Sound It Out’s Tamperine exhibition is nearly finished!

Log Roper portrait of The Band’s Levon Helm

Tambourines suspended from the ceiling – appear to be floating and create a complete contrast to the former 48Sheet project.  The artists work on the walls have absolutely exceeded expectations; Log Ropers wall piece is  incredible and really frames the floating tambourines (no pun intended Log).  Craig Earp set a benchmark with his tamperine a few weeks ago and followed this up with a really simple, brilliant geometric painting and line drawings.

Lee Crutchley started his ‘windy’ text a couple of days ago that intends to pull the space together with meaningful lyrics to both Lee and his Quoteskine followers, and finally Lucy McLauchlan started her much anticipated work this evening we can’t wait to see it all come together.

The artists work has really transformed the space, compliments and enhances the array of celebrity doodled tambourines.  We really hope this exhibition raises the profile of Sound It Out’s Tamperine auction to raise much needed funds for this brilliant organisation.

The exhibition starts officially on Thursday 16th – 26th May

For more information about the auction and Sound It Out please click here 

Craig Earp at work!

Lucy McLauchlan in progress

Log Roper has started his portrait of The Band’s Levon Helm in the EC Arts space at The Mailbox for Sound It Out’s ‘Tamperine’ project, we love the way Log has incorporated his tambourine into the wall piece.

Lucy McLauchlan, Craig Earp and Lee Crutchley will also be finishing work for the space over the next couple of days watch this space…

More images click here 

Rachel Marsden interviewed Xu Zhen in April, pre-recorded for the event ‘Introducing Contemporary China’ which took place at Eastside Projects, a contemporary artist-run exhibition space in Birmingham, UK.  Rachel has been working with Eastside Projects and their members group ‘Extra Special People’ since they awarded her an ‘International Research Bursary’ earlier last year and is hoping to develop a curatorial project with them in relation to her PhD research in 2013.

In the interview shown above, Xu outlines the work of MadeIn Company whilst talking more generally about his perspectives on the development of contemporary Chinese art in China and its place internationally. He also talks of the billboards series created for the project ’48SHEET’ by EC-Arts, exhibited within the urban landscape of Birmingham, throughout April 2012 and was also an off-site project as part of‘The Fourth Guangzhou Triennial’ 2012 festival, the development of which is shown through the Centre for Chinese Visual Arts (CCVA) blog.

For more information and images please see Rachel Marsden words.

Above Image: Claire Farrell, Clare McLaughlin and professor Jiehong Jiang greet Dr Luo Yiping and his family

48Sheet held an event to welcome very special guests Dr Luo Yiping, Director of Guangdong Museum of Art and the Fourth Guangzhou Triennial and his family on Friday 20th April.  48Sheet is the first international project to feature within the Guangzhou Triennial through MadeIn Company work produced for both projects made possible by co curators Jonathan Watkins, Director Ikon Gallery and Professor Jiehong Jiang, Director of Chinese Visual Arts, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design.

48Sheet sponsors, Advisory Board members including Beverley Nielsen, Sophia Tarr and Nigel Edmondson, associates and collaborators arrived in the 48Sheet project space at The Mailbox on the 20th April, to peruse the gallery of the project, installations and projections including talks from artists Mary Maziotti (Pittsburgh) and Ben Long (London).

We were absolutely delighted to be joined by Sir Albert Bore, a huge advocate and instigator of arts and culture in the city who gave a speech to officially welcome the Chinese guests from Birmingham’s sister city Guangzhou; to celebrate the projects international links and success of transforming the city into a gallery with a wonderfully diverse array of artwork from regional, national and international artists.  Sir Albert Bore has supported the 48Sheet project and encourages more billboards as part of this project to cover a larger city centre area in Birmingham to create a specific ‘walking tour’ something we aim to do in 2013.

Above image: Sir Albert Bore speaking at the event

Many thanks to Jonathan Watkins, Director of Ikon Gallery for speaking at the event in the capacity of advisory board member, project partner and international co curator with Dr Jiehong Jiang.  Jonathan talked about the reach of the project across the city, the warm overwhelming response to the project by members of the public and the positive ‘confusion’ he felt had been created through 48Sheet project. Members of the public have been wondering what the images are selling when initially encountering the billboards and a warm response has quickly followed upon the realisation that its #art not advertising.

Above image: Jonathan Watkins talking with Dr Luo Yipings family

Above images; Jonathan Watkins Director Ikon Gallery, Professor Jiehong Jiang Director Chinese Visual Arts (BIAD), Neil Rami CEO Marketing Birmingham, Graham Hardy Headmaster Calthorpe School, Lee Humphreys Sales Director JCDecaux, Jenny Peevers & Kate Pryor-Williams Arts Council

With kind thanks to Harvey Nichols for sponsoring the champagne reception and to Hotel Indigo, Marco Pierre Whites Restaurant, for the superb canapés.

Richard Gray from Aston Manor Transport Museum provided a vintage bus, so that everyone in attendance could be treated to a tour of some of the billboard clusters, which was a brilliant way to round off a great afternoon.

Thank you to everyone who gathered on Thursday evening to celebrate 48Sheet; artists, members of the public and 48Sheet associates traveled from far and wide to join in with the excitement.

48Sheet ‘pop up’ project space was intended for artists to talk, respond, create and collaborate. By Thursday 19th April it had culminated into a gallery of the project.  48Sheet artists exhibiting their work as part of the project and new work in response to the project space. Artwork by Faith Pearson, Ian Richards, Tidal Grace, Tom Tebby and Lee Crutchley was on display, as well as work by emerging artists and Birmingham Institute of Art & Design students James Gill, Leah Carless and Dan Cooper, alongside the fabulous Papergirl Birmingham exhibition launching on 24th April 2012.  

Above image taken earlier in the day from artist talk by Stephen Brandes (Cork). In the evening, the space began to fill up again, and with all of the fabulous artwork dotted around, and a DJ set by Tim Felton it was the perfect setting to mingle, chat and be merry.

48Sheet Advisory Board members and project partners Professor Chris O’Neil, Executive Dean of Birmingham Institute of Art & Design and Glenn Howells, Director & Founder of Glenn Howells Architects also Chairman of Ikon and EC Arts creator of 48Sheet Claire Farrell gave speeches thanking the artists and project sponsors.

Waiting outside The Mailbox were two Double Decker vintage buses supplied by Richard Gray and the incredible Aston Manor Transport Museum with Albert driving the magnificent vehicles, were the perfect way to view the billboard tour ensuring people unable to cycle or walk the route could participate.

The artist works exhibited on the billboards were the center of attention, the bus toured one small city centre route approximately 40 mins of fun. The drivers parked up where possible along the way, giving everyone a chance to file off and have a closer look at the artworks and sip their ‘Artisan’ cocktails, courtesy of Julian Rose – Gibbs and Bitters & Twisted  The Victoria, who provided the bar for the event. A brilliant evening all round, everyone at 48Sheet is delighted with the turnout. The space is still open 10-5pm Monday-Saturday until Saturday 28th April.  The project space is a great way for those unable to walk or cycle the entire route to come in and find out more about the project.  We are also very much ‘children friendly’ with some drawing activities with OHP’s available daily!

With one week left there’s still time to come in and have a browse. 

Above billboard by Lawrence Roper

photography by Leah Carless
words by Cat Dickie

Lee Crutchley has been in the 48Sheet space, painting some of his trademark artwork onto the walls in response to #48Sheet and Papergirl Bham. We’re very excited about the newest addition to the space and would like to thank Lee Crutchley very much for taking the time to do this.

Keep an eye out for more work by Lee Crutchley with EC-Arts in 2012…

Have a look at his fabulous book, Quoteskine Volume. 1, Here

Open: 12-5pm, Thursday-Saturday

Venue: Grand Union Canal, Fazley Street 

48Sheet featured artists Faith Pearson and Candice Smith have been invited by Edible Eastside (EE) and K4 Architects to utilise old 48Sheet posters by pasting them onto a disused shipping container. Starting Friday 20th April with Faith Pearson, and Saturday 21st with Candice Smith.

Edible Eastside looks like the start of a very interesting long term project, based on Fazely Street. The shipping container and EE site is right in the middle of the 48Sheet digbeth route and can be seen from two vantage points.

Edible Eastside would like to invite you to get involved, find out more about the project and have a cup of tea, join them Thursday – Saturday weekly between 12-5pm.

Edible Eastside is currently developing its identity and purpose through exchange and enquiry setting out an opportunity to rework a vacant concrete space into a hub for planting and growing. There are no fixed outcomes for the space and here it is appropriate that as the space develops itself so does a series of projects, that run in tandem with the growth of Edible Eastside its partner projects.

To have a look at the Edible Eastside Flikr, click Here

48SHEET PROJECT SPACE, THE MAILBOX

Stephen Brandes will talk about his impressive portfolio of work process and the inspiration behind his 48Sheet commission in the context of his practice. Illustrations and examples of Stephen Brandes’ work will provide a visual backdrop to the talk. ‘We are staying at the intercontinental’ is inspired by George Perec’s ’243 Postcards in Real Colour’, which published writings from the reverse sides of holiday postcards. In marrying the ‘matter of factness’ of the text with absurd images presenting a hand rendered portrait of an impossible civilisation, the aim is to address our differing perspectives on unfamiliar cultures with a measured mixture of both humour and poignancy.

Stephen Brandes’ practice explores visual language, often interplayed with word, as a vehicle for storytelling, employing a range of materials, from monumental drawings on flooring vinyl to digitally designed posters and collages.