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Why war still inspires art – Major IWM exhibition | Events

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Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War
Major New Exhibition
12 October 2013 – 23 February 2014, IWM North Special Exhibitions Gallery
Free Entry, Donations Welcome

Imperial War Museums

IWM holds an unrivalled collection of twentieth and twenty-first century British art. Now, IWM North, part of Imperial War Museums, in Manchester is presenting the first major exhibition of IWM’s collection of contemporary art produced since the First Gulf War – placing more than 20 years of work by over 40 artists in this national collection on public display together for the first time.

The exhibition includes Steve McQueen’s Queen and Country, an installation of facsimile stamp sheets bearing photographic portraits of British service personnel killed in Iraq, and Photo Op, kennardphillipps’ very different comment on the war in Iraq, showing Tony Blair taking a ‘selfie’ in front of an explosion. This large-scale, free exhibition features responses to conflict since the First Gulf War by some of the most significant artists exploring war and conflict today – such as Langlands and Bell, Miroslaw Balka, Willie Doherty, Paul Seawright, Ori Gersht, Jananne Al Ani and Edmund Clark.

Catalyst : Contemporary Art and War reveals how war has been crucial subject matter for contemporary artists in the last two decades. Visitors will explore the rich, varied and moving artistic response to conflict in a media age. Hear from the artists themselves and discover what motivates people to create art about conflict. Explore the ways in which art can prompt us to think more deeply about current events, their immediate impact and their long-term implications.

Through more than 70 works, the exhibition will show the broad range of approaches artists use to explore this vast and complex subject. The exhibition showcases installations, photography, film, sculpture, oil paintings, prints and book works; varying from the highly moving to the humorous, philosophical or outraged.

In recent years the media has become an acknowledged weapon of battle. At a time when our understanding of war is increasingly shaped by the media and the internet, discover how art can prompt us to consider the way the media not only influences our current perceptions of conflict, but how it shapes the way history is written. Rasheed Araeen’s White Stallion explores the role of the media by questioning the nature of propaganda during the First Gulf War, while Paul Seawright seeks an alternative way of photographing war through his images of empty, but lethal minefields in Afghanistan.

Artists are often driven by their own experiences, political views or a desire to protest. Taysir Batniji’s series of estate agent details for destroyed homes in Gaza is a tongue-in-cheek comment on the situation in Palestine. Some artists aim to counter common opinions, while others explore the legacy of their own family history, or the long-term impact of conflict. Willie Doherty’s photograph Unapproved Road, showing a rural makeshift roadblock, suggests a violent past event and reminds us of the significance of land and territory in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Langlands and Bell’s interactive installation, The House of Osama bin Laden, where visitors perform an inconclusive search for bin Laden, or Edmund Clark’s photographs of Guantanamo, both reflect on points in time where the traditional boundaries and ethics of conflict are called into question.

Accompanying the work on display there will be a series of new interviews, specially commissioned by IWM, with artists whose work is on display, including Langlands and Bell, kennardphillipps and Paul Seawright.

Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War presents a unique opportunity to view new and recent acquisitions to IWM’s Collections, including works by Taysir Batniji, and Edmund Clark, films by Kerry Tribe and Ori Gersht, and a print series by Miroslaw Balka. The exhibition presents some of IWM’s official commissions: Queen and Country, Steve McQueen’s response to the war in Iraq; Paul Seawright’s photographs of Afghanistan and Langland and Bell’s unnerving interactive installation: The House of Osama Bin Laden.

IWM North itself – designed by world renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to represent a globe shattered by conflict – is a contemporary response to war. A major season of events will accompany the exhibition.

Coinciding with this major exhibition at IWM North, IWM London are hosting IWM Contemporary in autumn 2013 – a new programme of free contemporary art and photography exhibitions and public events.

Connect with IWM North and share your thoughts on Twitter via @I_W_M #SeeArtHere or on Facebook at Facebook.com/iwm.north

Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War is supported by The Little Green Paint Company.

Graham Boxer, IWM North Director, said: ‘IWM North is a venue for challenging exhibitions; a place for visitors to discuss big questions relating to war and conflict and our lives today. Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War contains some of the most important artworks on this theme of the past 25 years – on display together for the first time – and explores why war has inspired such creativity.’

 

HotelTonight, the app for last-minute hotel stays, launches new destinations

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hotelHotelTonight, the app for last-minute or spontaneous hotel stays,

launches new destinations in France, Italy, Spain and Mexico

 

HotelTonight, the first ever last-minute hotel booking app, has recently added more than fifteen new destinations to its roster of vibrant cities worldwide. This brings the total reach of the app to 12 countries and 100 destinations worldwide.

 

To tie in with the peak travel season in Europe, HotelTonight is adding popular European destinations, including Lille, Lyon, and Marseille in France; Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga/Costa del Sol in Spain and Florence, Rome and Milan in Italy. The last minute hotel booking app is also offering its over five million global users new destinations in Ireland, Mexico and for those who prefer holidaying closer to home, HotelTonight has added Brighton to its list of best UK hotel deals.

 

This recent international expansion is part of its pledge to be ubiquitous and accessible to all last minute travellers and follows last week’s global announcement of new features including “Snap Your Stay” which allows customers to photograph and share images of their hotel with friends and other HotelTonight users, and the “HT Price Guarantee,” which guarantees its rates against competitors’ offerings.

 

HotelTonight is now partnering with almost 2500 hotels across the globe in the  ‘hip’, ‘luxe’, ‘charming’ and ‘solid’ categories. Hotels include the stunning 5 Star The First Luxury Hotel in Rome, and the charming Palazzo Vecchietti in Florence, the Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona on the Costa del Sol and the hip Music Hotel in Marseille. These hotels and others across Europe are perfect for an impromptu weekend break. There are also many more hotels more on the mid to basic level which are perfectly suited to business travellers’ needs.

 

At the same time as adding these new destinations, the company has also expanded its European operations, relocating to a new, larger office in London’s Covent Garden and building out the team with new Country Managers for Italy and Spain.

 

The Hotel Tonight app offers unbeatable deals on hand-picked hotels, with bookings opening at midday and closing at 2AM. Last minute travellers can book a hotel in less than ten seconds with three taps and a swipe, starting that day for one night or more.

Visit www.hoteltonight.com for more information and to download the free app.

 

For staycations, in the UK, cities include Birmingham, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester.

The 16th UK JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

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this year’s UK JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL (November 1st-18th) which opens in London and Manchester on November 1st with the UK premiere of PARIS-MANHATTAN, the debut of French writer/director Sophie Lellouche. A delightful romantic comedy inspired by the philosophy and comedy of Woody Allen, PARIS-MANHATTAN stars Alice Taglioni and Patrick Bruel (left with Sophie Lellouche) and features a cameo by Woody Allen himself.

This year’s UK Jewish Film Festival rolls out simultaneously to Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Glasgow for the first time since Executive Director JUDY IRONSIDE founded the festival in Brighton in 1997. More than 70 feature films, shorts, documentaries, and TV programmes will be shown at this year’s festival including the hotly tipped ZAYTOUN starring Stephen Dorff; the highly anticipated YOSSI, Eytan Fox’s follow-up to his Tribeca winner, Yossi & Jagger; HIS PEOPLE, a poignant, funny black and white silent film made in 1925 which will screen at the Barbican with a live score performed by SOPHIE SOLOMON; the riveting documentary GAINSBOURG ON GAINSBOURG: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT; the absorbing SIMON AND THE OAKS by award winning Swedish director Lisa Ohlin; SHARQIYA an absorbing story about the plight of a family of displaced Bedouins; ROMAN POLANKSI: A FILM MEMOIR; MY DAD IS BARYSHNIKOV the uplifting tale of a misplaced ballet pupil in the pre-Perestroika Bolshoi Ballet School; and many more.

Events include THE SHARPEST CUT in which David Baddiel, Norman Lebrecht and guests discuss the portrayal of Jews in TV and film; EMERGING FILMMAKERS day with workshops by the likes of Michael Kuhn and Tim Bevan; TEL AVIV ON FILM which celebrates the way the city has been captured on film; PEARS SHORT FILM EVENT which will screen the two winning films and lots of Q&A sessions with filmmakers throughout the festival.

SONIC EDITIONS ISSUE LIMITED EDITION STONE ROSES COLLECTION

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Sonic Editions unveils rarely seen, limited edition images of the Stone Roses, to celebrate their homecoming at Heaton Park.

Sonic Editions, the online retailer that specialises in affordable limited edition photography has curated a unique collection of inspirational photography to celebrate the life and work of the Stone Roses. The hand framed, professional prints capture the band at their finest.

Sonic Editions uses its substantial archive to democratise art, making rarely seen images affordable and accessible for the first time.

The below limited edition images are extracts from the gallery and are available in editions of 495, from £45 each.

Portrait of the band as photographed in Nomad Studios in Manchester, 1989.

Ian Brown performs live on the JJB stage during Day One of the 2008 V Festival.

The Stone Roses outside the YMCA in London, 1989.

TV STAR CRISSY ROCK’S JOY AS SHE SHOWS OFF “ROLLS ROYCE OF TEETH”

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Comedian Crissy Rock is proudly showing off her new set of “Rolls Royce teeth” after enduring years of agony and embarrassment.

Crissy, who is also one of the stars of the hit TV show Benidorm, saw her teeth destroyed after she took chemotherapy-based drugs for vulval cancer in 2003.

Her teeth crumbled causing her to have all of them removed and she went on to have dentures fitted while living in Spain during the filming of Benidorm.

She said: “I spent £10,000 having dentures fitted with a Spanish dentist, but the result was devastating. When I saw my teeth I cried. They looked like something out of a joke shop. It was a real botch job that left me looking like Hannibal Lecter.”

Crissy resolved to get her teeth looked at again after appearing on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here last year during which she had to remove her dentures as she prepared to jump out of a helicopter.

Now, after four months of treatment with the UK’s leading denturist Barrie Semp, of The Smile Centre in Manchester, Crissy is proudly showing off what she has dubbed the “Rolls Royce of teeth” which cost £20,000 to fit.

Crissy said: “My teeth have been individually handmade and tweaked to look a bit worn and slightly crooked to appear more natural. Even the gum looks real.

“For years I couldn’t bite into an apple and had to check restaurant menus for things I could eat. These new teeth are rock solid and I can eat whatever I want. They have given me my dignity back as well as a nicer smile.

“They have already made a huge difference, not just to my mouth but to my life.”

Barrie Semp said: “The problem with Crissy’s teeth was that she had them fitted abroad and there was no aftercare. Also the dentistry work she had done was very poor and had completely failed. It was a total mess.

“Each new tooth has been handcrafted with faint cracks and blemishes where necessary to make them look very real. The gum work is also hand-stained to blend in with the patient’s gum colour, so it looks as if the patient’s natural teeth are growing from the natural gum.

“Crissy can eat anything she likes now and can even jump out of a helicopter without having to take her teeth out.”

JENNIE ANNOUNCES NEW RESTAURANT VENTURE

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Jennie McAlpine has announced an exciting new venue with long-term partner Chris Farr to refurbish a Manchester landmark. Corrie actress Jennie and Chris, an experienced restaurant manager, will be opening a new restaurant in the city centre in Autumn 2012. Situated on Old Bank Street, off St Anne’s Square, Annies will cater for lunches, evening service and private functions, as well as pre and post theatre menus for the neighbouring Royal Exchange. The new restaurant will be housed in what used to be known as Bar 5 and prior to that The Conservatory. Having been closed for several years, a major refurbishment programme is now underway. Commented Jennie: “I am so excited to be working with Chris on this new venture. We hope to create a space that will deliver on style, with all the comforts of home. Our menu will centre around classic British food. It’s going to be a busy summer with filming commitments and the refurbishment but we have a great team in place to help make it all happen.“ Annies is scheduled to open early Autumn 2012.

Mike Moss | Music Profile

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Artist: Mike Moss
From: UK, North England
CD: Cold World Plastic Dream
Produced by: Christophe Bride, Oxygene Studios, Manchester
Streaming link: http://soundcloud.com/themikemoss/sets/cold-world-plastic-dream/s-STgkH
Secure download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?mvbumm8owotjdu6
Websites:www.mikemoss.co.uk, www.reverbnation.com/mikemossofficial, www.facebook.com/TheMikeMoss
Style: Pop, Rock, Alternative, Electronic

Bio: Defying typecasts, Mike Moss is an anomaly in the modern world of manufactured pop. Yet, with his diverse musical roots – from hanging out with his Uncle who toured with Ivor Novello, to the mosh pits of Manchester?s rock clubs, he is also emblematic of a new wave of self-made artists, combining innate musical talent with production and marketing savvy.

Born of his healthy disrespect for musical genres and market-fixations, Cold World Plastic Dream is both multidimensional yet coherent, woven together by Moss?s ear for pop melodies, tight orchestration and heartfelt lyricism.

This first album is the culmination of a year’s work and a steady stream of contributing musicians, including Mikey Wilson (ex-Texas and Dust Junkies drummer). But the voice that emerges is inimitably Moss’s.

From the clarion call of the opening anthem, It’s Time, with its Bowie-esque signature vocal, to the pulsing beats of Emotion Machine, Moss toys with expectations and eschews the mainstream, all the while keeping the album fresh and accessible.

Tracks like Drifter have their genesis in the acoustic sets he played on the NYC club scene. But here, they’re transformed into multi-layered tapestries, their humble folk and blues origins swept up into orchestral layers of strings and vocal harmonies. Similarly, Morning Call is emancipated from its humble country roots with hypnotic military drums, chiming guitars and that soul-searching voice.

Neither is Moss afraid of shifting down a gear, and the album is punctuated with beautifully reflective moments, culminating in Only Lies. a simple piano ballad replete with real world story telling and a swelling vocal finale.

To listen, and find out more, visit:

www.mikemoss.co.uk
www.facebook.com/themikemoss

We Are Scientists announce UK tour | Music News

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We Are Scientists have announced that they’ll be bringing their extremely entertaining live show back to UK shores following a 2 year break from playing here. The band are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches to their 4th, as yet untitled, album but are heading to the UK in July/August for a full tour as well as some festival appearances, the details of which are below.

 

 

UK Tour:

23/07 – Bristol – Thekla (www.alt-tickets.co.uk)
25/07 – London – The Garage (http://venues.meanfiddler.com/the-garage/home)
26/07 – Portsmouth – Wedgewood Rooms (www.gigsandtours.com)
27/07 – York – Duchess (http://theduchessyork.co.uk/whats-on/detail/978)
30/07 – Norwich – Arts Centre (http://norwichartscentre.co.uk/category/events/month/)
31/07 – Manchester – Deaf Institute (www.gigsandtours.com)
01/08 – Glasgow – King Tuts (www.gigsinscotland.com)

Festival Dates:

22/07 – Sheffield – Tramlines
29/07 – Cumbria – Kendal Calling
03/08 – Scotland – Belladrum
04/08 – Stockton – Weekender
05/08 – Derbyshire – Y Not Festival

Tickets for the tour dates go on sale at 9am on Wednesday 16th May.

 

Links:

We Are Scientists Facebook page

Official Website

Twitter