The Plowhaus Artists Cooperative Fundraiser this Saturday

I saw via the Interweb that the Plowhaus Artists' Collective is having a fund-raiser this Saturday at the Alley Cat Lounge and Tex-Mex Grill.

Excited as always Dear Listener to explore the aesthetic of whatever new town I'm in I sped over to the Plowhaus Gallery on East 17th to see what art was cooking and to speak to the locals about the scene here.

As per usual I didn't check the opening hours of the venue, so like my 'I Dream of Weenie' and 'Craft Fair' experiences I found myself outside of a locked building, alone.  I've really got to do better planning.

Turns out the Gallery is only open on the weekends.  But, they do have a sign on the door with names and numbers of people to call and open the place up if you really want to see the art inside; what a great idea!  Kinda like doctors on call.  Art doctors on call! 

Anyhew,  I didn't want to bother anyone so I didn't ring; just wandered around a bit.

The shot above is the gallery's back door; off an alley way on the side of the building.  I, like you I suspect, was intrigued by that drainage pipe sticking out of the chain-link fence.

I especially like that 'goo'/sealant around the hinge.  Good stuff.

Well, not many adventures to be had that day at the gallery am afraid - I'll do my best to attend the fund-raiser; I don't know these Plowhaus folks but the idea of an Artists' Collective sounds interesting and God knows the world needs art now more than ever.  If you're in Nashville this Saturday why not go out and show your support?

The Plowhaus Artists Cooperative presents
A Fundraiser at the Alley Cat Lounge and Tex-Mex Grill

I leave you with the fellow below - spied on the Plowhaus' alley wall.  Have a good day everyone!

(Special thanks to Beth Seiters, whose blog 'Drawing the Void' alerted me to Saturday's activities).

The New Belfast

Have just created a 'flickr group': The New Belfast.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/thenewbelfast/

From the 'group description':

"The world has a stereotypical view of Belfast stemming from news reports that focused on the Troublings.

This group is for photos that reflect the both the New Belfast: a city changing fast with the influx of capital and those from other lands, and images of the area that have not historically been seen as a face of the town."

If you've got some interesting photos of Belfast have fun adding them!

Your humble servant,

Jett.

Man From Below

Every once in a while you stumble across something on the Interweb that makes you praise its existence.  'Man From Below TV' is one of those somethings. 

Click above to watch 'Man From Below TV Episode 2'

Click here to go to the 'Man From Below' Website

Click here to go to the 'Man From Below' YouTube Channel

I love his hat and whole 'self-sustainable system' concept.  I'm going to be in London soon and will try to hook up with him.  Perhaps I can bring the MFB concept to Belfast?

Community Arts Forum Rally to Launch Campaign for Increased Arts Funding in Northern Ireland

Just received a press release from those fine folks at the Community Art Forum.  It turns out the level of funding for the Arts in Northern Ireland is the lowest in all of the United Kingdom and Ireland.  To raise awareness of this and agitate for increased funding the CAF is holding a rally this Wednesday at 10:30am, Writer's Square in Belfast.   Long time listeners to the Show know that I believe passionately in the power of Art to do good - if you're in Belfast this Wednesday why not make the time to come down?

For more information go to:

www.investininspiration.com

or call:

07764182966

(Photograph above:  Woman seen through a window at the CAF)

(Original Press Release from the CAF is below)

RALLY to LAUNCH - the campaign for increased arts funding

10.30am - 11.30am Wed 25 April

Writer’s Square, Belfast (opposite St Anne’s Cathedral)
Community Arts Forum if inclement
Every voice is vital

Be there- act now!

In December an open meeting of artists and arts organisations agreed to campaign for increased
government arts funding. The meeting appointed a Steering Group to devise plans to get the attention of the arts Minister and local politicians in time to influence the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Invest in Inspiration is the result. We hope you will throw your weight behind it. This is our one big chance to work together to make a difference.

The call is for an arts budget of £10 per person per year. This would bring Northern Ireland closer to the level of expenditure in GB and the Republic and is in line with the figures behind the Arts Council’s Five Year Plan.

The Rally to launch the campaign is vital to show the extent and strength of feeling behind the call. Following this everyone is being asked to contact the arts Minister by emailing direct from the campaign website, and by signing campaign postcards available from arts venues from May.

- HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE -
POST CARDS
• Get your friends, audiences and participants to sign and return postcards to arts venues

DIRECT ACTION
• Go to the website and send the campaign email to the arts Minister and MLA’s
• Send info and a link to everyone you can and put it on your own website and email signature

THE MEDIA
• Get together with other local arts groups / artists to run a media event to grab local paper coverage, showing what your work contributes and what more you could do with proper investment.

See www.investininspiration.com for more or call one of the Steering Group via 07764182966

At just £6.13 per person a year, government arts spending in
Northern Ireland is the lowest in the UK & Ireland. (av. £10)

'Fresh Meat' at the Black Box

If you're looking for something to do in Belfast on Thursday nights you can't do better than Fresh Meat at the Black Box.

I must admit Dear Reader that I was initially put off by the name of the event which conjured up visions in my mind of some horrible amateur comedy night; but boy was I pleasantly surprised.

Billing itself as an 'avant garde music miniature open-mic' experience the evening was a delight from start to finish - highlights included the gentleman above communicating through some sort of water-filled device, a Russian soprano and group piano playing.

I loved the surreal and whimsical nature of the proceedings that evening - in this world of constant advertisement, that is driving us to consume I find that Surrealism / Dadism is an extremely viable aesthetic, moral and political response.

I left Fresh Meat suitably refreshed Dear Listener and walked around night-time Belfast with a spring in my step.

Unpaid Intern Erin's Guide of Things To Do in Belfast This Week

Thursday, March 15th. Shortly after arriving in Belfast, I was sitting in a coffee shop pondering why I was here and what there was to do around town that would make me forget the fact that it was pissing rain outside.  I was routed out of my self-pitying reverie by the sight of a young man in a maroon crushed velvet smoking jacket carrying a ukulele case.  There seemed to be no other option than to pose the latter of my questions to him.  One of his suggestions was not to miss a chance to see The Delawares.  You can follow our ukulele wielding friend’s advice this Thursday at the Empire.

Friday, March 16th.  We really like Ruby Colley here at team LTA because, frankly, there just aren’t enough female experimental violinists in the world today and we’re glad she’s trying to fill that niche.  You can check her out at the Pavilion this Friday.  Doors open at 9 PM.  Hopefully, she might just pop up again on LTA.

Saturday, March 17th. I’ve written enough about St. Patrick’s day, at least for this year, so go find yourself a fake orange beard and make yourself an ethnic stereotype, for WKD’s sake.

The cryptic suggestion of the week is to check out “Spectrum City Was the Name” at Catalyst Arts Gallery.  This exhibition, if that’s what it is, is produced by Bad Beuys Entertainment, a French collective from the Parisian suburb of  Cergy-Pontoise.  I tried looking on Catalyst Arts website to find out more about their latest show but they’re still clinging to the glory days of the much celebrated work “The Bath is Hot”, and haven’t managed to update their website.  Dipping into the ever-so reputable world of the blogosphere, I found this description of the artists in question: “Bad Beuys Entertainment is: a political party—a rock ‘n’ roll band—a ham-fisted team—a company producing works of art—a zulu’s mob.  They could be interesting or they could just be French.  Either way, “Spectrum City Was the Name” wins the prize for the cryptic choice of the week.  It’s on till April 7th, I think it's free, so why not go check it out?

And finally...the Belfast Film Festival starts next week and I'll be posting about the upcoming films each and every day of the festival.  So, if you want to know what I'll be seeing--think documentaries and little known war zones--then check out the posts.  Better yet though, check out the film festival website to find films you might like and book your tickets in advance.

"Out of the Darkness" Press Photography Exhibit at Ormeau Baths Gallery

The work of sixty-three members of the Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association is on display from March 8th until March 24th at Ormeau Baths Gallery.   The exhibit, entitled “Out of the Darkness” opens the day after the Northern Irish assembly election.  While I was told that this was purely a coincidence, not only did it assure international press coverage (as evidenced by the Spanish film crew that were setting up as we were leaving) but more importantly, it illustrated just how historic the expected power-sharing government between two historic enemies really is.  In the shiny, Starbucks version of Belfast, it is far too easy to forget the dark days of random killings, internment, and general fear that existed on this small area of a small island for several decades.

When you walk into the gallery, you are immediately confronted by the bleakness of Northern Ireland in the 1970s and 80s.  The room is filled with blown-up black and white photographs that include images of a fatal shot of a rubber bullet, a man surveying the ruins of his home, a teenager who had been tarred, feathered, and tied to a lamppost by the IRA, and perhaps the most intriguing, an escaped tiger cornered by a gunman on the Shore Road.

The next room becomes more sanitized as the photographs shift into colour.  Digital photos of grieving family members and the aftermath of bombings are interspersed with sports photos and human-interest shots of Stormont on a snowy day.  While this room probably represented a more even-handed and nuanced portrayal of life in Northern Ireland, which has suffered from the simplistic, American driven portrayals found in Captain Planet and The Devil’s Own, the evocative quality of the images in the first room showed the difference between photography as art instead of merely the recording of events.

At a recent community meeting concerning methods of dealing with Northern Ireland’s past, a participant offered, “Not everyone here is a victim, but we are all survivors.”  The images you see in this exhibit are reminders of what Northern Ireland has survived over the past forty years; the images you see when you walk out of Ormeau Baths Gallery into the construction zones of the new Belfast are evidence of what Northern Ireland is becoming and will be. 

Don’t miss this exhibit—it’s worth the time, it’s free, and it’s up until March 24th.

(Photo above by Alan Lewis, December 2002)

Unpaid Intern Erin's Guide to this week in Belfast

Friday, March 2. A man so sure of himself that he turned down an opportunity to be part of the Rolling Stones and so influential that Eric Clapton credits him with introducing him to the blues, the legendary Rory Gallagher, while not back from the dead, is imitated by tribute band Double Vision at Morrison’s tonight.

To get you in the Rory Gallagher tribute band mood, you can start your evening off at No Alibis with an atmospheric evening of poetry at their Candle and Mirror Poetry night.  Held every first Friday of the month at 7 pm.

Saturday, March 3.  What I liked about the Alternative alternative club night, Bop Yestrum, at the Pavilion was that they advertise the play list so that you can decide ahead of time if you feel like listening to Brian Eno on a Saturday night.  You make the call, but if the answer’s yes, head on down to the Pavilion

Sunday, March 4.  Our favourite transformance artists, Ikon, once described as “365 days of lent,” are showing us what doubt is all about at their monthly service at the Black Box. Starts at 8 pm.

Tuesday, March 6.  If you’ve been looking for a good place to wear your togs in public, search no more ‘cause artist Joanna Karolini has kindly created a tog-friendly environment in her installation, “The Bath is Hot” at Catalyst Arts Gallery.  This traditional Finnish sauna is free and open to the public as long as you “bring towels, togs and flip-flops.  Karolini says of her creation, "I wish a broad audience to use the gallery as a meeting place and the sauna to be a catalyst for social exchange, discussions and a warm platform where other events can take place."  Tuesday from 6 to 9 pm is nudes mixed.  If you don’t want to be naked in an environment of co-ed strangers, it’s a ladies only sauna experience on Wednesday, and gents only on Thursday night.  This exhibition leaves on March 9th so catch this warm platform where other events may or may not take place while you can.

Thursday, March 8. If there’s a fragmented version of a play just dying to get out of you, Tinderbox Theatre’s Writing Workshop offers adhesive assistance from 7 pm to 9 pm.  The first of three spring workshops claims they will “make use of the canon,” helping you to structure that staggering work of heartbreaking genius into something that will finally let you quit your day job.

So, those are my picks for this week in Belfast.  From candle-lit poetry to Finish saunas, the world's your oyster here in Northern Ireland.

(Photos at the Top and Above from 'The Bath is Hot')

Arts Society of Ulster 10th Anniversary Exhibition

Hey there Dear Listener - went to the Arts Society of Ulster's 10th Anniversary Exhibition last evening - here's some wee photos for those of you who missed the event.

Now I normally despise openings cause you have to pretend - not the fun kind of pretend where you get to invent stories about yourself and your various exploits - but the kind of pretend where you have to be polite and restrain yourself from sneering at the complete lack of artistry mixed with misguided ambition normally on display at these kind of things.

What's that?

You're calling me an asshole?

A jerk?

Who am I to look down at this collection of, well - OK it is mostly hopeless - but heartfelt work?

Well, you're right of course.

I am being a jerk cause the Arts Society of Ulster's 'main aim is to promote and encourage interest in the fine and applied arts in Northern Ireland', (quote from their catalogue).

And there's nothing wrong with that.  Long-time listeners of the Podcast know how devoted  I am to the propagation of art - and my commitment to art's potential in making the world a better place; and hey, not only do they show work, the Arts Society also organises various courses in areas such as 'life drawing' and awards prizes to young artists and designers. 

So enough of my bitching at the variable quality of the work.  Hell, I can't paint or draw so what right do I have to complain?

No right - so here's some more photos from the opening instead:

Not sure what's happening below.  It's possible they had some sort of disagreement.

This is typical of the work shown:

I hope these two had a good time.  You could buy the art at the show so perhaps they were shopping for a last minute Christmas gift.

This photo is kind of a buffer, and I'll tell you why:

You see - I know I shouldn't bitch.  I agree with what I said above.  I have no right to complain about the work.  Heck, a lot of the artists in the show aren't 'professional' in the traditional sense...but...there is one painting in the show.

It's the worst painting in the world.

I've deliberately hidden it far down in this post to spare you in case you do not have the constitution Dear Reader.

Scroll down if you must.

(Keep Scrolling)

(Almost There)

(Here it comes...)

Good lord that's bad.

OK.  Enough of that. 

If I really believe I can do better than I have to put my money where my mouth, (blog?), is and try myself.  So I went out and got a couple of books, (OK - the 'Zen of Seeing' was actually a gift that I really have not looked at yet).

I'm going to teach myself to draw folks.  If I can't draw or illustrate then I have no right to judge that monstrosity that lurks farther up this post.  I'll start on my trip to the States and report back to you in the next podcast.  Wish me luck.

And if you're in Belfast in the next couple of weeks you could do worse than to visit the Exhibition - here's the details:

Arts Society of Ulster - 10 Annual Exhibition - 2006
The Switch Room
84-89 Great Patrick Street, Belfast
Exhibition continues every day from Wednesday 20th of December till Friday 29th December, excluding Christmas and Boxing Day, 10am till 5pm.

Exhibition Location on Google Maps

New Series of Events at Interface

Play the video above for information on a new series of events orchestrated by those fine folks at Interface:

Interface Website

This talk in particular comes especially recommended, (text from the press release):

KRZYSZTOF WODICZKO: LECTURE
30 November, 6.00pm, Lecture Theatre, School of Art and Design

Krzysztof Wodiczko, an highly influential artist in the area of engaged and political art practice, will discuss his work as intersections of art, ideology and media, using public projections and installations.

Interface Previously on Letter to America:

Sample: Interface at PS2

Sample: Interface at PS2 - Part 2

Information on Interface provided by their website:

INTERFACE is an interdisciplinary and practice based research centre situated in the School of Art and Design, University of Ulster, Belfast campus. It is a key element in a substantial redevelopment of the Belfast campus and has been established since April 2004.

INTERFACE explores two key processes that underlie innovative research practice in art and design. One is the investigation and redefinition of inherited categories of value and the other is the impact of digital media and new technologies on the production, distribution and mediation of art and design. Both areas are examined in the context of the wider social/economic/political arena of Northern Ireland and in the world.

INTERFACE builds on the success of distinct areas of excellence in research activity within the School of Art and Design. These are – research in Fine Art into location and context, temporary, site-specific work and documentation issues and, in Textiles, research into textile art, design and new technologies. Research in textiles has been integral to significant technological, artistic and design innovations, while, in Fine Art, an emphasis on place and context has contributed to critical change in transnational debate and practice, which now stress engagement with the politics of location.

In INTERFACE, artists and designers, as Lecturers and Researchers, with Postgraduate and PhD students, engage in advanced explorations of these issues and related processes of change. INTERFACE as practice based initiative, unique in Ireland and internationally develops diverse and innovative research and outcomes with international reach.

INTERFACE involves new partnerships and forms of collaborations and the development of new ways of thinking and working at local, national and transnational levels and also with cross-border dimensions in the Irish context.

The Centre will articulate the University of Ulster’s emphasis on the vital role that art and cultural practice can play in the emergence of Northern Ireland society from thirty years of conflict and civil unrest. INTERFACE takes full account of its context in Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Art Action in Belfast

Fans of Letter to America know that I believe whole-heartedly in the redemptive power of Art - as heard in this podcast:

Letter to America - Chapter 39 - Only Art Can Save Us

Art, both the making and contemplation of, has sustained me through my darkest hours.   In fact, the main reason I stayed in Belfast after the attack on my life was that the city was both inspiring to me aesthetically and supportive of galleries such as the Ormeau Baths.  Of course we all know what happened there:

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 1
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 2
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 3
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 4
Ormeau Baths Gallery Re-Opens
Hugh Mulholland Interviewed

Disappointed as I was in what seemed like the triumph of the anodyne, the banal, the safe and the staid - in short, the triumph of Politics  - I was cheered up by the fine folks at the Belfast Exposed and PS2 galleries:

Sample: Interface at PS2

Sample: Interface at PS2 - Part 2

And now those fine folks are working with Ruairi Watson and the BX Youth Forum to bring you:

Brix

They're looking for folks both in Belfast and around the world to text in camera phone images - just send your photo to: 07725 202 020 with Brix in the text field.  The pics will be exhibited on the Brix website and at the PS2 Gallery from the 5th of October.

And just to let you know that Art can trump Politics - it turns out that Hugh Mulholland will be curating Northern Ireland's 2007 entry at the Venice Biennale after all.

Ahh...wait.  Maybe it's Politics triumphing over Art?  Politics as Art?  Art as Politics?  What does it matter.  Maybe love is all you need.

Letter to America - Chapter 39 - Only Art Can Save Us

Oh, Sweet Sunshine That Bathes Us, it's Letter to America - Chapter 39 - Only Art Can Save Us!

In which the Ormeau Baths Gallery reopens, the Purpose of Art is pondered, we say Hi to the new folks on the Frappr Map, Wayne Ordinary American is not too sure about Terry Bradley, Daniel Jewesbury cares about art, Vincent Van Gogh wants to feel deeply, Ian Davidson from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has a cigarette and Jett Loe reveals his Lust for Life.

All this and more on your "I've Got to Paint!" Ireland Podcast.

Ormeau Baths Gallery Re-Opens

Yes folks, the Ormeau Baths Gallery has re-opened.  Long-time listeners of the Podcast know that I've been covering this story for a while.  Previous LTA posts on this subject can be found here:

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 1
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 2
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 3
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 4

Now, I'm not going to go into detail in this post about the nature of the closing of the Gallery and the subsequent scandal involving the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Gallery Director Hugh Mullholland - it's covered in the above posts and peoples replies to the posts.

As for yesterday evening's 'Private View' marking the re-opening of the Gallery and the protest outside deriding the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's actions - well, I've got so much to say that I'm going to save it for this Monday's podcast:  LTA Chapter 39 - Only Art Can Save Us.  In the meantime here's some lovely snaps I took of the occasions. 

In the above photo you see some of the protesters soaking up the evening sun.  It was a great day to hang out and sip wine in the cool breeze - they weren't allowed inside, unlike myself Dear Listener, but you know, it was hot and stuffy inside the Gallery so the protesters shouldn't feel bad about missing out.

Above is the informational flyer handed out by those not happy with the Arts Council.

The Roll of Honour.

Good times had by all; hanging out by the Van.

A glimpse inside said Van.

The protesters had great hair.

The BBC was at the Gallery to cover the events.  This cameraman goes by the name of Tony Davison - he's shot four series I've directed for the Beeb - if you ever meet up, get him to tell you his stories of serving in the South African Navy.

I make my way inside the Gallery. 

There was a heavy security presence - it's a shame the protesters were not allowed inside.  If only there was some way we could unite these various factions of the Art World here in Belfast.

These two ladies at the front desk are Marlyn and Ali.  When I asked Ali about the protesters her face froze in a rictus grin - she really didn't want to talk about it.  But the ice broke when I cracked a few jokes and it turns out she's visited this website before - so she knows I'm actually an OK guy.

I watched this young man in action.  He didn't have an invite but blagged his way in.  He introduced himself to me - it turns out he's a Letter to America fan and has listened to almost all of the Podcasts, God bless him.  His name is Phil O'Kane - visit his Photoblog Iced-Coffee.

Inside the Gallery people were wearing mostly cream.

Some say that the Northern Ireland Art Scene is run by a shadowy cabal.  I don't know if this is true - but if so I'd like to think it's these guys.  Don't they look like they pull the strings?

This jolly looking fellow is Ian Davidson, the Arts Development Officer for Visual Arts and Crafts of ACNI.  He gave quite an interesting interview for the show.

Hmmm....maybe these guys are the shadowy cabal.

Oh crap - they've seen me.  I'd better skedaddle out of here.

Ahh...back to the safety of the outdoors.

Hey who's this woman in Pink inside the protester's Van?  Why it's none other than Roisin McDonough - Chief Executive of the Arts Council! 

Maybe there's hope that the two sides can reconcile.  I'd like to think so Dear Listener. 

Tune in this Monday for the Arts in Northern Ireland special in which we'll hear from the ACNI as well as from Daniel Jewesbury, speaking on behalf of the protestors.

UPDATE:  Representatives from the OBG Protest and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland can be heard on THIS PODCAST.

Ormeau Baths Gallery Still Closed

Yes, Dear Listener, just in case you're wondering, the Ormeau Baths Gallery here in Belfast is still closed.  I haven't mentioned it in the Podcast for a few weeks so I thought I'd mosey over there to see what the deal was.  As you can see in the photo above the door was ajar so I wandered in.

The Gallery is still closed - only this large Photo-Sign was left outside a locked door to let you know that this once was a vibrant gallery that catered not only to big-city sophisticates but also to the artists of the future, (I understand this child is showing at the Whitney right now).

Anyhew, always on the look-out for a story I tapped on the locked door and managed to speak to someone who does not want to be identified.  Apparently they're painting the place in preparation for hanging new work - the gallery will be open soon - perhaps under a new name.  We'll keep ya posted Dear Listener as we get more info.  In the mean-time check out our previous OBG entries here:
Hugh Mulholland Interviewed
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 1
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 2
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 3
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 4
Campaign to Keep the OBG Open
Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Oh yeah, this guy is hanging out on the facade of the Gallery.  I think he rocks pretty hard - anybody out there know what he's about?

Goddess of Hoop and Ponytail

Here's the statue as described in the Hugh Mulholland interview in this week's podcast.  It poses a challenge to photographers because it is so anodyne and aggressively bland that to produce a 'good' photographic representation of it is at the same time also producing a 'bad' photograph.

This image above doesn't give you a sense of the scale of this thing.  Go here to get an idea of just how big it is.

Below is a photo of a sign mounted by the statue, (click on the image for a larger view).  Notice the lack of any identifying markers that would let you know who paid for the Hoop and Ponytail Goddess; who is the 'our' that is referred to in this sentence: "This symbol creates a tangible first statement of our long term objective in bringing people together..."

And since we're a little bit prurient here at 'Letter to America' I present the following photo which shows that, seen from the right angle, the Goddess has nipples.  Nothing wrong with that, we're bombarded with sexualised images constantly in the media, why not in public artwork.  Not that nipples have to be seen as sexual signifiers - maybe this is supposed to represent the 'milk of human kindness'.

Anyway, they should have erected a statue to Aine.

Sample: Interface at PS2 - Part 2

Hey there Dear Listener, here's Ramakant, the young man photographed in this post:

Sample: Interface at PS2

at the Opening of the show on Thursday night.

He's got a wonderfully expressive face.  Why isn't anyone talking to him?

I wish I had gone over and said hello.

You can handle the art at this show.

Hmmm....some nice photos.

This guy came to the Opening to get some free booze.  He was only inside for about 30 seconds.  But it's OK cause he's got MAGIC HAIR.

Here's Grainne, one of the folks from Interface.  It's a nice photo of her and I would've taken more but she was worried that the camera would steal her soul.

I wish I knew what was on this woman's mind.

I end on this photo.  No comment is necessary.

All in all I enjoyed the Opening and would have stayed longer but I had to deal with a Crisis as detailed in this weekend's upcoming Podcast.  If you're in the area I recommend a visit to the show.  All the details you need to attend are in this post.

Sample: Interface at PS2

While wandering the streets of Belfast yesterday I came upon a small gallery space on Donegall Street, Belfast:  The folks at Interface were busily gearing up for an opening the next day.  I met this man, Ramakant, who was hard at work at something - I did not ask him what for as I wanted it to be a surprise when I attended the opening the next day. 

I was of course intrigued by his equipment:  an iBook, DAT Recorder and Megaphone.  What more do you need for art I ask you?  I was concerned though as he appeared distressed as the above photo shows.

Wait a minute, it appears he's thought of something!

Yeah, that's so crazy it just might work!

He's on fire!  It's great to see somebody so happy with their work.  I can't wait to hear that Megaphone blaring!

If you're interested in attending the show, (and why wouldn't you be cause ART is LIFE, man), the following docs give you all the info you need:

Sample Invite (PDF)

Sample Poster (PDF)

Sample: Programme of Events (Word)

Now, I'm posting this after I attended the opening this cold Thursday night - there's some interesting stuff there including a really creepy video featuring an eyeless child's face, (maybe it was just me - I got into a heated argument with a Canadian woman who felt the video wasn't unsettling at all - but trust me Dear Listener, it's gonna give me nightmares). 

Anyhew, it was a nice opening and yours truly took a lot of snaps, oh-so-arty snaps.  I'll post them a bit later.

Hugh Mulholland Interviewed

Listeners to the Podcast know that we're keeping tabs on the scandal surrounding the closure of the Ormeau Baths Gallery here in Belfast, Northern Ireland:

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 1
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 2
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 3
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 4

To this end I interviewed the former director of the now closed gallery, Hugh Mulholland for this weekend's upcoming podcast.  The thing is, Dear Listener, I forgot to take a photo of Hugh for the website; so I went back the next day to the cafe where the interview took place and took a photo of this gentleman, Michael, who was sitting in the same seat as Hugh.

I described the OBG closure story to Michael and asked him to play the part of Hugh - in this photo Hugh is reading a letter from the Arts Council to Northern Ireland and realising that he's been kicked to the curb.

P.S. The interview was great; Hugh spoke frankly about the 'Scene' here in Northern Ireland.  Maybe being frank is what got him into trouble in the first place?

P.P.S.  More information about the gallery closure can be found here.

UPDATE - March 20th, 2006:  The interview can be heard on this podcast.  If you don't want to listen to all the wacky banter skip ahead to about the 50-minute mark to hear what Hugh has to say.

UPDATE - June 25th, 2006:  Photos from the Re-Opening of the gallery can be found here.

UPDATE - June 29th, 2006:  Representatives from the OBG Gallery in Exile and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland can be heard on this podcast.

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 4

Well there Dear Listener, I hope you were interested in Letter to America's reporting on the closure of the Ormeau Baths Gallery as presented here:

Letter to America - The Ormeau Baths Gallery Special

and in these posts:

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 1
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 2
Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 3

There's a new blog set up by the Campaign for the Ormeau Baths Gallery which can be found here:

Campaign for the Ormeau Baths Gallery

Here's the text of the email sent out by the folks behind the above website:

Dear all

In light of the recent removal of funding from The Ormeau Baths Gallery
by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, an official blog has been set
up in support of the OBG.
Information will be posted to this blog on a regular basis. The url is

http://www.campaignforobg.blogspot.com

The email address of Campaign for Ormeau Baths Gallery is
campaignforobg@googlemail.com

This is the official campaignforobg blog setup in reaction to the Arts
Council of Northern Ireland's withdrawal of funding to the Ormeau Baths
Gallery. This action forced the closure of the gallery resulting in the
OBG team losing their jobs. It was thanks to the staff, lead by the
director Hugh Mulholland, that gave this gallery it's international
reputation. This blog is the central information point for the on-going
campaign and issues surrounding the situation.

The blog will act as a central point of information regarding the
campaign. Interested parties can see documents and information
regarding how people can support the campaign on this blog.

Comments for posting on the blog can be sent to the email address

Here is a chronology of events to date re OBG Closure

Sept 05 Negotiation between OBG Board & ACNI about a way forward

Oct 05 - Jan 06 Step by step OBG addressing ACNI requests, including
ongoing submission of monthly financial reports.

Feb 06 OBG draft advert for new board as requested and proposed
timescale for restructuring sent to ACNI for approval.

Feb 06 ACNI not give approval and state OBG now in “non compliance”
with terms of grant and Council vote unanimously to withhold final
payment of grant for current yr and any future funding.

Feb 06 OBG Board appeal against decision to withhold grant in face to
face meeting with Chief Exec. and senior officers of ACNI

Feb 06 ACNI reject appeal and draft “Joint statement” to be signed by
OBG chair regarding ensuing insolvency and would release final payment
for use with creditors.

28th Feb 06 OBG Board announce insolvency with immediate effect
including making all staff at OBG redundant. Dorr of OBG closed.

ACNI make public statement declare “company” is closed down but ACNI
holding £300,000 for next financial year and in discussions with visual
arts sector to reopen under new management as soon as possible.

1st March 06 Visual Arts Sector hold public silent protest outside OBG

3rd March 06 Protest at ACNI expressing lack of confidence in ACNI

4th March 06 Public meeting at Belfast Exposed to review events
including 5 questions raised by sector and ACNI response.

With thanks
Campaign for OBG

Now here's the thing Dear Listener - I was sent a separate email by the Campaign folks that I clicked on and thereby unwittingly added my name to list of contributors to the OBG site. 

I have been neutral in this dispute so far as I do not know the players involved, and am new to the 'Art Scene' here in Belfast.  But now it seems I've taken sides, (albeit not on purpose - sort of like those folks who download attachments containing a virus - I feel like a n00b).

Anyhew, the question becomes this - should I stay neutral or join those fighting to keep the gallery open?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

And thanks to 'you know who' for taking the above staged photo of me in torment over this issue.  I like the one below because it's more butch - that'll be this year's Christmas Card to Michael Heenan.

Letter to America - the Ormeau Baths Gallery Special

Oh, Sweet Beauty, it's Letter to America - the Ormeau Baths Gallery Special!

In which a listener favourite returns and pities Wayne, Marcus Valentine digs himself out of a hole, we go to a Theatre where nothing is hidden, a new Caption Competition is launched, a Son of the South admires a Goth and Jett launches a scheme to replace the Ormeau Baths Gallery.

All this and more on Letter to America - your Irish Northern Irish 'we travel to the future so you don't have to' Podcast.

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 3

Here's another photo taken during the vigil protesting the closure of the Ormeau Baths Gallery as documented here:

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 1

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 2

I like the look on the face of the young man holding the Arts Council sign - he looks kinda like a young Ewan McGregor.

I tried again today without success to contact the Communications Manager at the Arts Council, Grainne McCann, to arrange an interview with either the ACNI Chief Executive or Director to explain their side of the story. 

We here at Letter to America will withhold judgement and refuse to take sides till we can research the chain of events more closely and speak to all the players involved.

Listen in to the Podcast this weekend to hear what the protesters had to say as well as, hopefully, what the Art Council's view is.

Update - 1:39pm:  There will be a open meeting held by the former staff of the gallery regarding the closure this Saturday at 2pm, at the Belfast Exposed gallery.  Directions to the gallery can be found HERE.

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock - Part 2

Ever since my camera was destroyed in THIS INCIDENT I hate taking photos cause all I got around to use is a crappy, cheap lens econo-consuma 'Snappie-Pix' box.  But today's news event dictated that I bring it out and take a few pics.

As detailed in THIS POST the Ormeau Baths Gallery has closed due to withdrawl of funds by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 

Now I can't comment on the rights and wrongs of the withdrawl of funds and the subsequent closure as I don't know the players involved and am not privy to the politics of the 'Arts Scene' here in Northern Ireland.  But I can document the events both in pictures and on the 'Letter to America' Podcast - so I was there today for the 'Silent Vigil' as artists from the area congregated to show their support.  As you can see in the photo above it did snow.

This 'Art Couple' looked pretty cool so I interviewed them - tune in to this weekend's Podcast to hear what they had to say.

The guy was nice enough to pose with me as I point to this dramatic sign illustrating the artists' concerns about the Arts Council.

Man, that sign is pretty vicious - I don't know if the person portrayed is one of the Staff of the Arts Council - I hope to interview either their Chief Executive or their Director.  Grainne McCann, Communications Manager of the Council was supposed to get back to me this morning about this - I imagine they are quite busy dealing with this issue.

Here's the 'Cool Art Couple' again - I like anybody who makes a sign with the word 'Warum?' on it.

Anyhew, Dear Listener, I'll be discussing the closure of the gallery and playing the interviews I recorded on this weekend's show.

For more photos of the vigil visit Carisenda's Flickr set HERE.

Update - 5:30pm:  The Art Councils' Statement regarding the closure of the gallery can be read HERE.

Ormeau Baths Gallery Shock

Since 'Letter to America - the Podcast' is shortlisted by the Irish Blog Awards in the 'Arts and Culture' category we here at LTA thought it was a good idea to hot-foot it to the only real gallery in town:  The Ormeau Baths Gallery on Ormeau Avenue - right around the corner from us here in the heart of Belfast's Red-Light District.

I went in - the gallery was deserted - and admired the installation above.  I wandered into the office to ask if it was alright to take photos and inquired about the 'Kitchen Piece' - told them I thought the gallery was really picking up - really solid work on display.

Imagine my surprise when they told me that they were hiring the gallery out for some sort of 'Home/Office Product Show' and that the piece I liked was just a 'Store Display' item!  Well, I laughed at my own foolishness as you can imagine - and also really liked the piece below as well!

But here's the thing Dear Listener.  As I was talking to the two very nice ladies in the office, the director of the gallery, Hugh Mulholland, locked the doors of the gallery and informed me that I was the last official visitor to the place - after 10 years the Ormeau Baths Gallery was closing down! 

Apparently all funding by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland was withdrawn several days before and the gallery had no choice but to shut its doors for good. 

Now, I don’t know any of the individuals involved - either at the gallery or at the Arts Council so I have no opinion as to the legitimacy of the withdrawl of funds and the closure - but am stunned that this leaves practically no venue for contemporary art here in Northern Ireland.

I feel it's my duty at here at LTA to report on this issue and will try to speak to the folks involved - as well as document the silent vigil at the gallery tomorrow at 1pm.

Elephant and Castle at Christmas

Over in London to record the Christmas Special I went down to Elephant and Castle to meet a friend, Charlie Tweed from art collective LAND.  While waiting for him I espied these lovely, large Christmas Ornaments dangling from the trees.  There's a lot of them there which I thought was pretty cool since Elephant and Castle has been a notoriously ugly shit-hole for quite some time.