Blank Media Recommends

Blank Media Presents… Birthday Party

2007-11-13T20:00:00+00:00

Parallax View

2007-11-02T19:00:00+00:00

Blank Media Presents…Birthday Party

2007-11-02T15:07:00+00:00

That’s right folks, we’re back again with another night of awesome live music for your enjoyment at Fuel in Withington. This time it’s our 1st Year Birthday Party on Tuesday November 13th, doors at 8pm, and as per usual you get a DVD showcasing the talents of up–and–coming artists. As well as this if you get in early, there’s a slice of Birthday Cake for you. That’s right folks, we’re back again with another night of awesome live music for your enjoyment at Fuel in Withington. This time it’s our 1st Year Birthday Party on Tuesday November 13th, doors at 8pm, and as per usual you get a DVD showcasing the talents of up–and–coming artists. As well as this if you get in early, there’s a slice of Birthday Cake for you. The line–up for this month is: MS Thomason (http://www.myspace.com/msthomason) Hurra Caine Landcrash (http://www.myspace.com/landcrash) Magnum Quilter (http://www.myspace.com/magnumquilter) MS Thomason http://www.myspace.com/msthomason Is one Matthew Thomason and is Acoustic Guitar. He creates beautiful songs about heartache and loss. If I was to pigeonhole him I would put his music somewhere between Will Oldham and Damien Rice. From the Pollen8 website.. http://www.pollen8.eu/blog/?view=reviews M.S Thomason comes across as an enigmatic folk berry with a blues taste when rolled around the mouth. And a voice like the desert vast and wide. A shadowy figure in his low worn cap and black beard, with professional line breaks and a loose strumming style — the whole experience is akin to walking across the cornfields on a rich morning when you finally realise life is more then just a word. It’s barely a breath above a whisper but it doesn’t need to be anymore like writing your secrets on the bathroom mirror. The strings entwine with his fingers in a melodic dance, the chords fall like leaves dwindling down from trees. Considering I usually harp on about lyricism — tonight it’s the sound that has carried me high above the rooftops to watch this operatic experience through six strings. I love how his set seems to follow one emotion through — not rising and falling with the fickleness of human character but steady, like a passing ship across the black seas of solitude. Videos of MS Thomas can be viewed at the BBC Stoke website http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2007/04/20/msthomason_insession_190407_feature.shtml Hurra caine Landcrash (HL) http://myspace.com/landcrash Daniel Hopkins — AKA Hurra cane Land Crash — covers many bases. Commissioned as a film maker by Channel 4 his work has gained national exposure, whilst as a musician he has had spot play on some of London’s cool internet radio stations — Resonance FM and ILL FM — as well as picking up plays and accolades in Sweden, Canada and Italy. Having self released three albums to date, Occupying a place in the current Avant Garde, Dan’s work is impossible to pigeon hole, and it is far from conventional. Using a guitar as an instrument in a totally new way, i.e. dropping shells, pebbles and stones on the strings and body to extract “noisy textures” which are then processed in real time through various filters and effects using a laptop, Dan discovers strange and intriguing ambient noises. What is produced for the listener is a musical voyage reminiscent on the one hand of no wave punk and then sweeping to more ethereal esoteric sound-scapes. His work is disorientating, strange and at the same time oddly familiar. For Music and Films Check http://www.landcrash.co.uk/ Magnum Quilter http://www.myspace.com/magnumquilter From Mixmag Magazine The Mysterious ‘Miguel-Leo Collarados’ has been rocking open minded parties in Wales and the south–west with his live set, and his recorded tracks are cracking too. His unique hallucinogenic style mixes horror–movie ambience and disembodied voices with Autechre atyle distorted beats, but has a gleefulness and off–beam funk that raise way above blokey bedroom electronica. He shouldn’t remain unsigned for very long. DJs to be confirmed. Hope to see you there, Blank Media

Rejected. Warning: This Exhibition May Contain Nuts!

2007-11-01T18:00:00+00:00

Forbidden Arts Manchester/Temporary Autonomous Arts

2007-10-24T10:00:00+00:00

Blank Media DVD Production

2007-10-16T21:11:00+00:00

ARE YOU CREATIVE? DO YOU MAKE VIDEOS / SHORT FILMS / MUSIC / 2D BASED WORK? DO YOU STRUGGLE TO PROMOTE YOUR PRACTICE? If your answers begin with y and end in s get in touch with Blank Media and we will do the rest! ARE YOU CREATIVE? DO YOU MAKE VIDEOS / SHORT FILMS / MUSIC / 2D BASED WORK? DO YOU STRUGGLE TO PROMOTE YOUR PRACTICE? If your answers begin with y and end in s get in touch with Blank Media and we will do the rest! Blank Media would like to offer you the opportunity to see your work included within the next Blank Media Presents… DVD production. The DVD will be given to everyone who attends Blank Media Presents… HAPPY BIRTHDAY! event on Tuesday 13th November 2007. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work to a range of people involved within the arts and a chance to become involved in an up and coming collective of creative people. All you have to do is e–mail your interest to blankmediacollective@hotmail.co.uk by Saturday 20 October 2007 and we will arrange transfer of appropriate material. There are no constraints on content and if your work is not included inthe November Issue it will be used in the Christmas Issue. As an added bonus Blank Media will also include your submission within our artists’ database on http://www.blankmediacollective.org for the whole world to view! Submission Guidelines: Moving Image — Highest quality DV Pal Quicktime or AVI file formats only Music — Highest Quality MP3 file formats only Still Image — 300dpi jpeg files no bigger than A4 size (21x29.7cm) only For more information about Blank Media please visitwww.blankmediacollective.org or e-mail us at blankmediacollective@hotmail.co.uk. http://www.blankmediacollective.org blankmediacollective@hotmail.co.uk http://www.myspace.com/blankmediacollective

AirSpace Needs You!!!

2007-10-15T21:26:00+00:00

As you may or may not know, AirSpace Gallery, based in Stoke-on-Trent have supported Blank Media throughout this past year, including our recent exhibition blank expression in July. It is now time for us to help them. AirSpace Gallery is Stoke-on-Trent’s first contemporary Art Gallery and support emerging artists throughout the country. Please find below information about how you can go some way in helping to secure the future of this exciting contemporary gallery. Thanks for your time As you may or may not know, AirSpace Gallery, based in Stoke–on–Trent have supported Blank Media throughout this past year, including our recent exhibition blank expression in July. It is now time for us to help them. AirSpace Gallery is Stoke–on–Trent’s first contemporary Art Gallery and support emerging artists throughout the country. Please find below information about how you can go some way in helping to secure the future of this exciting contemporary gallery. Thanks for your time AirSpace Needs You!!! As you know AirSpace Gallery is holding the first AirTrade art auction on December 14th in order to raise funds to ensure the continued survival of the gallery. We really need all pieces to be with us by November 5th in order to get all the works photographed for the catalogue. Please get in touch if you need any help with getting the work to us. The following artists have pledged a piece of their work in order to help the cause already — so a big thank you to: Keith Weston, Kim Clarkson, Katie May Shipley, Karen Boulton , Bernard Charnley, Ian Brown, Tez Roberts, Susan Beech, Adam James, Michael Cousin, Pete Smith, Matt Robinson, Michelle Parr, Andrew Branscombe, Andrew Reynolds, Chris Wright, Darren Washington, Richard Brammer,Stephanie Richards, Stuart Porter So that is the list so far — but we still need lots more work in order to ensure the event goes with a swing and really makes a difference! We notice that 4 of the pledgers names begin with a K — not sure if that is a coincidence or if people whose name begins with a K are just more generous (?) Anyway if your name begins with a K or any other letter and you haven’t yet pledged a piece and want to, then please get in touch: Either email deadromanceboxes@yahoo.co.uk Or phone 07757308996 As you know the auction will be well publicized and will be a good opportunity for your work to be seen by the public. Please help to keep Stoke–on–Trent’s first contemporary art gallery going. http://www.airspacegallery.org info@airspacegallery.org T:01782 261 221 M:07974011559 AirSpace is funded by Arts Council England through the National Lottery. It is also supported by The Big Boost, Stoke–on–Trent City Council, Staffordshire University and Forth Estates.

Blank Media Presents…

2007-10-10T11:33:00+00:00

Review and photographs from the recent Blank Media Presents… event on Tuesday 9 October 2007 Blank Media Event at Fuel, Manchester, 9th Oct 2007 Blank Media Presents. An event of the musical variety at Fuel Cafe, Wilmslow Road, Manchester, On the 9th October 2007 8PM DAN (Burnst/Raucous) Messner Kee Op Necta (dj) DAN Is one of two successful rock groups http://www.myspace.com/raucouspimp http://www.myspace.com/motherfuckinburnst Kerrang had this to say about ‘Raucous’ An ambitious bunch, they line their post–Neurosis thunderclouds with some effective post–rock touches and the occasional outbreak of almost trad metal guitar. Apologies to DAN as on the flyer not just one band but two of his managed to be spelt wrong. Sorry about that! Messner Born in Bangor in 2007, Messner is the brain child of Owain Roberts. With his acoustic guitar and laptop, he goes forth in search of musical experiences and together with friends and strangers he produces what can only be described as ‘random welsh songs about love, lust, sex, depression, time, and materialistic greed’ http://www.myspace.com/messnermusic Kee Op Kee Op makes electronica that shows innovation and influence, but no track they make sounds like the last one. The style varies constantly, with minmal techno and breakbeat influences amongst others being used along with a unique touch making each one stand out on its own merits. Film is known to be a big influence on the Kee Op sound and lends the sound a very atmospheric feel that sets it own mood and when you hear it you can feel it too. Lush, warm old school like you used to listen to before technology alienated everyone, the beats are strange but the melodies hit a raw nerve that don�??t leave you in a hurry. There is a beating heart in every track, shown bear for everyone to hear and it makes his music a more personal because of it. Socio Rehab, Something Important and Biscuit Juice are examples of the diversity and soul of someone who is in complete control of what they making. You won�??t come out of a Kee Op set musing, you will be moving, and be moved. http://myspace.com/keeop Nekta: Who is nekta? Not on the flyer but prefers it that way, he just wants to get out there, and hopes people enjoy what he plays. This is musical marmite, some love some hate but it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference to him, showcasing what he loves the diversity will find something that all will enjoy, and hopefully take something from. Educate, entertain and inspire is his motto and whether you come out bored, shaken or just plain confused it is all part of the ride. He just hopes you enjoy it. A broad musical range and passion for all genres is something he takes great pride in and just hopes you hear one song out of fifty and try and find it when you go home. You will be entertained, this is no checking email laptop DJ, open your mind and you will see the bigger picture. This event is the start of monthly events by Blank Media, The Next one will be in November and be are Birthday Party, We are One!

Passionate about Writing?

2007-09-17T10:49:00+00:00

“We believe the UK is blessed with a talented generation of young writers. Yet, talented as they are, much of their work is left unseen and unattainable. We believe this region benefits from an active, young and eager readership. Our purpose is to unite these isolated groups – – to bring together a new readership with emerging authors. If you’re passionate about writing get in touch with The Cadaverine: “We believe the UK is blessed with a talented generation of young writers. Yet, talented as they are, much of their work is left unseen and unattainable. We believe this region benefits from an active, young and eager readership. Our purpose is to unite these isolated groups – – to bring together a new readership with emerging authors. Cadaverine Magazine is updated regularly with poetry and prose, interviews, cultural criticism and political argument from our regions most exciting young authors.” (Taken from http://www.thecadaverine.com) http://www.thecadaverine.com thecadaverine@mac.com

blank expression Review

2007-07-16T20:55:00+00:00

Blank Media’s first UK group show by visual artists and musicians. Review by Lisa Beauchamp. Lisa Beauchamp Blank Expression is the first exhibition by new arts collective Blank Media. As a new art collective, Blank Media has been formed to, ‘promote all creative individuals who don’t usually get the opportunity to display their talents.’ This might seem a slightly vague idea on which to base a collective — surely this could be applied to many arts organisations, galleries or studios? However, it is through this aim that Blank Media highlight the difficulties faced by artists and the ways in which institutions judge and categorize artists. The familiar categories of ‘emerging’ and ‘established’ — but just how are these judged? Is it the number of group or solo shows an artist has had? And what galleries have these exhibitions been at? Have any of these been in London? How have they progressed since their time at University and as an ‘emerging’ artist? It is a common expectation for artists to prove their development in accordance with certain criteria and it is often only after a certain amount of time, group shows, solo shows and residencies that an artist may be termed ‘established.’ But just how and what lies in–between to help the artist on his/her pursuit? Not to sound like an arts careers service, a massive void exists between these steadfast categories of emerging and established with seemingly nothing in–between. However, this is exactly what Blank Media are tapping into. As stated by Mark Devereux, Blank Media’s Chairperson, ‘many artists find it difficult to stay motivated to create work, especially when they find it difficult to show it, therefore Blank Media aims to help these individuals to stay creative and create an output for their work.’ Arriving at the Zion Arts Centre for their first exhibition I was unsure of what to expect. Without a fixed theme, I was worried that the work might lack connection or substance. This was far from the case. On entering the space the viewer was presented with an exciting and stimulating space. Showing a vast array of work in a variety of media including photography, painting, sculpture, video, installation and even live music there was something very refreshing about this exhibition. Advertised as an Open Exhibition, artists were asked to submit examples of their work and the successful artists would then be featured as part of a group show. In terms of judging, Blank Media gives preference to artists that are just starting out (or are seen to be — having had less shows and exhibitions) and all artists who submit work feature on Blank Media’s website offering them the opportunity to network and view other artist’s works. As a viewer to this exhibition it was refreshing not having a theme in which to link everything to. Highlights were Yan Kit Wong and Cynthia Nip’s Origami Birds II in which 35 origami birds linked the gallery’s interior and exterior space. Commenting on the cultural bombardment between China and England, with the artist’s growing up and living in both (being born in Hong Kong and studying in England), Origami Birds II are made out of envelopes posted from England to Hong Kong. Posted in their original bird shape their wings become stamped on arrival in Hong Kong, signifying the authoritarian stamping of individuals passports when entering different countries — a ‘stamping’ of their identity to raise interesting questions of individual and collective identities and the constant transgression of these. Another highlight was Nadine Patterson’s animations in which she created a museum of her life as a bid to preserve memories in response to her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s and her video documentation of her three–month exchange to Finland. However, most interesting about these animations was the focus on process and the ways in which the artist had chosen to present her development of ideas and the decisions and changes she made to each project along the way. The animations acted as a video analogue to her sketchbooks and the viewers were invited into a side of an artist’s work that they are normally kept apart from which was refreshing and seemed to capture the spirit of the exhibition as a whole. The live music by MAQ (Modern Art Quartet) provided the first part of the musical accompaniment to the work on the opening night. Performing an open set, viewers and audience members could join the duo, adding with whatever instrument and music they felt appropriate. This seemed a little overdone and seemed to interrupt the smoothness of the exhibition and the works on display, but perhaps this was the point? Unable to be lulled into ‘it’s another exhibition preview mode’ Blank Expression offered something different. Blank Media’s aim to promote and assist artists by giving them a creative output is achieved through this exhibition and this same idea is echoed through many artist–led groups in the Manchester region, such as Contents May Vary, [deletia] and many studio groups such as Bankley Studios, Islington Mill and previous groups such as 281 Chapel Street. Inventing new and innovative ways to show and make work is a pre–requisite for every artist. Blank Media has stemmed from this tradition and it just goes to show that this way of working is sometimes the only way.