License to ill(ustrate)

Local Scenes:Views of Essex and Suffolk

ENDS 14TH MARCH

A group exhibition capturing the spirit and sights of Essex and Suffolk and featuring work from:

James Dodds

Matt Keeling

Chris Northall

Jen Pritchard

Verity Mansfield

Jane Ostler

Katarina Hiresova

Perry Houldtich

Ilona Northall

UPCOMING EVENTS 9th-14th MARCH

Tue 9 March. Doors 8pm

Slack Space Birthday party – 1 year old today!!

Slack Space is ONE!!

On Tuesday, 9th March, we will be 1 year old. That’s one year to the day after the very first meeting we held to look into opening an art exhibition Space in Colchester. Since then we have had over 12,000 visitors through our doors.

Are you a supporter of Slack Space? Have you volunteered with us? Exhibited or performed with us? Do you visit the gallery and love what we do?

To celebrate the occasion of our first birthday you are invited to our birthday bash inside the space from 8pm onwards and we’ve thought of a deliciously arty way to raise some money at the same time. Bring your own drinks. (We’ll provide the glasses.) Please, partygoers, would you bring your own artfully decorated cupcakes and an artfully decorated birthday card as well?

There will be a card-making table equipped with various art materials available at Slack Space throughout the week if you’d like to use this. Make your card and bring it along to the party where a vote for the best creations could lead to a coveted Slacker t-shirt prize. There is a suggested donation of £1 to enter your card into the competition.

If several Slacker bakers pledge to donate a batch of cupcakes, we can feed the sweet-toothed hoards as they carouse the night away. Of course, we’ll be asking them for a cash donation in return for your delicious creations!! Please let us know in advance if you are able to bring cup cakes

See you then!!

Wed 10 March Doors 7.30pm

Slack Space Colchester Open Mic (nearly-our birthday) Talent Night!

Why not come and strut your stuff? Have you a song to sing, a dance to dance, a joke to tell, something impress amaze or simply astound? Slack Space want you to show us just what you can (or can't) do in an atmosphere of sheer relaxing fun. Or just to come along and be entertained., its free entry, and you can bring your own drinks.

20 minute slots, first come first served, we supply a moderate PA. Doors open from 3.00 for setup, optional soundcheck, show from 7.30 to 11.00.

If you are a hummer or a mummer, (no solo drummers!) or any sort of jazz singer, folk singer, ringer-dinger, blinger-maker singer-songwriter, belly dancer, ballet dancer, idle prancer, mind-what -your -doing -with -that -lancer, lightning artist, quick change artist, projections artist, cat wrangler, ( cat wrangler?) or comic, storyteller, or poetŠ Come and have a go if you're Bard enough, Avant-guarde enough, starred enough! No judging, no prizes and definitely no Simon Cowell.

Dr Strabismus will give a short lecture on the Hidden History of Colchester - the bits that they didn't want you to know ( with slides) at 9.00. Not to be missed. There might also be some belly dancers, who knows! And the human juke box might be there. We will try to get everyone who wants to play in, but we do reserve the right to make a balanced programme.

IDOL SLACKERS is at Slack Space 30 Long Wyre Street 9 between the Co-op and Argos.

All ages welcome. Young people can have an early slot. More info or to have your name put on the free guest list or the list of players email colchesterslackers(at)gmail.com

Compere: Mark Brayley and Dorian Kelly

Thur 11 March Doors 7.30pm

An evening of Electronica + Poetry and compere: Mark Brayley

Slackspace presents another night of electronic/ electroacoustic music.

Ranging from Lo fi sampled c64 chips though to Ligeti- influenced large scale orchestrations via Dark ambient and IDM, this night explores the diverse fields being explored by the three composer/performers tonight.

Live Acts:

Tristan Burfield

A ground breaking experimental electronic performance composed using vintage commodore 64 chips and accompanying retro hardware [Hard Sid 4 U, Cynthcart, Mssiah etc]. Through positively refusing emulation and embracing the creative limitations of antique technology, I shall create suprisingly rich and powerful sounds through a modern repurposing of discarded consumer hardware.

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 and is currently living and working in Norwich, UK. In adition to being broadcast on Radio 1 [Rob Da Bank], XFM [Flo Motion] and Resonance FM, he also played national festivals such as Bring Yourself Fest, Toiletronica, and the Bristol Ashton Court Festival.

Stuart Russell

Electronic/ classical composer Stuart Russell will perform a three movement piece written for this occasion using both laptop based technology and vintage/obsolete hardware synths/ samplers to create a rich, large scale orchestration of electroacoustic sounds and stark, pure shimmering chords. This piece explores both the magic and bleakness of mid winter and the late arrival of spring.

F-Lithium/ The Abominable Mr Tinkler

"Pete Ravan, aka The Abominable Mr Tinkler will be performing a set, fusing his trademark sound of scattered avant-jazz-styled IDM/breakcore with that of one of his other projects; F-lithium, a darker and more cinematic affair." This set explores reactions to a romance gone wrong.

On DVD

“Touching the Wall” (2005) Andrea Gregori/ Julia Usher

This is a synchronised sequence of pictures and sounds to “Clavicle, A touch-piece for clavichord”, a prize winner in the British Clavichord Society Competition.

Links

www.myspace.com/tristanburfielduk

www.myspace.com/stuartrussell1965

www.myspace.com/theabominablemrtinkler

http://www.myspace.com/flithium

Fri 12 March Doors 8pm

EMS night: Spring

King Dom

Sof – Ist

Stitch

Terrorwrist

The Broken Drummers

Sat 13 March afternoon

12pm Pagan storytelling session

Ipswich Pagan Council

2pm Experimental music workshop from The Unheard Orchestra

A unique, interactive musical experience for all ages. Free or register name in advance for free download During the workshop participants will be encouraged to think unconventionally about music composition, learning that music does not start and end with notated scores, but is open to multiple interpretation, chance and fate

The Unheard Orchestra will be running an open workshop in collaboration with Slack Space Colchester. During the workshop participants will be encouraged to think unconventionally about music composition, learning that music does not start and end with notated scores, but is open to multiple interpretation, chance and fate. We will also look at what can be done with electronic music, and the variety of effects we can apply to sound.

We will look specifically at four pieces - three composed by W.A. Mozart, Cornelius Cardew and Steve Reich, and Natural Selection, a piece designed to demonstrate a variety of techniques learned throughout the session.

The group is aimed specifically for young people aged 10-14, however it is open to participants of all ages. The workshop will be open to all comers on the day, however a free download of all the audio recorded during the session will be offered to those registering in advance via. email. Details on this are given above.

The Unheard Orchestra is a workshop run by experimental composer and performance artist Lee Ashcroft. He is a graduate of Music Production (BA (Hons)) from the University of Essex and his work has been heard worldwide, including on London's XFM, the Australia Broadcasting Corporation's ABC TV and the 2005 Glastonbury Festival. He has a full CRB disclosure.

This workshop will be preceeded at midday with a Pagan storytelling session, and followed up in the evening with an alternative live performance of Natural Selection, performed by Lee Ashcroft under the name Za Ginipiggu. All events are free. Information about the evening event can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=305912956570

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53195698461 /

http://www.leeashcroft.co.uk/ssad.jpg

http://www.leeashcroft.co.uk/ssadsmall.jpg

Sat 13 March evening Doors 7pm

Za Ginipiggu presents: Natural Selection

"Destroying the conventional composer in favour of relinquishing control to YOU - the audience." @ Slack Space Colchester

Dave Merryman (7.30pm)

Za Ginipiggu (8.15pm)

Grymoire (9pm)

Mother Sky (10pm)

FREE ENTRY - GUEST LIST ONLY

To guarantee entry on the night, email your name to colchesterslackers@googlemail.com

This performance of Natural Selection is an extension of ideas generated in the workshop given earlier in the day by The Unheard Orchestra, however from an artistic perspective it should be considered a seperate entity. Information on the free workshop is available here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=256649579769

UPDATE: You're free to turn up on the day, but if you would like to receive a free download of all the audio generated during the session, please send the names of all of your party in advance (and the email address(es) you'd like the downloads sent to) to colchesterslackers@googlemail.com, quoting "The Unheard Orchestra" as the email subject.

Sun 14 March Doors 7.30pm

Local Scenes exhibition wrap party / private view

Meet the artists. Last chance to look at the wonderful range of pictures featuring local scenes from Essex and Suffolk

To guarantee entry on the night, email your name to colchesterslackers(at)googlemail.com

Current exhibition

A group exhibition capturing the spirit and sights of Essex and Suffolk and featuring work from:

James Dodds

Matt Keeling

Chris Northall

Jen Pritchard

Verity Mansfield

Jane Ostler

Katarina Hiresova

Perry Houldtich

Ilona Northall

Current Exhibition

PAPER EXPLOSION 10th - 21st FEB

Colchester artist, Lee Thomas, has been completely filling the gallery

space with a paper explosion of 100's of photographs, illustrations,
sketches, prints and drawings taken from his work over the last 15
years. He has based himself within the space to continue to add to and
change this work during the course of the exhibition and is

inviting the public to contribute to the piece by asking them to help
develop the narratives that form various elements of the work. He will
also be running family workshops on Sunday 14th and Saturday 20th
February, both at 1pm, to add new work to the walls

Current Exhibition

27 January – 7 February:
Group exhibition from locally based female photographers. Featuring
work from Jenny Primrose, Isabel Johnson, Ollin Pintado, Hazel
Pritchard, Alice Patient, Christine Strong, Teresa Stewart, Gwyn
Bilby, Elizabeth Curry, Jill Vicary, Vron Francis, Mariya Ustymenko,
Sophie Booth and Jean Akam

Slack Space 10,000th visitor

A special celebration was held to mark the occasion of Slack Space’s 10,000th visitor in just 7 months! Bob Russell MP for Colchester and Abigail Cheverst Slack Space Coordinator presented Mr Stephen Lilley of Wivenhoe with an original work of art donated by prominent local Slack Space artist Tracey Johnson

Bob Russell said ‘I was delighted to be invited to be part of this special occasion. Slack Space brings vibrancy and the world of art to an otherwise empty shop and helps to enliven the retail street scene in an imaginative way. I’d like to congratulate those who involved in this activity and all those who made it possible’

Cllr Paul Smith, cabinet member for Culture and Diversity, Colchester
Borough Council, commented ‘For Slack Space to have achieved so many
visitors to the town so quickly shows the vision and enterprise of the
volunteers involved in this venue. It demonstrates what the Community
can do, even in these challenging times, to enhance the lives of those
living, working or visiting our town’

Forthcoming Events

February Mini Fest
Please do come along to the Slack Space February mini festival which
runs from 10 – 14 February. All events are guest list only. E mail
colchesterslackers (at) googlemail.com for inclusion

Wed 10 February Doors 7pm:
Twelfth Night rehearsed reading, Guerrilla Shakespeare Company
(rescheduled from Twelfth Night)
Shakespeare's funniest play was written purely as a piece of fun -
there are no royal intrigues, no murders, no vast sweeps of history,
just the story of a brother and sister cast up on a hostile shore each
believing the other to be dead; a love story of mistaken identity
Suitable for adults and children over eight
The performance is presented informally, with a mix of professional
and amateur actors, and directed by Dorian Kelly

Thur 11 February Doors 7.30pm:
Matt Simpkins (10pm) + Ensembell (9pm) + Connor Sturges (8pm) + Poetry
and compere: Mark Brayley
A musical feast with some of Colchester’s best and most interesting up
and coming and established talent, interspersed with poetry and
stories from Slack Space favourite Mark Brayley.

Fri 12 February Doors 7pm:
Moot Point, an evening of creative kaos and electronic music
Music from Ascetic, The Broken Drummers, The Fez! and Phuq
Art, photography & visuals
Bad Sekta info stall - Bring your flyers & join the networks
Free shop - Books, clothes, CDs, DVDs, stuff – bring your
contributions, if you’re feeling generous

Sat 13 February Afternoon 1 – 5pm:
The Slack-Space Tea Dance
All-time dance-hall favourites provided by your genial, palimpsestuous
(well, that's what he'd like to think anyway) host Martin Northcote
Reed
With additional entertainment (audience participation encouraged) from
the ladies of the Akula ATS Belly Dancing School. Belly dancing
workshop approx 4.30pm. Tea will not be supplied!

Sat 13 February Doors 7pm:
7.30 – 8.30pm Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests
8.30pm Terror the musical, Bad Terrorists
Featuring guitar, bass, drums, violin, trumpet, mandolin, and dancing
girls, Condoleezza Rice and lots of flags. This is a parody of a
musical and a reaction against the complacency surrounding the ‘War on
Terror’.
There will be a special collection for Veteran’s Aid

Sunday 14th February 1pm:
‘Paper Explosion’ Workshop
Colchester artist, Lee Thomas, will be completely filling the gallery
space with a paper explosion of 100's of photographs, illustrations,
sketches, prints and drawings taken from his work over the last 15
years. He will base himself within the space to continue to add to and
change this work during the course of the exhibition and will be
inviting the public to contribute to the piece by asking them to help
develop the narratives that form various elements of the work. He will
also be running family workshops on Sunday 14th and Saturday 20th
February, both at 1pm, to add new work to the walls



Paper explosion private view
There will be a Private View for the ‘Paper Explosion’ exhibition on
Fri 19th Feb from 6.30 – 8.30pm. The exhibition runs from 10 – 21st
February. This event is guest list only. Please e mail
colchesterslackers@googlemail.com for inclusion

Calls For Work

Call for work 1
Submissions are sought for an open call group exhibition in the Slack
Space gallery on the theme of local scenes (Essex and Suffolk.) Any
original 2D or 3D work may be submitted.

Submissions to colchesterslackers (at) googlemail.com (heading ‘Local
Scenes’) should include the following:
An electronic copy of the artwork or, where this is not possible, a
detailed description and illustrative examples
Name, address and email of the artist and any pseudonym
Up to 60 words of description and biographical details of the artist

Deadline: February 15th



Call for work 2

To all artists, photographers and poets in the Colchester area

You are invited to send in submissions as soon as possible for the first and second phases of the "Art at the Heat(beat)" Art Trail, a public art trail exhibition in shop windows throughout Colchester town centre. Work will be in place for one month and then changed for a second month. A catalogue will be produced.

During the months of march and April, we will be filling up as many shop windows, both empty shops and working shops with artworks. There will be a catalogue and a map to create a proper trail. The art will be displayed directly inside the shop windows on an A2 piece of foamboard, with the artist's name and 50 words of interpretation.

Subject matter is unlimited and any original 2D work may be submitted
including a painting in any medium, a print, illustration or graphic
work, textile work, photograph, poem or prose etc. We are looking for work which we can either use directly or scan and reproduce using fine printing techniques. The work should be no larger than A3 size, or would work well reduced or enlarged to that size in either portrait or landscape format. It might be a painting or a photograph, a poem, a haiku, or some words of wisdom, or you might surprise us with something new... Work will be mounted by Slack Space onto a standard sized and formatted board which will be either A2 or A3 in size. The board will also contain the artists details, title of work and details of Slack Space.

Selected work should be provided either as a finished piece of
artwork, preferred size A4 or A3, or electronically in tiff, jpeg or
PDF format at a minimum of 300 dpi. Original artworks should not be
framed, but may be provided loose or mounted in a matte. Poetry and
prose may be submitted as a graphic or word document . At our
discretion, we will either mount artworks onto our standard display
backing or scan and resize the work to be printed at as high a quality
as possible.

Please submit work and ideas to this address by email as a jpg, tiff or pdf or as a text document in the case of written word in the first instance, marked submission to” Art at the Heart”, or if that is not possible, email with a description and we will arrange a time for you to show it to us.

Submissions tocolchesterslackers (at) googlemail.com should include the following:
An electronic copy of the artwork or, where this is not possible, a
detailed description and illustrative examples
The title of the work as the artist wishes it to appear
Name, address and email of the artist and any pseudonym
Up to 60 words of description and biographical details of the artist

E mail for further details of the submission process and ‘technical tips’

There are two deadlines:
February 26th
March 27th

Upcoming Exhibitions

Paper Explosion!
10 February – 21 February
Artist Lee Thomas will be completely filling the gallery space with a
paper explosion of 100's of photographs, illustrations, sketches,
prints and drawings taken from his work over the last 15 years. He
will base himself within the space and continue to add to and change
this work during the course of the exhibition

Local Scenes: Views of Essex and Suffolk
24 February – 14 March
A group exhibition, based on open call, featuring the work of artists
capturing the spirit and sights of Essex and Suffolk

Changing Contexts
17 March – 4 April
A group exhibition from Colchester Minories MA students featuring
changing contexts and different viewpoints. Come and participate in
the unique experience which is Slack Space Colchester

Illustration
7 April – 25 April
A themed exhibition featuring a range of illustrative techniques and
interpretations from children’s illustration to modern representative
based approaches