Happening tonight

Art SPACE is a monthly meet-up for local creative people to come together and share ideas, exhibit, hang out, perform and network.

Each meeting involves live music and/or performance, exhibitions of artwork and workshops where you can either offer or learn a new skill.

There is also a tasty buffet and a relaxed atmosphere to meet other local artists.

Some space will be made available to exhibit work and a digital slideshow is shown that you can submit to. All submissions are welcome- whether it is your first attempt at something or a technique you’ve been doing for years.

There is also a stage for performance- dance, singing, music, poetry etc  And while there are often acts invited to perform there is also a chance to participate in the open mic slot on the night.

Workshop sessions also include life drawing, interactive installations and photography.

This is a grassroots event – bring what you would like to find, get out what you put in!

To submit ideas or artwork email info@blackburnartspace.org.uk

Follow artspace here facebook.com/artspaceblackburn

6.30pm-10pm.  St. John's Centre, Victoria Street, Blackburn.  Entry fee £3.  All ages welcome.

And now for something a little different

This weekend the ACE Centre in Nelson is hosting a theatre production of Hansel and Gretel.

Hosted by Plugged In, a group that gives the local community the chance to see the theatre productions they want to see, the performance will be delivered by local theatre company Horse & Bamboo.

The performance starts at 2pm on Saturday 21st February.  Tickets are available for this show and others here.

On the subject of Nelson, why not visit The Shop.  Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-3pm.  This Saturday there will be a drop in crafting session showing people how to knit and crochet.

Starting Tomorrow - Nelson Camera Club Annual Exhibition

Nelson Camera Club open their doors tomorrow to their Annual Exhibition.  The event this year is held in the upstairs gallery space of the ACE Centre, Cross Street, Nelson.  The exhibition runs until February 28th.  A review of the show will be posted next week.

News from Blackburn is Open

There are several events up and coming in the Blackburn is Open calendar that we thought you might be interested in;

Beatles Drink & Draw

Drink & Draw are a cabaret style event with a difference.  Bringing together both professional and amateur artists alike to enjoy a drink and drawing while being entertained.  This month it is the turn of The Walrus, a Beatles/John Lennon inspired tribute act to entertain the artistic crowd.

The Drink and Draw event takes place on Thursday 12th February, 6:30pm at St. Johns Church, Victoria Street, Blackburn.  Admission is £5.

Open Day @ The Bureau

The Bureau is Blackburn's newest art venue and will be opening its doors for a day of artistic intent.

The event taking place on February 19 will feature live entertainment, demonstrations and workshops in everything from printmaking to lampshade making.

Take part in a singing workshop or even try your hand at circus skills such as juggling or unicycling.
There’ll also be live entertainment from a variety of performers including Blackburn People’s Choir, singer songwriter Ian Hodgson whose band Bradford have shared stages with the likes of Bjork and Primal Scream, and folk band The Driver Brothers.

SLYNCS, a Blackburn based youth organisation, will be delivering a one hour workshop aimed at finding out what people want from an arts centre in Blackburn and Somewhere-to who support young people in the arts will also be on hand to talk about the work that they do.

There’ll also be an art auction to help raise money for The Bureau. Work will be contributed by the many artists involved in setting up The Bureau and bidding begins at 7.30pm.

The Bureau is based at the former church St Johns which until recently was the venue for the Citizens Advice Bureau.

It has now been relaunched as an arts centre and is being run by local artists, performers and event promoters to host events, exhibitions, workshops and other creative endeavours.

The event will run from 10.30am until 5pm followed by ArtSpace creative meet-up from 5-10pm.

A Light Shines in the Darkness

‘A Light Shines in Darkness’ aims to bring new audiences into churches, some of whom may have never set foot in one, and challenge them to look at the building in a new way.

It seeks to provoke discussion around buildings now often overlooked and undervalued that nevertheless have a powerful architectural presence.

“Whether you’re religious or not you can’t help but be affected when you go into a place like this and the atmosphere the architecture creates. They deserve to have life in them and for people to have access to such special places,” Mike Jones FVU, curator.

Three films from the collection will be shown at the Grade I listed Gothic church Holy Trinity, built at the height of Blackburn’s industrial might.

They include LEAP after The Great Ecstacy an examination of worship of a different nature that of a major sporting event and Stable a film exploring what happens when you release a group of horses into a religious space.

A Light Shines in the Darkness is commissioned by the Film and Video Umbrella (FVU) and the Church’s Conservation Trust

A Light Shines in the Darkness runs from 5th March until 28th March, 4:30pm - 8:30pm, Holy Trinity Church, Mount Pleasant, BB1 5DQ.

One for the Gamers

Pixel Lust, the retro gaming interactive exhibitions returns but this time with more levels and extra bonus points!

Back by popular demand Pixel Lust the exhibition dedicated to the art of gaming returns for a two week bonanza of exhibitions, workshops and of course gaming.

In a nod to the hacker movement and also a time when computing seemed more accessible for would be coders Pixel Lust II will include a whole of host of computing workshops.

Events will include Tech Jam, an opensource electronics event for people wanting to start Raspberry pi and Arduino projects and coding for youngsters with Scratch software.

“We’re getting practical with art, programming and electronics workshops and celebrating technologies such as Minecraft, Arduino and Raspberry Pi, that encourage adults and young people alike to get their hands dirty but only digitally, of course,” says organiser Alex Martindale.

And other events include a jewellery making session, a stitch a sprite workshop, a retro gaming party and a craft jam where anything goes.

To volunteer or to get more information Facebook visit the website Pixel Lust

Pixel Lust runs from the 16th March until 29th March, Blackburn is Open Art's Centre (Next to the old cinema).

BWPA opens its doors to entry

The British Wildlife Photography Awards has opened to entry for it's 2015 competition.  Now in it's sixth year this competition has quickly established itself as one of the best wildlife photography competitions in the world.

Wildlife photographer and TV presenter Chris Packham said "Each year the British Wildlife Photographer Awards generates an incredible catalogue of splendid, exciting, imaginative and artistic images, proving beyond doubt that we have the richest palette of life to celebrate in our own backyard.

Anyone passionate about protecting and preserving wildlife will be inspired by the British Wildlife Photographer Awards which, in its sixth year, has done more than any other award to raise the profile of British wildlife."

This year the overall winner of the competition will receive £5000 and each category winner will receive a Canon Powershot G7X.

For more information and entry guidelines visit the BWPA website here.

Kepes first UK solo exhibition

György Kepes (1906-2001) was an educator, designer and ground breaking photographer.  An exhibition of his work will be opening in March at the Tate Liverpool and will be the first time that a solo exhibition of his work has been shown in the UK.

The exhibition is part of the Surreal Landscapes season that explores how the works of three very different artists are interconnected by common themes and objects that create a sense of the surreal.

Kepes was interested in science and this was used to good effect in the creation of his photograms.  These were created by placing objects on light sensitive paper and exposing them to light.  Kepes then used a range of objects including glass and prisms to create his artwork.

You can find more information about György Kepes here and see some examples of his work here.

To find out more about the Tate exhibition click here.

Transmitting Andy Warhol - Tate Liverpool

The Tate Liverpool is currently running an exhibition of an artist that needs no introduction, Andy Warhol.

The exhibition brings together more than 100 pieces of Warhols work including some of his most iconic pieces such as the Marilyn Diptych (1962), Three Brillo Soap Pad Boxes (1964/68) and Campbell’s Soup I (1968).

As a bonus the gallery is also running an ‘After Dark’ session.  This offers the opportunity to see the Tate and Warhols work after the gallery shuts.  The Warhol After Dark session is being held on Saturday 7^th February from 5pm until 10pm.  Place are limited so booking is essential here.

For more information about the Transmitting Andy Warhol Exhibition visit the Tate Liverpool Website.

Coming up at Blackburn is Open

Image by Blackburn is Open

Book in at the Bureau

Blackburn's new arts venue The Bureau has pledged to show an new emerging artist every month. It kicks off with artist Yvonne Koo a Manchester based painter who uses traditional Chinese techniques in her minimalist paintings. For More information click this link! Image by Blackburn is Open

Don't lose out.

When Lost Ground hit the big time (as we know they're going to) you'll be able to tell them you saw them in Blackburn playing an intimate venue and for free!! Follow the link for a lifetime of lording it your over mates who missed out. For more information click this link! Image by Blackburn is Open Got Soul? This year the North West’s longest running Northern Soul night will celebrate two decades of good times, great music and impressive dance moves. And what's even better is it's right here in Blackburn. For more information click this link! Image by Blackburn is Open Could you be the next Mark Ronson?   Thinking of making it in the music business? Sound Bytes is a Creative Lancashire event to help performers, producers, musicians and managers get ahead. For more information click this link! Image by Blackburn is Open The Making Issue   Issue Two of By Skill and Hard Work is out now. The Making Issue looks at makers, crafters and artisans who decide to follow their creative dreams. Read it online or pick up a paper copy in Blackburn town centre. For more information click this link!

Reaching 5000

The beginning of this week sees a little landmark reached for us here at Pixel.  We have had finally reached the 5000 read mark for our website.  Considering the amount of photography related websites out there and we cover just a tiny area within Lancashire this is really impressive.

We would like to thank everyone that has taken time to stop by and spend a little time with us.  Don't forget we're here all week so why not pop back or even drop us an email.

Thanks again!

World Pinhole Photography Day

Be part of something big,
(through something very small).

The fifteenth Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD)  will be celebrated all over the world on Sunday April 26th, 2015.

Everyone in the world is invited to take a picture with a pinhole camera, upload it to http://www.pinholeday.org and become part of the Internet's premier pinhole photography gallery.

Pinhole cameras have no lens at all and pinhole photos are taken simply through a small hole. It is very fun, educational and creative to use these kinds of cameras that can even be self-made with various boxes or cans. Any container that can be made light-tight is enough: from tea boxes to tomato cans, from shoe boxes to wooden ones.

An increasing number of people are showing interest in the exciting practice of pinhole photography.  In 2001, 291 pinhole photographers from 24 countries took part in the WPPD and the web exhibition. Last year they were 3,517 participants from 70 countries.

You don’t even need to be working in the medium of film.  You can also use pinhole ‘lenses’ attached to digital SLR’s.  The choice is yours!

WPPD stems from the enthusiastic work by dozens of volunteers scattered worldwide.   More information and the full program (constantly updated) can be found at www.pinholeday.org