young people in the UK are addicted to drugs”.
Guy Portelli VPRBA FRBS
“When Guy approached us with his suggestion of an event of this nature the gallery was keen to give its support and whilst being sensitive to the immense personal loss this is to Amy Winehouse’s family and friends, we feel that supporting the work of the Hannah Meredith Foundation is a fitting way to commemorate her passing and we believe that the exhibition will be a celebration of Amy’s artistic and creative influence, which transcended the world of music, was truly inspirational and has left a worldwide legacy.”
Karina Phillips, DIFFERENT
“I am a big fan of Amy Winehouse and her music and was shocked and saddened by her premature death.
‘HELP ME IF YOU CAN I’M FEELING DOWN’ (Lennon & McCartney)
I know from experience that there is no medical cure for addiction to anything – only abstinence and even abstinence can be a danger to an addict if the addiction has already wreaked its damage.It seems that in the end Amy Winehouse may have died from abstaining from the alcohol and drugs which ravished her mind and body and destroyed that delicate chemical balance which all life needs in order to survive.
‘I CAN’T HELP YOU IF YOU DON’T HELP YOURSELF’ (Amy Winehouse)
Prevention is the only cure… Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, private clinics and the NHS can only offer guidance and management for addiction.Amy’s desire for euphoria led to her ultimate oblivion – as in so many cases - yet it may have been prevented if it had not been assumed that this was simply inevitable.As a surviving alcoholic who has abstained now for over 15 years I know how unstoppable the forces of addiction can be.That is why I am very enthusiastic to support The Hannah Meredith Foundation and its pre-emptive and grass roots approach.”
David Begbie ARBS
Hannah Meredith, a much loved daughter, sister & niece, died on October 20, 2009, two months before her 18th birthday, after a heroin OD. Hannah’s aunt Lisa Moore was inspired to set up THMF after reading a letter Hannah wrote ‘Dear Heroin’. Lisa felt a huge sense of responsibility to fulfil Hannah’s dream of steering children away from drugs so that other families would not have to suffer as hers had. Hannah hated what she did to her own family. Families of drug or alcohol abusers go through a lot of painful feelings as they struggle with their loved ones’ addiction. Feelings of helplessness, failure, and shame are common in these situations, and often families question where they went wrong as they don’t know how to fix it. Sometimes these family members are overlooked, while help is being offered to the person with the drug or alcohol problem. This is why THMF exists!
Lisa Moore aged 42 said: “Losing a loved one to drug addiction turns family life into a perpetual state of torment, with a million questions and no answers. We will never get over what happened to Hannah, but I hope that through the foundation, we can at least help prevent some other families from suffering in the same way we have. This can be her legacy, a legacy she truly wanted, as her letter to heroin so clearly showed.” See: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7311207/Drug-addicts-letter-to-heroin-published-after-her-death.html
THMF’s first support group was launched on July 25, 2011 in order to help support families like the Winehouses as well as those who are living with their loved ones’ addiction. Through the group we aim to provide: EMOTIONAL SUPPORT where friends and families of substance misusers can share their experiences in a safe environment, learn coping strategies from each other and combat stress. PRACTICAL SUPPORT where we share information on and signpost other agencies that provide specialist support within the local area. ADVOCACY where families have someone to speak on their behalf.
The Jade Project (both Hannah & Amy share this same middle name) is in its developmental stages. Once fully funded, its aim is to train individuals as prevention specialists to deliver a wide-ranging drugs education programme to children and young people by approaching local education authorities, children’s services, colleges, universities and every service that works with young people, with a view to using Hannah’s legacy to help prevent further tragedies. THMF will also look to work with parents who want to tackle drug issues with their children, ensuring a united family approach.
Addiction has no preference to age, gender, race or status, when there's an addict in the family, whether it is a child, sibling or parent EVERYONE SUFFERS. Addiction is a progressive illness, often it is so crippling that family members suffer as much as the addict, family members often lose themselves along the way. THMF relies on the generosity of others to enable us to provide support, your HELP is crucial to our work.
Website: www.thehannahmeredithfoundation.org.ukThe website is under construction and will be online in the next few weeks.
Please HELP make this event a fitting tribute to Amy Winehouse and Hannah Meredith and to make a contribution to the understanding of addiction as well as financially benefitting the THMF
For further information, images or interviews please contact:
Karina Phillips
Gallery DIFFERENT 14 Percy Street, London W1T 1DR T:0207 637 3775
The RSPP are looking for talented portrait painters and would like to encourage you and/or your friends to submit work for the 2012 open show.
With their new on-line pre-selection for all artists only works with a good chance of being selected need to travel to be judged thereby saving time, money and the environment
For more about the prizes on offer and to see catalogues of works that have been shown in previous exhibitions please visit http://www.therp.co.uk
Please make a note in your diary of the following dates:-
2012 Receiving days and other useful dates
�Receiving Days 16th and 17th March
at 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD
�16th January opening of on-line registration
�On-line pre-selection dates to be confirmed
�Exhibition opens Thursday 3rd May 2012 until 18th May 2012 at the Mall Galleries, London SW1.
