Islington Mill Studios

Presentation in the Engine House

Thurs 4th March - 6:30pm

Hug a Hovel is a project run jointly by the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Action Group ( www.snag.org.uk ) and Manchester Creative Collectives ( www.mcc-hub.org ).  The ultimate aim of the project is to put empty and disused buildings in Manchester back into use and to give grass roots community groups a stable home by matchmaking the two.  The first stage of our project is refitting a cargo container as a "creative think tank" where anyone can come and share ideas about our city and how we can shape it.  The think tank will be located in Hulme for two weeks at the end of March and will become a hub for discussion about issues of place and space.  We would like to get as many of you lovely creative people on board as possible to create designs for the cargo container, help refit it, market and promote the event and the project, as well as to create and discuss innovative visions of our ideal sustainable city.  The Hug a Hovel team will be presenting the project at the Mill on Thursday 4th March at 6.30pm in the Engine House.  Please come along and find out how you can get involved in this exciting project.

Paroles et Dessins’ - ‘ A live, experimental drawing event'

Fri 4th Dec 10am

A collaborative drawing event across the wonders of Skype connecting Parsons Paris School of Art + Design Fine Art students at 104 in Paris with Fine Art students from Wimbledon School of Art at Matts Gallery in London and Islington Mill Art Academy at Islington Mill in Manchester.

Arrive at Islington Mill at 10am

Events begins:
London 10.45am, Manchester 10.45am, Paris 11.45am

Places are limited so please let us know in advance if you'd like to come along by emailing deaddigital@islingtonmill.com

Coming soon to Islington Mill: Salford Zine Library. We need your contributions to produce an ongoing archive of self-published work. Inclusion is not limited in any way and your involvement is easy. You send us a zine and a self addressed envelope and we will send you a hand printed poster and add your work to the library. E-mail salfordzinelibrary@gmail.com

In the Engine House

Sun 21st Feb

1pm - 5pm

Sunday social starts 21st Feb in the Engine House cafe at Islington Mill.
 Delicious homemade veggie pies served with mash, gravy and seasonal vegetables will be available from 1pm till 5pm.  Sit back and relax with the Sunday papers, play a variety of board games and soak up some chilled Sunday sounds.....only in The Engine House!!

On Sat 13th February, Islington Mill hosts The Anti-Valentine....a night of fine vegetarian dining brought to you by our new in-house chef.
 From 7.00pm you are invited to enjoy a sumptuous 5 course dinner in our Gallery space, expect the unexpected....this is a night not to be missed.
 For details, reservations (pre-booking is essential) and all other info please contact.... kim@islingtonmill.com

We are expanding our Artists Reference Library

Come and join us on Saturday 23rd of Jan for a Burns' night literary feast in order to raise money to buy more books.

If you have any books you think we would be interested in, please bring them along in return for a dram (or a whisky if you prefer)

Visit our new page all about Xmas at the Mill on 26thNovember here

The annual event has gone from strength to strength and attracts a wide range of shoppers looking for a truly unique Christmas experience. The festivities begin at 5:00pm and continue until 9:00pm, making Christmas at the Mill the perfect winter evening warmer.

As well as having a chance to buy directly from some of the North West's finest artists and craftspeople, you can enjoy festive food and drinks with live seasonal music.

 

This week sees a new era in late night entertainment, never fear for drinking on an empty stomach!

BAR SNACKS  Wednesday and Thursday

Houmous with warm Pitta Homemade Houmous Drizzled with Olive Oil £2.00

Marinated Olives Meditteranean Olives with Lemon, Olive Oil and Herbs £1.50

Handmade Samosas with Chutney Spicy Samosas wrapped in Filo Pastry served with Fruit Chutney £1.50

Nachos Corn Tortillas with Homemade refried beans, sour cream, salsa and melted cheese £3.50

Haloumi Kebab Griddled Haloumi served in a stuffed pitta with a tahini dressing £3.50 (£4.00 with houmous)

And Look forward to Hallowe'en for:

HALLOWE'EN FOOD

Hot Spiced Cider , Mulled Wine, Brandy Chai

Tapas Dishes

Winter Grooves by Fliss

Down in the Engine House

 

Michael Wilson from Islington Mill Art Academy, finalist for this years BBC radio 4 poetry Slam, final is tonight (Tuesday) in Birmingham and you can listen on Radio 4, this Thursday at 23.00. http://feeds.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n1p9v

Rachel's drawings are becoming a familiar sight in the British art scene, her detailed illustrations with their strong sense of narrative have the power to draw the viewer into a world full of possibilities, the uncanny and . .  something else. Between the 21st Sept and the 19th Oct Rachel is our Artist in Residence, bouncing ideas around the studios and gallery

"The gallery space has a beautiful other-worldliness to it - there is a great feel of open space combined with the intimacy of a hidden world due to the absence of a window to the outside. Sense of of time and surroundings can melt away in a space such as this (as it so often can within the intimate process of drawing). So every Thursday from 12-6 I will be creating a ‘window’ through a TV where I will have running nature documentaries and other films. This will be an informal open studio day where all are welcome to come down anytime and join me drawing, have a chat and a brew, or just relax and watch a good bit of Attenborough! This Thursday (24th) I’ll be starting from the beginning with ‘Life on Earth’, which at the time changed the face of tv wildlife documentary as we knew it. The program for the next Thursdays will follow shortly and I will be looking into possibilities of having evening screenings of feature films…..so if anyone has any suggestions I’d love for you to help me with the program.

Also, through the course of my 4 weeks here I will be building up a scrapbook of ephemera and ideas. Unlikely combinations and a sense of the Uncanny run through my work and whenever working in a new space I will build up a scrapbook within that environment for inspiration and to cross-reference ideas. At the moment being the first day the space is sparse with just one piece of text on the wall (a dream of an undead cat). This I hope to build up over the 4 weeks and it would be great if people could get involved with this. So if you fancy coming down to watch the films, maybe bring a little ephemera with you…..this could be anything from telling me a dream you had, to an experience (no matter how mundane or exciting ), to something you have found or seen on your way to the Mill, even to a string of incoherent words!

I look forward to seeing those of you I already know and others whom I’m eager to meet!"

See Rachels work here

Hi folks
Our current resident here at the Art Academy, Martin Holman will be giving a talk about his work this Monday 21/09/09 at Islington Mill. The talk begins at 6pm. 
Come along if you can, it would be great to see you. More information about Martin below.
All the very best
Islington Mill Art Academy
http://www.islingtonmillartacademy.blogspot.com

Martin Holman writes about contemporary and modern art and is based in London. His work has appeared in many periodicals and exhibition catalogues since the early 1980s, and in 2007 he guest-edited the art magazine Miser & Now. This year saw the publication by Lund Humphries of two comprehensive monographs he has written about British artists Terry Setch and Graham Crowley. Before becoming a freelance writer in 1992, he worked at London’s Whitechapel Art Gallery with its then director, Nicholas Serota, and subsequently at Camden Arts Centre.

 

In addition to writing, his career has included administering public art commissions, contributing to Lottery-related gallery capital planning, retail bookselling and senior management in the fine art book printing industry. He is director of www.artworksinwimbledon.org, set up in 2005 to commission visual art in strategically significant south-west London. In 2000-7 he organised six public art commissions, including one for a permanent artwork, by artists Richard Rome, Flor Kent, Keith Wilson, Jon Griffiths, Martin Newth and with Richard Woods in Wimbledon, a project that was listed among the top London exhibitions in summer 2005 by the Guardian and the Independent national newspapers.
With the British painter David Austen he runs the independent book imprint www.brokenglassbooks.com which creates limited-edition books with, by and about contemporary artists. Current titles include books with Danny Rolph, Sara Mackillop and David Austen.

 

He has collaborated with performance artist Jefford Horrigan on projects in London and Preston in recent years and, as a jazz vocalist, has recorded two albums and written about jazz singers.
http://www.martinholman.com/

Unfortunately Gala Drop are no longer coming to the UK, so we have local kraut rockers PLANK! stepping into play alongside AU and the MIND ON FIRE HOUSE BAND.

Doors open at 7.30pm and it should be a pretty special gig. The advance price of £5 will also apply on the door too.

Rowf! Rowf! Rowf!5 Islington Mill, Salford
Ears can get tired, but for eager clubbers suffering auditory fatigue due to unavoidable unpleasantness at work - heavy industrial machinary or the in-office stereo being permanently tuned to Radio 1 - recuperating in a quiet space of a weekend night is seldom the cure.  Annual freakfest Rowf Rowf Rowf! might be.  The Golden Lab label specialise in the less well trodden paths of contemporary music, as the drone, weird folk, psych, improv and free rock occurring here might suggest.  The artists delivering the sounds such as Brooklyn's Blues Control, dub/folk singer Staphanie Hladowski, sound experimenters Bridget Hayden and Blood Stereo, would be recognised by those who read the Wire rather than watch it, but with only 300 places available for this mind melt, plus the Gnod DJs providing kraut rock, dub, psych and world music into the small hours, there should be a healthy attendance.
Marc Rowlands
Islington Mill, James Street, Sat & Sun

Perimeter Islington Mill, Salford, Friday, A celebration of leftfield pop music, old and new, from Blondie, World of Twist and teh B-52's to the Whip and MGMT.  Ace, weird pop group Fol Chen Play Live Early doors

Perimeter Salford
Promising even bigger and better things, lineups have been released and tickets will be close to selling out for some nights at the returning, efficient Warehouse Project, a hugely enjoyable addition to MAnchester's annual clubbing programme.  Less than two miles away in Salford, another warehouse project is helping to revive that city's cultural contributions.  In a perhaps less sterile environ than its legal rave brethren, arts space Islington Mill manages to attain more of the exciting, spontaneous feel of the original earlly 90s warehouse parties, drawing a cool clubbing crowd away from Manchester as a result.  The variety of nights held there may account for the ever present sense of surprise (as does the finely stocked, well priced bar).  This Friday's live guests, werido Californian pop group Fol Chen seem perfectly placed to kick off proceedings at Perimeter, a celebration of leftfield pop, old and new.
Marc Rowlands
Islington Mill, James Street, Fri

We are looking for volunteers and people to join our new internship project.

Internship and Volunteers Open Day Tuesday 8th Sept 2009, 2-8pm

Islington Mill Studios, James Street, Salford

Become a Volunteer! 

We would like to invite anybody with the energy and enthusiasm to volunteer with us. Our activity stretches across music, visual arts, food and drink, publishing, creative businesses, multimedia and much much more! Please join us on the 8th to meet lots of new friends and find out about the more bit.  

Visual Arts Programming Internship Your role will involve meeting local, national and international artists and curators, as well as taking part in all the other events at the mill such as gigs, the library, a new magazine, Islington Mill Art Academy, BBQ’s in the courtyard etc… 

How you will be helping to build the visual arts activity at the mill

 ·      Co-ordinating day to day business of Visuals arts activities across the building- not just the gallery- Courtyard, 5th floor open plan space- explore!

·      Delegating specific tasks to team of Volunteers

·      Liaising with other users of the Mill to keep a diary of events and availability for visual arts.

·      Establishing a database of contacts for visual arts

·      Being the first point of contact for visual arts related enquiries (may include tours of the building)

·      Working with the artists/curators to organise facilities and assist with the production and realisation of exhibitions

·      Setting agendas for weekly catch up meeting with a curator in residence, artists working in the space, volunteers, other interns

·      Organisation of future visual arts activity including curatorial residency. 

NB: Interns will be provided with a shared studio space. Minimum working hours: 15 hrs pw. The intern is encouraged to find funding for their post (either through private fundraising or public grant). This will present opportunities to extend working hours and increase the professionalisation of the role. 

Magazine Internship

 This includes an opportunity to create a visual identity for the Mill from scratch. The range of activities covered include promoting music/ audio events, club nights, visual arts activity, library and related activity such as reading groups, social and networking events such as BBQs in the courtyard. You will be surrounding by energetic creative people such as artists, musicians, fans and journalists. 

Your role will be to 

• Design graphics and layout

• Content manage multimedia formats such as recording equipment for interviews

• Manage deadlines and chase contributors

• Source people who are interested in contributing content

• You should have access to Indesign, Illustrator and Photoshop or equivalent design suite. 

Library Internship

Islington Mill has recently launched its own arts library located within the building. This internship offers an opportunity to develop, expand and activate the library space (and adjoining reading/communal room) through the activity the intern will bring to it. This could include reading groups, exhibitions using the library as a focus etc, the decisions will be up to you.

 

NB: Interns will be provided with a shared studio space. Minimum working hours: 15 hrs pw. The intern is encouraged to find funding for their post (either through private fundraising or public grant). This will present opportunities to extend working hours and increase the professionalisation of the role. 

Application process In the first instance you will be asked to witness weekly planning meetings (which takes place every Monday) as well as attend programmed events. This will give you an opportunity to learn about the way we work and what types of activities take place here. This process will last for six weeks before we select candidates. You can attend as many events as you like but we ask you attend at least 2 weekly meetings. If you show commitment and continued interest in a particular role you will be asked to present your ideas and a portfolio of work to us, made relevant by your time spent here. 

Mill residents, Soup Collective's live visual project Transmissions has been shortlisted for the Artists Taking the Lead commission in the North West.  Artists taking the lead is part of London 2012's Cultural Olympiad and challenged artists across the UK to submit ideas for works of art to celebrate 2012.  It is being delivered and funded by the Arts Councils of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and will result in twelve commissions, one in each of the English regions and one in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Out of the 2163 submissions received across the UK, only 59 have been shortlisted, with between 3 and 5 shortlisted commissions in each nation or region. 

Artyarn would like to share with you a link to their brand new website:

www.artyarn.org

Here you will find out about all of their projects from the past 12 months.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who have assisted in making Artyarns first 12 months in operation fun and creative and for those of you have given the support and opportunities for them to make their projects.

Exhibition opening Friday 31st August at Bury Art Gallery 7pm

Featuring Islington Mill Art Academy Artists, Maurice Carlin and Amy Pennington

Building on its practice of bringing the best international art to Bury, the Gallery presents Not At This Address. The exhibition looks at the growing number of artists in the region who share the same ambition; the wish to transcend the local and engage with the global cultural dialogue. Using a wide range of media from watercolours to computer animation, the exhibition threads a path through questions of memory, hope, action and what is real.

Bury Art Gallery
Museum+Archives
Moss Street
Bury
BL9 0DR
T: 0161 253 5878

Exhibition runs until November

Jackie O Motherfucker review from City Life by Samuel Breen

THERE'S a communal aspect to JOMF, where everyone contributes towards the final product.

Tonight they feed off the audience’s energy as they negotiate and improvise their way through an unusually short set.

Opening with a slow folk melodies the sound laconically builds to a brief climax before collapsing into silence – it’s clear that tonight the band have decided upon disparate freeform styles, each member absorbing themselves in their own melodic pursuits.

This abrupt end perhaps signifies how this group of 15 years are still willing to challenge themselves.

As their quest to find a communal consciousness continues the band eventually find form in a winding psychedelic riff.

The lap steel of newbie Geoffrey Trelstadt departs from the adept rhythms of founding member Tom Greenwood and drives the band into Space Rock territories.

Projected

Feeding of crowd energy can be both help and hindered; tonight, audience members slouch in the upholstery watching silent movies projected along the back wall.

This laid back atmosphere is reflected in the sound. - continued here

Future Artists would like to invite you to join in with the independant film makers of the North West.

SATURDAY 11TH JULY 2009

URBIS

7:30 PM - 1:00 AM


SO WHATS IT ALL ABOUT!!!!! please take some time to follow the links and watch the videos, then go buy a ticket...

You want to be an ACTOR, well we have a room full of directors, some like film-maker Mark Ashmore, who is looking for actors for two of his fourth-coming projects 'City of Football' and 'Big Boys Don't send Postcards' your chance to hear from Mark on how he auditions, what he is looking for, and how he met and works with his cast on his previous film 'Broken Britain' ( http://www.yourstate.co.uk ) he will be in conversation with Darren Gorden of Morello Cherry Acting Agency, and he is looking forward to seeing actors, their CVs and showreel's on the night. http://www.actingclass.co.uk

Broken Britain EP1 Intro (1 min version)

You want to be a WRITER, Great films are nothing without GREAT Screenplays, and these are hard to come by, everyone has a story in them, and every story has an audience, is your story feature film material, or is it a short, or is it convergence, 3D, new media, interactive, come find out what we mean, we have a room full of Directors and Producers and a project wall aimed at writers looking to get their stories made!!!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom

You want to be a FILM-MAKER well we have lined up Writers/Producers/Directors from the Northwest that have made their debut Feature films, from budgets of 3k shot over two years, to half a million shot in 6 weeks, you will be able to listen to, network and ask questions to those that have made it!!!! http://www.futureartists.co.uk

Highlights
In conversation with Rachel Jones: Producer @ NotANumber.co.uk
Rachel produced the first indie feature film shot on REDONE cameras right here, in Manchester (Splintered - The Movie)
http://www.notanumber.co.uk

Fan Film Extravaganza with Sky Wilson from Inside Report
Showing and talking about fan films, Star Wars: Revelations and LOTR: Hunt for Gollum.
Check out the videos here http://www.insidereport.co.uk
Star Wars: Revelations (Trailer)

Congratulations to all the nominees for this years Best of Manchester Awards. It was really heartening for us to see recognition given to so many that have been associated with the Mill over the past few years, from Rachel Goodyear who was involved in the early days of the Mill with events such as Chapel Street Open and Sho 1, to Jayne Compton who resurrected her performance party Club Brenda and worked with fellow Mill residents The Ting Tings whilst based here as well Contents May Vary and Owl Project who are also previous studio members.

There was also a special commendation for Morry Carlin for his role in setting up both Sounds from the Other City and Islington Mill Art Academy and the icing on the cake with SFTOC programming the music for this years awards ceremony.

Good work and well done one and all

In the second of Islington Mill's Aritists' Meals Kwong Lee from Castlefield Gallery collaborated with artist Ruth Todhunter to prepare an Imax experience of a three course meal, yes that's right real food in 3D!

Ok so food is 3D already, but not like this, red and green spectacles to approach red and green food that is reaching out the plate and into your unsuspecting face served by red and green clad waiters.  Well sounds a little stomach churning to be frank, but thankfully the Pea soup, Lamb curry with greeny veg followed by elderflower sorbet with strawberries went down a treat.

 So a good laugh was had by all, I'm wondering what the sequel will be like.

12th June

6pm

Free

London based artist Pippa Koszerek will be presenting an artist talk. Pippa has recently undertaken a residency with Islington Mill art academy. The talk will held in the 'club space' and starts at 6pm it's free and open to all, so please come along.

Prior to Pippa Koszerek artist talk the Art academy welcomes you to their 3rd 'open critique'. The critique begins at 2pm in the art academy member's studio (1st floor, within the communal space). The members will be presenting their recent work, findings and research. The 'open critique' is open to anyone who wishes to come along  and members appreciate all input that is given - so don't bite your tongues! Hope to see you all there. 

 

Pippa Koszerek 
Creates organisations as artworks/curatorial projects such as the Independent Art School (1999-) and The Unasked-for Public Art Agency (2006 -). These often have activist or critical origins and often seek out alternative models of practice. She is interested in blurring the boundaries between art and non-art environments and borrows materials or ways of working from other vocations. The Unasked-for Public Art Agency delivers an unasked-for consultancy package to a host organisation within which Pippa has nominated herself as ‘artist in residence.

www.independent-art-school.org.uk

www.unasked-for.com/
For any more information please contact artacademy@islingtonmill.com or Amy Pennington 07595949241.

 

Premier of Art Yarn’s Knitting Orchestra

Contact

1st June

ArtYarn is a collaborative fibre arts project coordinated by visual artists Rachael Elwell and Sarah Hardacre. ArtYarn aim to use traditional knitting and crochet techniques in contemporary visual arts projects

Recently ArtYarn have been working on the second half of their residency at Manchester’s Contact Theatre, where they will be premiering their new project The Knitting Orchestra on Monday the 1st June at 7:30pm.

There are several other Art Yarn projects on the go

Yarn Forward at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre, a world wide community knitting and crochet project. - more info can be found here http://artyarn-yarnforward.blogspot.com/ .

Knitted Nature at Touchstones Rpchdale Art Gallery, an indoor and outdoor installation of contemporary knitting and crochet
http://artyarn-knittednature.blogspot.com/

And look out for ArtYarn at Feast! On June 7th at Platt Fields Park

Sunday 7th June 2009  - selling event as part of the Holmsfirth Arts Festival

                                    The 3rd Art Market, Holmfirth

                                    www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

30th June - 29th August 2009 - part of the 'Made in Manchester ' exhibition at The Royal Exchange Craft Shop, Manchester.  I will be showing my penguin series and my limited edition 'Made in Manchester' porcelain humidifiers.

 

20th July - 11th September 2009 - 'Culture Shock' exhibition at RBSA, Birmingham.  It will be an exhibition showcasing designers who have relocated from across the globe or who are inspired by their extensive travel experiences or migration.  Responding to different cultural experiences, ‘Culture Shock’ will explore the impact this has had on craft practices within the UK and by showing contemporary fine craft, it will investigate the significant impact that cultural heritage and a fusion of traditions has had on modern British craft.

 

Read more about Beverley here - http://www.islingtonmill.com/d.php?r=beverleygee 

Junkshop Revolution featuring Cj O'Neil

13th June until 1st August

Bluecoat

"In recognition of Liverpool’s Year of the Environment 2009, we are curating an exhibition that will present work by designers who have found new use for everyday objects and reclaimed materials, creating products which challenge our ideas about recycling and enhance the environment through good design."

"Inspired by memories, ceramics, discarded objects and graphics, Cj O'Neil uses silhouettes as a way to simplify what she sees, and convert ideas, thoughts and drawings to surface decoration.  She takes vintage pieces, generally from charity shops or closed down factories, and re interprets their use.  Cutting sections, patterns and words from plates I place them back within the decorative arena once more.  I hope to embed within these pieces a new story, another lifetime, to provoke conversation and inspire new ways of seeing objects."

Cj's work is currently in the prestigious 'Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics' at the new MAD Museum, NYC and also in the Kuwait Art Foundation, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai (and touring UAE)

The Islington Mill Reference Library is an arts resource comprised of Artists monographs, exhibition catalogues and survey publications as well as cultural theory ranging from philosophy to art. One of the long-term goals of the library is to develop a specialised section of publications from locally based artists.

The library is a free and publicly available resource complied on a donations basis, with over 300 publications attained from the initial call.
 
The library was launched in mid march and will be officially open to use by appointment from then onwards. The library is  open for browsing and is also actively seeking firther donations

For more info:
islington Mill Reference Library

 

Check out latest episode of BBC's Inside Out, which has a feature on the subterranean spaces of Manchester, which are focal point of the current Urbis exhibition by photographer Andrew Brooks. The feature shows off some amazing, long forgotten places under Manchester and also shows Andrew at work. You can see it again on iPlayer and also enjoy presenter Janet Sumner looking like she is about to break out into an episode of Brass Eye.

This week we also came across a funny ravey remix of the Ting Tings. You can check it out here on this Edinburgh based blogsite called Noiseporn, where there are loads of other remixes,videos and oddities on there that are well worth checking.

 

Happy New Year, January is usually a pretty quiet month round here but this year its just not the case. Paramatta, the building that has been a building site for pretty much ever has finally been built and even has an inside. with stuff in it. its turned out to be a pretty amazing space so we're all looking forward to what might happen in there and what it might lead to.More news will be on on the website when we have it.

In the club space we have an unusually healthy month of stuff happening from yoga to life drawing classes - all totally liver damage safe.

We also have a couple of studio spaces becoming available this month, which hasn't happened for ages so it will be great to see some new people and new ideas coming into the building.

Down the road at our shop 'From Space' we had an amazing run up to Christmas and will be getting new stock in over the next few weeks as well as working up some more unusual occasions. 

Goodspeed, enjoy 2009.

 

 

 

This Thursday, 27th November, sees the launch of 'FROM SPACE', A new temporary art and fashion store selling one off pieces made at Islington Mill and further afield. Products on sale including fashion, accessories, clothing and t-shirts, large scale photographs, handmade clothes, ceramics, fine art prints, hand-crafted furniture and loads more.

The opening event is from 3pm-7pm where you can get a first chance to buy all the wares. Moocow Coofee will also be there to furnish everyone with coffees, hot mulled wines and ciders. The event is followed by 'Xmas at the Mill' which sees loads more seasonal treats over two floors, music by members of the BBC Philharmonic and more food and drinks.

The whole Casket Works building will open simultaneously on

Friday 31st October [2pm - 8pm]

Saturday 1st November [11am - 4pm]

and Sunday 2nd November [11am - 4pm]

This year the event brings together Hot Bed Press, Suite Studios and Cow Lane Studios, as well as linking to The Kings Arms and here to the Mill.

Come and see new works by over 100 artists working under one roof...

Theweekend also features PASTURES NEW, a special exhibition by MASA artists 

Hot Bed Press will be running free printmaking demonstrations throughout the weekend, and Cow Lane Studios will also putting on a free accoustic sound set.

More info available here 

Islington Mill Art Academy are taking part in a show called Moot Points taking place at Transmission Gallery in Glasgow throughout November. They will be there from Monday 3rd till Sat 8th November and will be organising a range of events during this time. For anyone who will be in Glasgow during that time you are more than welcome to come along:

The timetable of events includes Reading Capital, Drawing Club, A Joyride in a Paintbox, Strawberry Switchblade, Band by Night, Experimental Writing Workshop as well as numerous continous projects durin the week.

The full program of events is available on the Art Academy Blogspot

To get in touch;

Email: artacademy@islingtonmill.com Tel: 07917714369 | 07876617711

 

RETROSPECTIVE by NEIL ROBBINS at the Chapman Gallery , Salford University runs from Monday 27th October to Friday 14th November  10 am till 4 pm

This exhibition showcases works created over the last decade by manchester basesd artist Neil Robbins. The show comprises of drawings , paintings and photography. Neils work is concerned with extremes, order and harmony versus chaos and discord microscopic         versus gigantic and individuality versus homogeneity.

Preview opening evening Tuesday 28th October - 6pm till 8pm

Blogspot

Flickr 

Youtube

                     

DIRT AND DREAMS is an enchanting and expansive site specific performance created and perfromed by Mill Residents Pif Paf Arts on the 27th and 28th of September, 2-4.30pm only in Clifton Country Park, Clifton House Road, Salford, M27 6NG. A must see event in a major heritage site.

For 80 years Wet Earth Colliery has lain dormant, for two days only the work, lives and legends of 180 years of Dirt and Dreams come tumbling back up its shafts and tunnels.

Come on an unforgettable walk along woodland paths guided by sound, fire, giant-sculpture and performance amongst the sleeping giants of the industrial revolution.
Suitable for all ages (dress for the great outdoors). Tickets are free, parking is free, suitable for buggies and wheelchairs with assistance and hot refreshments available to buy.

For more details contact Pif-Paf or visit www.visitsalford.info or call 0161 793 4219

New music industry event

Salford, Greater Manchester

A new music industry event featuring Huw Stephens (Radio 1), Andrew Dubber (New Music Strategies), Dave Cooper (In House Press and Melodic),Mike McNally (McNally Consulting) and over thirty of the most cutting edge innovators and opinion leaders of the current scene, accompanied by evening performances from Graeme Massey, This Years Model, Cats in Paris and many more, will take place this October in Salford.

The event, under the banner of ‘Un-convention’ is specifically aimed at the grass roots of the music industry, and aims to stimulate debate and ideas around how those at the cutting edge of new music can adapt and prosper.

To that end, Un-convention has gathered together some of the countries most innovative and influential players to get a handle on where the industry is today, and where it will be tomorrow.

Un-convention is for DIY and small independent labels, self-releasing artists, promoters and venues, record stores, distributors, journalists & PR, and anyone else with an interest in the future of the music industry.

The two days of discussion will be interspersed with acoustic sets from some of the most exciting new acts around, curated by Red Deer Club.

The evenings will see full band sets from the likes of Graham Massey’s Toolshed, the hotly tipped This Years Model, the impeccable Cats in Paris , and Mancunian favourites the Ironweed Project, with many more still to be announced.

Un-convention will take place at the Sacred Trinity Church , Chapel Street, Salford ,  M3 5DW ,  England.

For full details of this years line up, and ticket information visit the Un-convention blog at: www.unconvention.wordpress.com

 

Lee Machell

During Artranspennine 08, Lee Machell will investigate the potential for changing the architectural nature of space both physically and psychologically. This will be achieved through the process of performative drawing. Whilst focussing on the physicality of this process, he will at the same time be challenging the traditional methods of drawing.

The ignition of a line of sulphur to dissect through space will be this process. Black lines will suture across walls and give poetic reverence to a redundant and forgotten space, creating within the structure a drawing of temporal duration.

The location is the disused HGV garage situated on Hulme St, Salford, M5 4PF. Access is through two large red sliding doors.

The duration of the drawing will span from the 23rd of July to 31st of July.

You are welcome to join the artist during the last performance on Thursday the 31st at 5pm.

This will complete the drawing.

leemachell@hotmail.co.uk

www.leemachell.co.uk 

Bureau Gallery  6.7.2008 - 18.7.2008

SWAP/VAIHTO is a project that involves art professionals from UK and Finland and creates a unique opportunity for artists from different parts of the world to actively exchange their views and ideas around current issues of cultural identity and migratory art practice.

The artists have been invited to respond to current issues of globalization and establish prior the exhibition a dialogue within the frame of cultural diversity.

For the exhibition the artists will present new works based on their discussion. Finnish artists taking part are

Egle Oddo, Marko Timlin

Barbro Björkfelt, Hannu Häkkinen

Jonne Pitkänen, Jaana Kokko

Hannu Karjalainen, Eeva-Mari Haikala and Juhana Moisander.

Islington Mill Art Academy are setting up a temporary free art school in Berlin later this month from 27th May till 8th June. We will be working from an art and music space in Kreuzberg called Westgermany (133 Skalitzer Str).

We are inviting Berliners to join us in a number of activities that we will be organising during our time there. If you know of anyone who may be interested in the project and in Berlin during this time, forward the details on to them and ask them to get in touch on artacademy@islingtonmill.com.

Art Academy Blogspot
 
 

Photographer and Islington Mill tenant, Andrew Brooks has just completed work on his brand new website, a collaborative effort with fellow Mill Tenants Raw Design Studio. You can check out the results and pretty much all of Andrew's recent work on www.andrewbrooksphotography.com

Andrew has also been working with University of Salford over the past 6 to create a new collection of representative photography for the University.

A selection of this work together with a selection from the University archive will be on show at a new exhibiton at Salford Museum & Art Gallery at the end of the month. For more info on this check the new website!

You Fancy Animal

Running until Friday18th 

An exhibition of young Manchester based artists featuring work from Fiona Campbell, Niki Hearns, Andi Doyle, Zena May Hendrick, John Midgeley, Sam Rees, Marina Rees, jodie Silverman and Laura Simms

You Fancy Animal showcases the artists’ use of a low tech and often handmade approach. In this they are moving against a lot of current trends in a contemporary art scene that seems to celebrate both the high tech and the purely conceptual.

 
MASS 

Running until Thursday 17th

Introducing eleven photographic artists showcasing their collections of work centred around the philosophy of social interaction, offering sensitive and inquisitive visual documents of the modern make-up of Britain.

In association with Manchester Metropolitan University, this is a unique opportunity to experience the future of contemporary photography.

 

Pif-Paf have started production at the Mill of HONEY, a new show presented in their own touring theatre tent. Having recently secured Arts Council funding and a vote of confidence in our hands on style of performance, presenting issues that affect us all with beauty and clarity

HONEY is a groundbreaking show, fusing Pif Paf's trademark of integrated performance, sculpture and music with up-to-the-minute natural history content – without compromising either. The show explores the connection between mankind and our oldest companion, the honey bee, and imagine a world where they are conspicuous by their absence.

The show has already secured a tour for the show with more dates to be added, check the Pif- Paf website or the Mill Directory for up to date details

See you in the HIVE!

Mill residents Beverley Gee and Carrie Ann Black will be exhibiting at The British Craft Trade Fair from 6th to 8th April at the The Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

Bev will be showing a new line of porcelain boxes that contain a series of glazed objects and will be proping up stand number 51. You can see more work by going to the Mill directory.

So if you are around Harrogate next month get yourself down.

More info on ww.bctf.co.uk

 

Sounds from the Other City returns this year for its fourth outing along the Chapel Street badlands. May the 4th is the date and tickets are now on sale at Quaytickets and Piccadilly Records - now we say this every year but no harm in saying it again - tickets usually sell out well in advance so bag them up now.

For more info on what's already been planned for this year check out the SFTOC page on the Mill Directory.

The good folks bringing the noise to your ears this year are going to be:

Lamb & Wolf, Comfortable on a Tightrope, Bring on the Dancin Horses, Golden Lab, Red Deer Club, Hey! Manchester & Club Brenda

Also featuring the Disco Opposite Tesco karaoke mess-off downstairs at the Black Lion as well as a ton of other stuff on its way.

Keep checking back here and on the Myspace for more details 

 

 

This February sees Taurus in Manchester’s infamous gay village host an exhibition of pure decadence.

Gemma Parker, Manchester’s first and only retro pin up and burlesque artist has created a series of paintings featuring a selection of ladies derrières all themed around sweeties and chocolates.

In France the phrase ‘bon bons’ is a slang term for anywhere below the waist. Here we see Parker using that term to its fullest and most fun. Each peachy behind is enhanced with ice cream colours and sugary titles. With the collection ranging from jellybeans to strawberry fondant there should be a flavour to tempt anyone’s taste buds.

‘Bon Bons’ runs from the 1st – 29th February.

Taurus, 1 Canal St, Manchester, M1 3HE, 0161 236 4593.

You can also get details on Gemma's page on the Mill Directory or contact Gemma at www.gemmaparker.co.uk

The Ting Tings release there first single since signing to Columbia on March 3rd.  Great DJ is available to download for a limited time and there will be a 1500 7" vinyl for release.

As part of the single release the band are gathering up old 7" singles, which are going to be reversed and used as the new covers for the single.

Some of these have already been done and you will be be able to buy these on any of their upcoming NME tour dates and the remainder in selected stores. In order to get a copy you need to bring along an old 7" to swap at the gigs. If you can't make it to any of the gigs but want to get involved by recycling an old gem anyway, drop an email to artsclub@islingtonmill.com

The band also have loads of stuff coming up including live sessions on Radio 1 with Jo Whiley and Zane Lowe - more info on www.myspace.com/thetingtings

 

Quarantine is looking for performers for its next theatre piece, Old people, children and animals.  The performance will be created with and performed by old people (over 65) who dance or who used to dance and young people (under 18) who make music.

We are not looking for actors. The performance will be made using the personal experiences and histories of those taking part.

If you’re over 65 years old with dance skills, or under 18 and in a band, available from 21 April – 22 June 2008 and would like to take part in Quarantine’s next show please check out our website for more information.

 www.qtine.com/current

www.myspace.com/qtine

Islington Mill Art Academy, an independent, DIY art school based here at Islington Mill is holding an open day for new members this Monday 14th January, 11 am till 6pm.

The group, which has been in existence since May 2007 and now works three days per week at the Mill was formed with the intention of developing self-directed education that can exist outside of the traditional institutions of learning.

It organises talks, research trips and has an active residency program working with international artists and musicians. Current residents are Anni Rossi and Rollin Hunt from Chicago who will be working with the Academy till the end of January.

Come along on Monday (at any time between 11 and 6) to have a look around, a chat and a cup of tea with members of the group. Alternatively, if you cannot make it on Monday and would like to arrange another time to visit or would just like some more information, please email: artacademy@islingtonmill.com

For access please call the number on the main door

www.islingtonmill.com/artacademy

Happy New Year - here's to 2008 being a powerful year. January is going be pretty quiet here at the Mill but don't worry there's plenty of beavering going on behind the scenes and some really exciting events lining up in the near and far horizons. Keep an eye on our events page for all that and more.... 

"The earliest version of this familiar saying was attributed to the English King James I, who wrote in 1616, 'No newis is bettir than evill newis.' Virtually the modern saying appeared some years later in James Howell's 'Familiar Letters' (c. 1645) with the line, 'I am of the Italians mind that said.no news, good news'." From "Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New" by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993). Page 135.

I'm sure you've heard of the king's joker, or merry-man, who loved to make puns, so much so that the king, in disgust, ordered him hanged. But the king's vizier prevailed on him to grant the joker a reprieve. Upon learning it, the joker immediately said, "Well, no noose is good noose."

So the king decided to hang him anyway.

Sallywood Babylon - Wednesday 28th November - 8pm - late....... Every great film festival needs a legendary closing party to cement its reputation.

Welcome to Sallywood Babylon.

Still reeling from a whirlwind tour of Berlin and New York, and a no-holds-barred A&R scrum, The Ting Tings have agreed to headline. And not just any old headline set the band will be playing a never before heard acoustic set

Meanwhile, expansive post-rockers The Detour provide live guitar soundscapes for a selection of vintage Salford films and between bands there'll be a bumper selection of shorts from the city and beyond. On the decks 'til 2am filmmaker Steve Manford steps out from behind the lens to get all the gaffers, sparks and first ADs bumping and grinding on the dance floor.

A chance to scope for collaborators, check out the competition, get drunk and make a fool of yourself in front of your peers, or simply watch some great bands and films and celebrate the end of the Salford Film Festival in style.

Can you really afford to miss that? Didn't think so.

See you next year.

Tickets now on sale at Quaytickets

Christmas at the Mill - Thursday November 22nd - 6 - 9pm......Islington Mill Studios are holding their festive fair again this year, just in time for Christmas. Meet the resident artists, enjoy some mulled wine and choose from a wealth of unique wares, handmade by some of the North West’s finest practitioners. Many of the products on sale will be one-off or limited edition pieces that will only be available on the night.

More details on the events page

 

 

Hot Bed Press & the Casket Works

present

The Casket Works Open Weekend

Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th November

11am - 5pm

Featuring contemporary artwork by printmakers, painters, sculptors  and much more.

The Casket Works

Cow Lane

Salford

M5 4NB 

 

For more details see www.hotbedpress.org

 

18/10/07

 

Welcome to the new Islington Mill website, by now hopefully you've had a litttle look around.

The site has been designed by Raw Design Studios who are based here at the Mill, you can check out their page, and that of all the other residents, on the Mill Directory page.

We've also introduced an Events page to keep you up to date with everything that's going on in and around the Mill.

If you want to keep up to date with what we are up to you can sign up to our Newsletter on the Newsletter page. If you are interested in renting a space you can find out more info and sign up to our waiting list on the Studios page.

 

This Friday, December 19th from 5.30pm, the Mill hosts it's annual Xmas party at it's new shop 'FROM SPACE'. As well as the usual festive food and drinks there'll be choir singing, 'elvis in disguise', maybe even more Elvis and the chance to bag up some straight down the line fantastic gifts.

The shop, located at 142 Chapel Street and just a stones throw from The Lowry Hotel, Spinningfields and The Kings Arms, is the only place where you can find the most up to date work from the artists and makers from Islington Mill.

Have a look around the site to see the type of things that people get up to or visit the shop page for more info or directions