A brief glimpse of 'The Usual Subjects'

Breaking In Slackspace!

breaking in slackspace!) from little hello on Vimeo.

GET INVOLVED!

Do you know any Ghost Stories?

Have you (or has anyone you know) had a ghostly, paranormal, or just plain weird experience?

If so I’d like to hear about it.

Please email your story to – janeleade (at) gmail.com

The best tales will be told in an evening of Christmas Ghost Stories at the next Slack Space mini fest – details to be announced here or find us on facebook: Slackspace Colchester

Items for ‘Invisible Tree’

Call for artists to submit items that relate to Colchester or what you don't like about Xmas. These need to be small and light and able to be hung from fishing line which will be strung from the ceiling to form a ‘teepee’ shape. The concept is to create an invisible tree from which the ‘decorations’ hang. There is also reference to maypoles.
Lines will be up to 10 foot long so feel free to send enough to fill one if you can and you have a particular theme. Please hand these in to Slack Space during opening hours Thursday - Saturday 12 -6pm and Sunday 10 - 4pm marked ‘Maypole tree.’

‘Twelfth Night’ on Twelfth Night

Slackspace are hosting The Guerilla Shakespeare Company's rehearsed public reading of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in Slackspace on - well twelfth night - which is Weds 6th Jan. Professionals and amateurs will be combining to render Shakespeare's funniest play which will be directed by Dorian Kelly. Would you like to be involved ? We have already cast Maria, Olivia and Malvolio with local professional actors, but most of the parts are up for grabs including some of the fun parts such as Sir Andrew Aguecheek. No experience required!

The performance is at Slack Space, 33 Long Wyre Street- the shop that was once Roseby's. The commitment is for about four to five hours rehearsal on the previous Sunday 3rd and a short top up / warm up rehearsal on the Wednesday, with performance with live music at about 7.30. Reading is from script, (supplied) line learning optional, but very useful. We will be performing it with simple indicative props and hats, scarves etc, some movement, lots of production value, not just a row of talking heads. See http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/twelfthnight/characters.html

for a list of characters.

If you would like to take part email dorian (at) theatrearts.biz with an indication of what part you think you would like to do. Dorian Kelly

Last call for Christmas

This is the last call for the Christmas exhibition folks. Closing date is 30 Nov with possible extension to 5 Dec.

Blood on the snow

– beyond, behind and before Christmas

A call for artists, musicians and performers for a Slack Space exhibition 17 Dec – 3 Jan and associated mini festival 17 – 19 Dec

Christmas time and the High Street is a cacophony of crass consumerism, a cornucopia of worn out images and sterile selling, a festival that has forgotten its roots, lost in the mists of time and midwinter – a winter that must be survived and blood on the snow.

Whatever you believe, Slack Space is putting out a call for work across all art forms which offers an alternative interpretation to the Christmas experience. In particular, we are looking for:

- Work which subverts or looks at traditional Christmas iconography in a new way

- Work which challenges the consumerism of Christmas and the ‘Christmas industry’

- Work which explores the old rituals and festivals which predate the Christmas tradition including sacred items and images

- Work which explores the old or natural roots to modern ceremonies and symbols around the Christmas season

- Traditional music and dance predating the modern Christmas festival

- Music which subverts or deconstructs Christmas carols or other Christmas songs

- Work which looks at the midwinter season and its challenges

- Work which offers an alternative interpretation to the Christmas experience

Expressions of interest / examples of work should be submitted to colchesterslackers (at) googlemail.com with the heading ‘Blood in the Snow’.

'The Usual Subjects: artwork by kids with cans and ideas'

firstsite have been working with artist Shaun Dipper to explore the history and techniques of graffiti and street art with a group of talented young people from Highwoods and Greenstead Youth Clubs. So why not pop in to Slack Space and see the results of the groups' hard work. (Thurs 26th-Sun 29th Nov and Thursday 3rd -Sun 6th Dec - usual opening times)

Free drop-in art workshop to create your own designs

Saturday 5th December 2-4pm

Shaun will be leading a workshop along with some of the artists where you can explore graffiti and street art styles taking inspiration from the work on display and that of contemporary street artists.

Workshop is suitable for children aged 8-12 years old and their parent or guardian. No need to book, just turn up between 2 and 4pm for half an hour or so of creativity!

For more details on the exhibition or workshop please contact firstsite on 01206 577067 or 07595 271982

A selection from a series of images entitled 'Change (Discarded) 1 - 8' by Sioux Jordan.

Currently on display in the Slackspace Gallery, Colchester.

Hints of Change

Transition / Change is an exciting new group exhibition. The theme has been interpreted broadly and boldly by the selected artists. Interpretations include seasonal and environmental change, climate change, changes in tone, colour, scope and taste, social and economic change, inherent changeand temporary flux. Artists include Bernadette Stevens, Chris Northall, Clive Wakefield, Derek Wray, Paula McGregor, Signals Media, Sioux Jordan and Vron Francis
Transition / Change is curated by David Ross and runs from Thur 12 Nov – Sun 22 Nov. Gallery opening times are 12pm – 6pm Thur – Sat, 10am – 4pm Sun

November Mini-Festival

All events are guest list only.

Please email colchesterslackers (at) gmail.com to reserve a place.

Thur 12 November:

Doors 7pm

7.30 - 8pm Performance art from Keziah Osborne

8pm - 8.30 Breakdancing showcase with B-Boy Boogie Monster

A Breakdancing Showcase from Colchesters' B-Boys & B-Girls. Showing off their skills, the children and adults will display Top Rocking, Floorwork, Freezes and Power Moves. After the display there will be an Open Circle for any enthusiastic Breakers; that don't normally train at Slack Space, to join in and Throwdown

8.45 - 9.45 Artwork

Gorgeous acoustic folk

10pm - 11pm Avec Noir

Avec Noir are a mystery Electropop 'concept' group from Europe. With Pierre Durant (vocalle) Dzork Schwarz (vocalle, electrodrums) and Cristoff Lefevre (vocalle, synthesizer, programmation) Depeche Mode meets Frank Sinatra? Recent comments from airplay on WFMU include: 'These guys remind me of Holger Czukay's early solo work.' 'Wait wait wait... so how is it 'spose to be?' 'This? Is hilarious. I hope it's a parody of Autobahn.' 'Love the "porn synths"' ' 'Faux-French Krautrock. Okay, I've officially blown my mind'

Compere and poetry from: Mark Bayley

Fri 13 November:

Doors 7pm

7.30 - 8pm Stuart Russell

Re-evolve is a piece Stuart Russell has specifically composed for the event Transition/ Change. This is a piece of music which consists of 4 small building blocks which then continuously evolve into new forms, some times imitating each other, occasionally reverting to their original forms, sometimes overlapping, sometimes being transposed. At the end of the piece the music will be nothing like how it started yet all the changes would have been directly derived from the original four forms.

8pm - 8.30pm Tristan Burfield

Tristan Burfield has a unique and evolving experimental electronic style that often incorporates lo-fi elements such as videogames, toys, glitches and noise. His first live performances began in Bristol back in 2003, he has subsequently played shows throughout London and the Midlands. This work is a reinterpretation of the synthesiser music of “Jean Michelle Jarre” to be performed using only the limitations of the humble Commodore 64 sound chip. Stripping the pieces of their pomposity and expensive trimmings the listener shall be invited to re-evaluate the role of technology in the construct of musical form.

8.45 - 9.45 The Sugar Tree

Sugar Tree are an acoustic act; fronted by the vocal talents of Rachel O'Mahony with Richard Moss on Guitar and Andy Franklin on percussion. Rachel’s haunting vocals are complemented by the acoustic textures and beats of the songs; simple, subtle and emotive.

10pm - 11pm The Jim Jims

Beccy and Vincent started playing their take on Jazzy acoustic songs tinted with bossa grooves. They both write their own songs and it wasn't long before they started playing in local pubs and festivals. Last winter they were joined by Clive on the bass, giving an extra super-dimension to the Jim Jims! The Jim Jims play an eclectic mix of original songs and covers but always with a personal twist. 2009 has been a busy year so far and they're looking forward to many more!

Compere and poetry from: Mark Bayley

Sat 14 November:

1pm The Meddlars

Slack away your afternoon with this superb Irish folk band

Doors 7.15pm

7.45pm - 8.45pm Lady Bird + the Larks

Want to hear something completely different? Then don’t miss this opportunity to see Lady Bird & The Larks. These five talented females have joined forces to perform a unique blend of original songs sung in five-part harmony. The group is led by Colchester singer-songwriter Sally Theobald on guitar, whose clever and witty lyrics offer a real insight into today’s way of life, backed by singers Jeanette Lynes, Lorraine Francis, Alison Benz and Jenny Allenby. Subjects cover everything from working on a till (‘Bing Bong - I'm a checkout girl ’) to the perils of conducting a relationship via text messages (‘Mobile Luv’).

9pm - 11pm [with interval] Stripped to the Bone

Black Cat Bone (Stripped to the Bone): An evening of chilled, laid back acoustic blues. “One of the best blues bands to emerge in our region. It's not hard to hear why this four piece are going down a storm in pubs. Black Cat Bone are a welcome addition to East Anglia's Blues Scene.”..The Grapevine. Find out more here

Compere and poetry from: Mark Bayley