The world record-breaking attempt to produce the largest ever reproduction of the Mona Lisa is set to go on display at Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham, Wales on Wednesday 28th October at 9am.
Members from the entire community have come together to create their own version of the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting that covers a massive 240 square metres: that’s the size of 24 double-decker buses! Hundreds of people were involved, including school children from Victoria Primary School and members of the Haulfan Centre, which offers a wide range of activities for people with disabilities, have given hours of their time to help artist Katy Webster complete the mammoth task. The work will be on show at Eagles Meadow for one day only. Shoppers will not only have the chance to scrutinise every detail of Mona Lisa’s famous expression up close, but will also be able to touch the giant piece, made up of 82 different vinyl squares.
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A new wave of Vauxhall Collective commissions are announced
Katie Paterson, Duncan Speakman, Seba Kurtis and Studio Glithero are this year’s brightest creative talent to be commissioned by Vauxhall Motors
Four of the most hotly anticipated artists, designers, theatre practitioners and photographers in the UK have been commissioned by the car company Vauxhall to create art works around the theme of re-inventing British classics. The result of the commissions is four stunningly imaginative and exciting works that throw open the concept of what is a British classic and highlight Vauxhall’s commitment to supporting style and design in the UK.
Chosen by a Style Council of industry experts and previous Vauxhall Collective members including Gideon Reeling and the photographer Gayle Chong Kwan this year’s members are the latest in an impressive line-up of up and coming artists that the initiative has supported, enabling them to take their work in new directions with complete artist freedom.
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A month long celebration of art events
November 2009
Tate ARTIST ROOMS, a series of artists’ talks, 15 artists in 15 days, an interview with Akenfield author Ronald Blythe – all mark firstsite’s 15th year.
firstsite, the arts organisation based in Colchester, marks its 15th birthday with a series of events, commissions and exhibitions bringing life changing and relevant contemporary art to the local and wider community. firstsite has built a reputation for showing work by a diverse range of international, national and emerging artists. Now in its 15th year firstsite looks back at its legacy and track record of exciting programmes and commissions new work to mark the occasion, demonstrating its strength in working with artists despite not having a permanent home to exhibit the work.
In its first 15 years, firstsite has created its own unique and enviable blend of artistic programming, learning opportunities, and developing artist support.
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2,400 plinthers; 35,000 applications; one person every hour, 24 hours a day for 100 days… Antony Gormley’s One & Other Fourth Plinth living monument will end at 9:00am today when last plinther Emma Burns steps down from the plinth.
Antony Gormley’s One & Other living monument for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square will end Wednesday 14th October at 9:00am, when Emma Burns, a 30 year old medical photographer from Darlington becomes the last member of the public to leave the plinth.
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Enter at your peril…
Hammer Festival:
27th October –15th November 2009
Idea Generation Gallery
This Halloween Idea Generation opens the crypt doors to launch London’s most frightening festival – the Hammer Festival.
“More terrifying than ‘The Curse of Frankenstein’, this is one Hammer production that will leave you shivering” “’Dracula’ is Christopher Lees and Hammer’s breakthrough movie. It’s terrifyingly good, you’ll want to get your teeth stuck into it” “Gripping science fiction masterpiece from British horror masters Hammer ”
The Hammer Festival brings together a terrifying programme of film screenings, ghost tours, readings, and an exhibition featuring never-seen-before artwork from their classic and upcoming films, rare and original posters and behind the scenes photos from Britain’s most successful film company Hammer.
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Entre Terre et Ciel by Airvag
A spectacular multi-sensory celebration of light fusing ancient and modern in Durham
12th – 15th November 2009
For four nights only, UK and international artists will work with light to transform Durham’s historic landmarks, city streets, gardens and riverways into a breathtaking nocturnal landscape of magical happenings.
Producers of extraordinary live events Artichoke, renowned for the spectacular successes, La Machine, The Sultan’s Elephant and Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth commission One & Other, announce their latest project – Lumiere – an ambitious and spectacular festival of light for Durham, produced in partnership with Sky Arts.
From the 12th-15th November 2009, the historic city of Durham will provide the stunning canvas for leading international and UK artists and performers to work with light, fusing together sight, sound and movement in a mesmerising series of site-specific installations, new commissions and performances.
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In a world first KMA create a stunning large-scale game of lights across the North East from 29th October to 1st November 2009 (17.30 – late).
Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough to host ground breaking interactive game from digital pioneers KMA.
As part of the Bupa Great North Run Cultural programme, digital pioneers KMA have been commissioned to create a world first: a huge, participatory, high-tech athletics tournament. Taking place simultaneously in three North East locations; Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough each area will compete against the other across four nights.
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Durham bids to be UK City of Culture 2013 – The North East’s best kept cultural secret.
Embargoed until 10th September.
“For passion, creativity, an array of peerless assets and attractions and a palatable sense of community, Durham really is the perfect place.” Bill Bryson
A UNESCO World Heritage Site; home to stunning ancient architecture in the form of its Cathedral and University; host to renowned art events and festivals including an international literary festival, a two-week brass music gathering and a cutting edge festival of light, owner of the largest collection of decorative art outside of London and location to one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK, tomorrow Durham will take part in a nationwide seminar to continue its bid to be UK City of Culture in 2013.
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To celebrate their centenary year the Poetry Society is thinking big to create the world’s first giant knitted poem…
It’s been an extraordinary year for poetry. There’s been the public and media excitement surrounding the announcement of Carol Ann Duffy as Poet Laureate, followed by the generous gift of her honorarium to the Poetry Society to establish The Ted Hughes Poetry Award; and the BBC’s very popular poetry season. Testament indeed to the place poetry holds in the British consciousness and the key role the Poetry Society plays in keeping it there.
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This year’s judges, leading poets Daljit Nagra, Ruth Padel and Neil Rollinson are waiting to read your poems. Will they uncover a future poet laureate?
The 32nd National Poetry Competition is now open for entries. As Britain’s top single-poem competition, and a highlight of the Poetry Society’s Centenary Year, it attracts entries from Nantwich to Nairobi. Past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, who is a possible future poet laureate, Jo Shapcott, Ian Duhig and Tony Harrison. The competition judges poems anonymously, ensuring that the award often generates vigorous debate and shock wins for previously unknown writers.
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