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Introducing… The Photography Collective
Posted by Jane in Birmingham, Birmingham Photospcae, Kathryn Kizsat, Light House, Rhubarb East, Rhubarb Rhubarb, The Photography Collective, photography on August 18th, 2010
Something is stirring below the surface of Birmingham’s art scene. A unique collaboration is being formed. Contact is being made.
During the first two weeks of September 2010 there will be a rare opportunity to explore some new work by seven talented Birmingham photographers.Contact, the exhibition, is a collaboration between The Photography Collective, a newly formed pool of photographic talent for the Midlands, and Birmingham Photospace, which exists to establish a permanent space for photography in Birmingham. Graced by the one-time opportunity to exhibit as a group at Rhubarb East Gallery, Contact is an associate exhibition of the recent Rhubarb-Rhubarb Photography Festival, a highlight of the year in the fine art photography world’s calendar.
As a member of The photography Collective, we formed the group essentially to build a stronger presence for local photographers within the Midlands art scene, discuss all things photography and launch exhibitions together. We began meeting in April in Birmingham Central Library, and before long found ourselves working towards an exciting debut exhibition.
Since then, it’s been all hands on deck, identifying an exhibition theme, selecting work, writing press releases, building an exhibition website and a whole lot more. And with the support and expertise of Light House curator Kathryn Klizsat, we are proud to showcasing the group’s talent.
Contact – a Fine Art Photography Exhibition
3rd – 18th September
Rhubarb East Gallery, Heath Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AE
Open Thursdays to Sundays, 11am – 5.30pm
With such a fast start off the blocks already, i’m sure there will be lots more exciting Photography Collective projects and collaborations on the horizon. So, watch this space!
Students lobby Andrew Mitchell MP on Global Education
Posted by Jane in Birmingham, Campaigns, Conservatives, Education, MP, School, Secretary of State for International Development, Students, Sutton Coldfield, Tories on June 18th, 2010
This morning’s shoot was in Sutton Coldfield where i photographed students from Fairfax School lobbying their MP Andrew Mitchell. The year 7 students presented the Secretary of State for International Development with 250 hand-made scarves containing 1100 signatures calling the government to help children living in poverty around the world go to school.
The students were involved in a month-long project for 1Goal, a global campaign running throughout the World Cup, which is calling on world leaders to bring education to 72 million children by 2015: http://www.sendmyfriend.org/one-goal
Students from Sutton Coldfield lobby Andrew Mitchell MP on Global Education. Photo credit: Jane Baker/ Greensnapperphotography.com
Andrew Mitchell MP makes a speech at Fairfax School in Sutton Coldfield. Photo credit: Jane Baker/ Greensnapperphotography.com
Copyright © 2009 Jane Baker. All Rights Reserved
Get Real Gordon Billboard!
I saw a little gem that made me laugh today, a joke shared by the drivers queuing along the road next to me. On my way back from a shoot in Birmingham I saw this billboard and couldn’t resist taking a quick snap. I love the idea that somebody got up during the night with a huge ladder and a can of green spray paint. What with all the interest Lib Dems have been getting through the TV debates, who knows, the wind of change might just be around the corner.
Liberal Democrat Grafitti in Birmingham on the run up ot the General Election 2010. Copyright: Jane Baker/ Greensnapperphotography.com
Copyright © 2009 Jane Baker. All Rights Reserved
The Age of Stupid
Posted by Jane in Campaigns, Climate Change, Environment, Film on October 5th, 2009
Well, I’ve finally got round to seeing The Age of Stupid, a gripping film about the impending consequences of climate change if we don’t do something about it NOW!
The Age of Stupid is the new movie from Director Franny Armstrong (McLibel) and producer John Battsek (One Day In September). Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?
http://www.vimeo.com/6143388I must admit I wanted to come home from the screening feeling solidarity, selfishly I suppose, with all the other people who are doing ‘their bit’ for the planet and pat myself on the back. Instead I came home feeling terrified and near speechless. It’s weird coming out feeling like you’ve seen a horror movie but knowing that what you’ve witnessed isn’t fiction, but stark reality.
Containing real life documentary footage filmed by Director Franny Armstrong in locations ranging from the Niger Delta to the French Alps, we follow five narratives, some paradoxical within themselves – from a Shell employee to Windfarm Developer.
There are plenty of reviews on the website so I won’t attempt to out write them. Instead I will agree with Caroline Lucas (Leader, Green Party) who said on seeing the film ‘I defy anyone to come out and not feel like they’ve got to make a difference’;
And so instead i’ll make a pledge…
* To pass the DVD on to as many people as I can (Apparently it’s on sale on 19th Oct 2009)
* To ramp up personal efforts to reduce my carbon emissions (thinking cap on – watch this space!)
* To campaign harder (e.g.The Wave, 5 Dec, London)
This film will change your life (if climate change doesn’t first) – don’t take it from me, watch it for yourself!
Click here for a list of upcoming screenings or organise your own!
Related posts: Can Artists Save the World?
Stepping Up in Lozells
Posted by Jane in Birmingham, Portfolio on August 28th, 2009
When it comes to having street cred i think i miss the mark. Put me in a recording studio and ask me to MC and i wouldn’t have clue. For the last ten days i’ve been blown away by the talent of young people in Lozells, Birmingham. I’ve been documenting Step Up + Step Out, a summer arts project where young people get stuck in to movie making, MC’ing, street dance and a whole host of other workshops.
Directing a movie
The guys are in to movie making, and act out scenes of street fights, meetings in dark grafitti covered underpasses, money exchanging hands, high speed chases on foot. Of course, as with every good movie, in the concluding scene the protagonists change their ways and a resolution is found between gangs.
When it comes to music, thanks to the project, i’ve discovered a little gem, the Young Disciples recording studio, tucked away above a shop on Lozells Road. Packed full of state of the art macs and recording equipment it’s a great place to find young local talent sweating out the beats over an open mic session. Each young guy projecting a natural air of ‘cool’ in the fast and furious atmosphere of the breathless, dimly lit studio.
MC'ing in the recording studio
The girls are pretty hot on street dance, each one watching their moves reflected in the mirrors in the dance studio above Gerrard St Methodist Church. They barely get to the end of a track before they fall about laughing when one of the group misses a beat, forgets the step or complains that the track is too fast. Their faces start to become familiar to me as the girls return at the next session to perfect what they started.
Street Dance
If that’s anything to go by, who knows, maybe Lozells is growing young talent today that we’ll see on our TV screens tomorrow.
Watch this space!