WHERE PUBLIC OPINIONS CLASH!
THIS ISSUE: GUERRILLA GARBAGE?
No Quarter
from this side of the Atlantic, the lot was withdrawn and sent back to London. Unfortunately, this reprieve was not to last, and a work that valuable couldn’t stay unsold for long. It ended up in another auction in Covent Garden this June where, according to reports, the section of wall sold for over It all started with the ‘theft’ of a piece of wall from Wood Green’s Poundland. Not just any piece of brick and mortar, a million pounds. What has remained a mystery about this whole endeavour is exactly when did Banksy or his brand though, this wall was special. This wall was, to some, a of art become so prized? The self-styled guerrilla artist has, symbol of what sets the borough apart. This wall was relatively quickly, gone from highly illegal pest, scourge of iconic. This wall had a Banksy on it. The piece depicted a boy sewing jubilee bunting, a perfect mural for a borough the Met’s graffiti removal team, to an anonymous but highly regarded art-world superstar. But his rise begs the question, with a rag-trade history. Local residents were outraged by where do we draw the line of what is acceptable as art? Has its removal, and who would blame them? It seemed like the ascension of one artist elevated the status of the culture, a burglary. As though, overnight, some crook had ripped or do we still see street art as the province of criminal youth? them off in the worst way, leaving just a vacant space like Many dedicated street artists are now gaining a level of a smashed window. It defied reason too, after all, who’s stealing walls anyway, even valuable ones? Even the most mainstream acclaim. Futura designs capsule collections. Shepard Fairey’s designs are everywhere, from snapback afflicted kleptomaniac surely has to draw the line caps to campaign posters for Barack Obama. It seems flipsomewhere, and architecture seems as good a place as pant to attribute this solely to Banksy’s prominence, rather any. the ultimate fruition of a hard earned underground followAfter the dust began to settle, things became much clearer. ing. Both are talented artists and worthy of attention, more so than just being the next Banksy to exalt and commodify. One was that this was not the work of some deranged Problematically, government can’t seem to reach aconrobber-baron, but commissioned by the owner of the wall sensus on this one. Of course, the council balks at the loss itself, with every legal right to. Reports started to come in of a potential million pounds in revenue. Their official of an auction in Miami where the work was expected to policy, however, is to remove the public nuisance of graffiti, fetch a sum well into the thousands. After much cajoling It may seem unlikely. It may even seem somewhat absurd, but Haringey has found itself thrust into an important, international debate on the state of the arts.
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no mention of sparing the critically well received. We have to wonder, by ‘buffing’ everything are we missing out on discovering vital new talents? What is definite is that a lack of foresight in the matter can cost big later on. Whether you see the art as valuable on its own merits or not, the fact is that an original Banksy is worth something. With very little effort and expense, Haringey could have put measures in place to protect the works. Not doing so has left borough residents poorer by two public artworks and with nothing to show for it. At any rate it’s clear that street art is not going anywhere, and the influence of artists like Banksy persists, with new and varied additions popping up every day. The pictured work was found almost directly opposite Karamel at the start of this summer, and despite its flimsy and essentially ephemeral nature, managed to survive a few days before succumbing to the elements. But, then, every street artist knows that, by necessity, their work is short lived. Except, of course, for Banksy…
Created and distributed by Collage Arts www.collage-arts.org
Editorial Team
Andreas Stylianou Manoj Ambasna Preeti Dasgupta Duncan Sones
Design
Evelyn Ofosu
Contributors
Chris Sheehan Kate Pemberton lara A king Keith Gilles
Contributing Photographer
David Christie
For any comments or enquiries, or to suggest an article: Andreas@collage-arts.org 0208 829 1318
|The Quarter | N22OPENSTUDIOS | Collage Arts
In this Issue... 2
No Quarter: Public Art or Public Menace?
4
Chocolate Factory Artists News
5-7
N22 Open Studios
8 9
Karamel Music Club Creative Media Appprenticeship
10-11 Interview: Ana Silvera
12 13 14 15
Haringey Literature Festival
INTRODUCING... In full colour! For free! For the very first time! Its…the Quarter! The Chocolate Factory’s new magazine for entertainment and culture. From the midst of Wood Green, Collage Arts and the Chocolate Factory artists have delighted in bringing the borough the best in new music and comedy, stunning crafts and curios, and all manner of artistic excellence for over 25 years. Now, we’re even more excited to be collecting all of that amazing stuff together in this, the inaugural magazine for Haringey’s cultural quarter. Inside this premiere edition, you’ll find views, news, and interviews, thrilling developments with the artists and wonderful new products to buy. There’s a chat with enchanting singer songwriter Ana Silvera, a feature on Collage Arts’ new collaboration with Shape London and the sensational work they do, and loads more to spark your interest. With so very much happening at the Chocolate Factory, every issue is sure to be brimming with great articles, so we hope you’ll join us for another round next year. But, for now, all that’s left to say is welcome! Read on, learn, and above all, enjoy!
ABOUT THE COVER... As part of Collage Arts’ on-going apprenticeship training, young people are encouraged to seek out artistic experiences on their own and develop their skills independently. Seeing an opportunity for a great photo, David Christie was quick to snap this charming and expressive still life, a fitting visual metaphor for the organised chaos of the Chocolate Factory. In the image, different coloured wires mingle like the artists with their distinct styles and backgrounds, carefully arranged but still close knit. For information on the apprenticeship programme visit www.collage-arts.org
Comedy and Cupcakes Karamel Kids/ ZerOclassikal Film Festival/ Exiles
Collage Arts | N22OPENSTUDIOS | The Quarter |
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Chocolate Factory Artists News Carol Tarn
Studio 306 Collective
September 18 – October 31, Ivy House
20 September 2013 – Haringey Civic Centre
Two of Carol Tarn’s recent paintings have been selected for the Susan J Brown Art Exhibition at the London Jewish Cultural Centre at Ivy House, London.The two paintings of Carol’s which were chosen by the judges are from her recent ‘Vintage Days’ collection. This latest series of paintings capture the essence of days gone by - the treasured possessions of childhood and much loved pastimes, an era when travel was a pleasure, afternoon tea an event and a time when a radio and a good book was the only entertainment you needed.
Studio 306 collective will be holding a sale of their hand crafted ceramics, jewellery, and textiles at Wood Green’s Civic Centre. All proceeds from the sale will go towards continuing the work they do with vulnerable adults in the community, so it’s a great opportunity to buy original arts and crafts and contribute to a worthy cause. Haringey Civic Centre, High Road, London, N22 8LE www.studio306.co.uk
Ivy House, 96 North End Road, London,NW11 7SX. www.caroltarn.co.uk
Claudia Clare
Liz Collini
Until 25 SeptemberFrancis Kyle Gallery
Claudia Clare’s fantastic painted ceramics are on display at the Francis Kyle gallery until the 25th of September. Drawing from her own experiences, as well as a variety of important political issues, Claudia painstakingly adorns each hand made vase or bowl with a distinct narrative. This creates a collection which is captivating and thought-provoking, but all the while reminiscent of very traditional techniques. Francis Kyle Gallery 9 Maddox Street Mayfair London W1S 2QE www.claudiaclare.co.uk
16- 21 SeptemberMall Galleries
Robert Goldstein
October 23 – Whitfield fine Art As a photographer, Robert Goldstein has a knack for capturing rare and illustrative moments on film. Whether they’re punk performances or intimate portraits of burlesque performers, his photographs usually have a sense immediacy and action. For his new exhibition, ‘Still’, he takes a different approach, presenting a collection of photographs with a familiar yet secretive quality that makes them immediately eye-catching.
Printmaker Liz Collini will have work on display at the Mall Galleries this September, as a member of the shortlist for the Derwent Art Prize. Collini’s delicately layered ‘Construction II’ is one of 80 selected pieces in pencil which have been recommended for the prize, which will also be given in September. The works will then be on tour until the end of December. The Mall Galleries The Mall London SW1Y 5BD www.lizcollini.com
Whitfield Fine Art, 23 Dering Street, London W1S 1AW www.robertgoldstein.com
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|The Quarter | N22OPENSTUDIOS | Collage Arts
Interview
Jane Roberts portrait competition winner At every Open Studios, Collage Arts and the Chocolate Factory artists offer a once-in-a-lifetime prize to one lucky visitor. For 2012, the prize on offer was an exclusive commission by renowned Portraitist, Sadie Lee, which will be unveiled at the event in November. Be sure to visit the N22 Open Studios this year for a chance to win similar prizes! Was this your first N22 Open Studios? This was not my first visit to the Open Studios; I think I’ve been two or three times. We met some of the artists at the Crouch End Open Studios too, and I like to buy work from local artists if I can afford it!
students practicing their life drawing skills. I can remember sucking my cheeks in for the whole sitting as I thought they were too chubby at that age...I must have looked very weird! Needless to say I didn’t do that when I sat for Sadie!It was lovely to meet Sadie, she talked about her work and her Transformers exhibition and meeting Holly Woodlawn, all really interesting. She explained about why How did it feel to find out you had won? When I received the email informing me I had won she does the portraits every year to help finance her studio and her work. She then explained the process of how she I thought it was a joke at first! Then my friend likes to photograph her subjects, so I felt quite relaxed reminded me that we had filled in the cards, so I about having my photo taken! She showed me some of the was very surprised, and pleased. other portraits she had completed and I really liked them, I think I would like to ask her to paint a portrait of my son! Were you familiar with Sadie Lee’s work before winning the prize? I remembered seeing Sadie’s work as it is unusual How do you think you’ll feel when you see the finished and interesting and I looked at her website before piece, and what will you do with the painting once you have it? coming for the sitting. I’m looking forward to seeing the portrait, and I suppose I do wonder if it will look like me, but it will be fantastic to What was it like sitting for the portrait? have a work of art in my house, painted by a local artist, The sitting itself was a great experience...I was a little nervous as I have never sat for a portrait and so personal to me! before, except as a child at school...I think I was 11 or 12 and we sometimes sat for the A level Art
‘The Patrons 2011-Bobby Aitken’-Sadie Lee
As well as Sadie Lee, The Chocolate Factory is home to a number of portrait artists, all of whom are willing to take your commissions. If you’ve ever fancied seeing yourself hanging over the fireplace, or want to give a unique gift, look no further than the Chocolate Factory.
Tim Benson VPROI An acclaimed portraitist and member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Tim Benson can already count Michael Palin among his celebrity fans. Tim paints his sitters both from his studio at The Chocolate Factory and in their own environments to capture the essence of the subject. www.timbenson.co.uk
Carol Tarn Carol’s extensive body of work includes private commissions and her own projects, mostly theatrical portraits of actors from the London stage. She has been working from the Chocolate Factory for nearly a decade, and also teaches portraiture from her studio. www.caroltarn.co.uk
John Englefield Working as a professional photographer, John Englefield shoots everything, including landscapes, still life, interiors, and products. Although not his leading area, John’s attention to detail lends itself incredibly well to portraits. www.johnenglefield.co.uk
Victoria King A classical figurative artist, Victoria King’s oil paintings carry elements of the great masters such as Vermeer and Caravaggio, whose works and practices she has studied in depth. She also uses a specialist glazing technique, which emphasises the vibrancy of her colours. www.victoriakingart.com
For more information or to contact the artists, please visit www.chocolatefactoryartists.co.uk Collage Arts | N22OPENSTUDIOS | The Quarter |
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Open Studios...
Green London, N22 6XJ. Website : www.n22openstudios.com Exhibition dates : 9-10 Nov 2013 Address: The Chocolate Factory, Clarendon Road, Wood
N
ow entering its 15th year, the N22 Open Studios is going from strength to strength. Over the November weekend, there are more than a hundred artists with work to display. This ranges from large scale metal sculpture to cushions and quilts, with almost everything imaginable in between. There are painters, cartoonists, and printmakers, and this year, the musicians will be joining in too. Usually hidden away behind a mixing desk, they’ll be opening their doors to patrons for an exclusive peek into a working music studio, and giving performances throughout the weekend. 2012’s event saw the artwork spilling over onto the street, with a series of giant-sized photographic portraits installed on Coburg Road. Part of the global ‘Inside Out’ project, these photographs were taken by young people working with multi-media artist Karen Whiteread. Against the odds, the portraits managed to remain up and in good condition for over six months, serving as a reminder to locals of everything great going on at the Chocolate Factory. Along with a chance to see, buy, and commission artwork, visitors have the opportunity to be entered into a draw to win fantastic free prizes from the Chocolate Factory Artists. Last year, hundreds of people put their names down for a chance to have their portrait captured by celebrated oil painter, Sadie Lee. Sadie accepts a limited number of commissions per year, which enable her to continue with her own projects. Forming part of her annual “Patrons” series, the lucky competition winner will have their portrait unveiled this November, along with other art lovers whose support has made Sadie’s work possible. This year’s prize is just as exciting, with Collage Arts offering up to £350 off your favourite piece of artwork. All you need to do to win is join the mailing list, so be sure to sign up!
...
The Open Studios always brings the crowds in, and in attendance last year was 10 year old art enthusiast Shay, who was keen not to leave without spending his pocket money. Eventually choosing a print by Matthew Green, Shay was delighted to go home with his first piece of art, and a promise to return annually. The print, Pickle Brain, is humorous and thoughtful, and above all, an absolute bargain, perfectly representing the kind of art on offer at the N22 Open Studios.
MADE IN
Adding to the excitement, 2013 will see Collage Arts collaborating with the renowned disability arts organisation, Shape London. Their annual Open is a celebration of the important work they do bringing disability-led arts into the public imagination, and giving under-appreciated artists a chance to exhibit. As part of their schedule they’ll be bringing some incredible work for display at Karamel, and auctioning off even more, with proceeds going to the artists involved. For almost four decades, Shape has been at the forefront of promoting access to culture and inclusiveness in the arts for all sectors of society, making them an ideal charity partner for the N22 Open Studios. It’s not just the fine arts though and, with a whole host of designers and makers too, there’s lots to fall in love with. Whether you’re looking to brighten up the house, or for the crucial missing Christmas gift, there really is something at the Chocolate Factory to suit every taste and budget.
Y E G N HARI
3.Hen 0-2
4.
Coat & Dress years
£123.50 Savage Smalls, www.savagesmalls.com
Farringdon Camouflage Green £90.00 Cocorose London www.cocoroselondon.com 020 8829 8919
ocolate ty at the Ch e n le p ’s re e , th mad and makers re, to hand a rs w e e n g m o si h e d ic rom graph le range of line. With a who ry taste and budget. F you like on g e v in e th r e fo m ry Facto to find so ou’re sure jewellery, y
2.
1.
5.
Selection of Clutches by J&P
Glamunique
Red Silverlined Glass & Freshwater Pearl earrings £25 Red Silverlined Glass Necklace £30 www.glamunique.co.uk.
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£63-£69 Avaliable in TopShop, Asos or online at www. jenkinsandpower.com
6.Goodwin
& Goodwin
£255.00 www.goodwinandgoodwin.com
|The Quarter | N22OPENSTUDIOS | Collage Arts
THE SHAPE OPEN 2013 , E3 2SJ Website: www.shapearts.org.uk Exhibition dates : 3 – 18 Oct 2013 Address: The Nunnery Gallery, 181 Bow Rd, London The Shape Open is an annual call-out for disabled and non-disabled artists to submit work in response to a disability focused theme. This year’s theme is ‘Disability Re-assessed’. The winning submission, selected by a panel of arts industry judges, will be awarded the Shape Open Prize of £500. 2012 proved a momentous year, in which disabled people dominated sporting events, cultural celebrations and political debate. The focus on categorising, defining and re-assessing disability was, and continues to be, as prevalent as ever – influencing and impacting on the experience and representation of disabled people around the UK. The Shape Open exhibition showcases work from an eclectic range of artists, whose work explores and comments on this year’s theme ‘Disability Re-assessed’. Patron Yinka Shonibare was on the shortlist panel and helped select works from 46 participating artists.
‘The Shape Open Exhibition provides a fantastic platform for artists to show their work. Such exhibitions offer great opportunities for artists to be discovered by institutions and large audiences. Similar exhibitions have helped to contribute to the development of my own personal career’. Yinka Shonibare MBE, Shape Open Patron Following the launch of the exhibition at the Nunnery Gallery, the works will then embark on a UK wide tour. With a dedication to improving access to culture, it is an important step for Shape
Marion Michell to be able to bring this work to galleries outside of the capital. Having recently hosted the Paralympic games, awareness of the issues faced by disabled members of society is still prevalent in the minds of Londoners. Being able to expand on this and bring about the same consideration in other parts of the country is the lynchpin of the charity’s goal, and a great opportunity for the artists involved to reach a wider audience. Before they head off, though, they’ll be paying a special visit to the Chocolate Factory Open Studios where the exhibition will be installed in Karamel for the duration of November. However, for one fortunate artist, their tenure at the Chocolate Factory won’t end there. As part of their collaboration with Shape, Collage Arts have a fantastic and exclusive prize to give away. One selected artist will win three months of absolutely
Shape is supported by Arts Council England. Collage Arts | N22OPENSTUDIOS | The Quarter |
free occupancy in a Chocolate Factory studio, with the option of staying on permanently. For many artists, the chance to work around other creative practitioners is all too rare, and moving from a home environment into a studio is an exciting prospect. For Collage Arts, it’s just as exciting to have this prize on offer, and give an artist the chance to grow and move forward as a part of the Chocolate Factory artist’s community. For more information on where you can see the Shape Open Exhibition around the UK, please visit www.shapearts.org.uk The Shape Open exhibition will be at Karamel, Coburg Road, N22 6UJ from November 4 2013
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Tom Baxter
Karamel Music Club
New season of live music starts on September 18!
Now into our third year, the Karamel Music Collective (KMC) is thriving. The last couple of seasons have seen KMC provide a platform for the best new songwriters around (whatever age) while bringing the local community a constant stream of new, and legendary talent. All for free. KMC has now become an established venue for top artists and the last two years have seen some legendary performance’s from Chris Difford of Squeeze, Jazz diva Jacqui Dankworth, brilliant blues keyboard with Charlie Wood, Mark Nevin formerly of Fairground Attraction, Kathryn Williams, and various members of Wet Wet Wet, Travis, Oasis, The Leisure Society, and many more. The end of Season party saw bass legend Guy Pratt regaling us with stories of his days playing for Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Madonna, Michael Jackson and The Smiths. KMC is very proud of supporting emerging artists playing in London and has featured some stunning new acts in the last two years: Matt Woosey, The Dunwells, The Jar Family, Matt Deighton, Ben Trigg and, from New York, Norman Vladimir. The highlight of the last season was quite possibly a bill that featured Icelandic solo artist Lay Low, former Seahorses front man Chris Helme, and Danish trio, Boho Dancer. Lay Low was spell-binding and Helme had the room locked in a mist of navy blue, electrified silence. But then Boho ‘happened’. By the end they had the entire room on their feet… so thrilled they didn’t know where to look or what to do. It was one of those moments where you realise what a jewel the KMC has become, and can continue to be. Where else in North London will you find a room crammed full of such energy incredible artists, a silent, attentive audience, a community spirit, and the best food for miles? And the music is FREE! The new season will feature many new and established talent rest assured, the Karamel name is a guarantee of quality, whatever night you come along to. We’re really looking forward to welcoming you to our fortnightly instalment of musical Eden. Follow KMC on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter for line up announcements .
boho dancer
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www.facebook.com/karamelmusicclub www.twitter.com/karamelmusic www.karamelmusiccollective.tumblr.com |The Quarter | N22OPENSTUDIOS | Collage Arts
Collage Arts in partnership with Factory 21 Media offer a unique media apprenticeship. With the resources of the Chocolate Factory at their disposal, apprentices have access to the expertise and influence of over 200 artists of all stripes. It’s the input from these industry practitioners that has added value to the apprentice experience, and made it an exciting prospect for the young people involved.
“our apprentices get inspired working in this space. it’s very inspirational sharing a creative space with role models like award winning film maker Yousaf Ali Khan and to see successful former students like Labrinth” Marie (Media Tutor)
Factory 21 apprentices get the opportunity to develop skills in creative media, professional behaviour, and enterprise while they earn a wage, and have the chance to engage in individual projects. Using up-to-date equipment and facilities, they are given the knowledge and range to explore different techniques and pursue their own path to their creative media career. Creative and digital media apprentices start their journey on a pre-apprenticeship programme where essential skills are developed. Here, a relationship is brokered between the prospective apprentice and potential employer sponsor, who they identify. Over a six week period, the young person and the prospective employer establish a strong relationship before ultimately embarking on the programme. The course usually takes one year to complete and sees apprentices achieve an advanced level 3 diploma. As Collage Arts has a connection with several European organisations, groups from the apprenticeship have also had the opportunity to test out their skills overseas. Recent contingents have visited Spain, Holland and Italy, where they immersed themselves in the local culture, worked a a variety of creative projects and documented their experience in film. Collage Arts’ work on media apprenticeship delivery was recently recognised by Skillset, who awarded the organisation their quality kite mark.
Some words from apprentice Luke Rogers “I’m an apprentice at the Chocolate Factory currently.
It’s a really good course- I’ve
gained even more skills, met people from the
industry, and people know me. When this comes to an end, I’m looking to get some income to buy equipment and turn a room in my house into a studio so I can work on projects all the time.
Right now, I’m into filmmaking and directing, but I dabble in other areas, like fashion design, music production, and writing lyrics. I had never been to Italy- it was my first time. I liked that I was able to have a laugh there- we did work, but it’s a different sort of culture and a new experience completely different from the UK. We’re all still young people and still developing. I want to do more projects- I have
my fingers in a lot of pies and I try to do a lot of things. Right now I’m just concentrating on my filmmaking, and I’m passionate about it.
”
Media Apprentice Luke Rogers filming on location in Rome July 2013
For more information about the learning opportunities available at Collage Arts visit www.collage-arts.org/learning Collage Arts | N22OPENSTUDIOS | The Quarter |
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Ana Silvera
Classically trained, and adept with many instruments, Ana Silvera is a musical treasure. As a teenager, she was a regular performer with the English National Opera, even appearing solo on BBC Radio. From there, she went on to travel the world, exploring a variety of styles and forging collaborations with all manner of musicians, artists, and film makers. Eventually, she found her way back to London, where she has become a mainstay of the alternative music scene, appearing at high-profile venues such as the Purcell Room and the Union Chapel. In 2011, Ana was nominated for a British Composers Award for her seven part song cycle ‘Oracles’, which was performed at the Roundhouse Studios. They were impressed enough to invite Ana back, this time to the main stage. As part of their Reverb Festival, she performed a specially commissioned composition, “Step onto the Ground, Dear Brother”, with the Estonian Television Girls’ Choir. Always eclectic, Ana’s range of influences stretches from folklore and fairy tales, opera, and even real people. Many of her tracks see her taking on the persona of mythical, biblical, or historical figures, to great effect, spinning their stories into haunting compositions, often rich with natural imagery. www.anasilvera.com
INTERVIEW WITH ANA SILVERA How did you hear about the Karamel Music Club, when did you first play there? I first heard about Karamel Music Club through its lovely founder, Chris Sheehan. Me and Chris met at a gig I was playing a few years back at a private club in Soho. I’d gone along to sing a couple of songs, and he liked a song of mine, Hometown, in particular as I recall. He’s a great songwriter himself, so it’s always nice to get praise from your peers. We became friends and he invited me to play for the first time in Autumn of 2011 which I enjoyed very much. The title ‘The Aviary’ seems very apt for this collection of songs. How did you arrive at that name? That’s a good question! I draw a great deal of inspiration from folk tales and birds often play a big part in those. I worked with an Estonian choir recently, and I discovered that in ancient Estonian mythology the world was believed to have turned around a tree, to which the skies were nailed with the North Star. The Milky Way was a path created by the birds’ traversals, and these birds carried the souls of the deceased to the other world. Perhaps that’s something that we instinctively feel – that birds connect us to the unknown, the beyond, and that has made a strong impression upon our collective psyche. And whilst we can’t necessarily understand birdsong, the musical way in which birds communicate is shared by humans. Maybe that’s a closeness reflected in the way people are often transformed to birds in myths. In ‘Song for Daniel’ for instance, I sing the line, ‘I could pound nettles/till my hands were blistered/but swans crowd the lake/and no, I’m not their sister’. That image came from a Hans Christian Anderson story, ‘The Wild Swans’ about a girl whose eleven brothers are turned to swans and she has to weave coats from stinging nettles into flax to break the spell. Of course, these stories are also important metaphors for me to channel my own emotions... One thing I noticed about the album is that there are a few references to royalty. Was that a conscious thing? Could you explain that symbolism a little bit? Oh interesting...that definitely wasn’t deliberate! But I suppose you’re right - it probably comes from me taking inspiration from myths and legends which are full of archetypal characters. These stories are in our DNA, Biblical stories like Salome, nursery rhymes like All the King’s Horses, fairy tales like the Snow Queen, and even if we aren’t consciously aware that we know them, we basically do. They provide a narrative through which to understand the world, and the people within it.
As a multi- instrumentalist and a practitioner of many different musical styles, how do you decide which direction you want to take with a song, or do you just let creativity flow and see what happens? These days I do a real mixture of writing songs ‘solo’, as it were, and working on specially commissioned (though no less personal) pieces. Sometimes it’s totally instinctive and I don’t seem to have much say in the process, the song writes itself. Other times, it’ll be a deliberate brief I’ve created for myself, just because I feel I want to write a certain kind of song, or because I am collaborating and need to compose a specific thing. Or it could be a phrase or some prose I wrote that I feel needs to be carried along with music. But whatever, none of these approaches will predict the quality of the song... it’s a mystery what will turn out to be a good song, you just have to write as often as you can and stay inspired and stay open.
If you had to limit yourself to one style or one instrument which would you choose, and why? I can answer the instrument bit - aside from it being the instrument I can play the best, I also think it’s hugely expressive and gives so many options. Also I
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|The Quarter | N22OPENSTUDIOS | Collage Arts
have long fingers, which proved disastrous for playing string instruments but are very helpful on the keyboard. Style-wise, I don’t think I fit into any particular style so I wouldn’t know how to limit myself.
You’re the first artist to work with Karamel Music Collective, what made you want to take the chance on such a young label? Because I trust the people involved to absolutely support my artistic vision, and not try to impose anything that could be detrimental to my creativity or integrity. That is the single most important thing you can hope for as an artist, in terms of the people who surround you. That trust I felt is confirmed in the fantastic achievements of the Chocolate Factory in truly being a creative hub that helps young people to explore new possibilities in their own lives.
I saw from your blog that you’re currently working on a project called ‘Soliloquoy for Cassandra’, relating to the classic tragic heroine. Could you elaborate on that a little bit?
“it’s a mystery what will turn out to be a good song, you just have to write as often as you can and stay inspired and stay open”
Sure. It’s a project which is being created in conjunction with an amazing team including a choreographer, a film-maker and a visual artist, along with some incredible dancers from the Royal Ballet. The piece reflects on the experience on what is termed ‘mental illness’ in our society. We are still in the development phase so I can’t say too much more but I am wearing many hats for this work - composing, singing, performing, co-directing and even being choreographed!
And finally, what would be your perfect gig? Do you have any grandiose ideas that you’ve yet to realise in terms of staging or performance? Well, this ballet project, Soliloquy for Cassandra is pretty grandiose, with dancers and film and visual projections and more, so already the process for that is amazing. I am also performing my choral work, Oracles in October at new arts centre, JW3, for male and female voice, also quite a big scale. I am hoping to work with a chamber orchestra soon(ish) - that would be another dream of mine come true.
Collage Arts | N22OPENSTUDIOS | The Quarter |
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Haringey Literature Festival
At Collage Arts we think that the people of Haringey and beyond should have free access to great literary events all year long. So, rather than running a Literary Festival once a year, we have decided to programme our events month by month. We are putting on a series of free evening readings at the wonderful Karamel café. Come along and hear highly entertaining writers reading their work. Browse a selection of poetry and fiction, courtesy of the Big Green Bookshop. Join in our open mic session by reading a poem or micro-story of your own. The Haringey Literature Festival celebrates books, reading and writing all year long. We hope you will join us!
Thursday September 12 Short Fiction Night at Karamel!
Tania Hershman and Daniel Jeffreys
Doors 7pm for 7.30pm start, free entry Karamel, Coburg Road, N22 6UJ. Booking recommended!
Tania Hershman is the award-winning author of two story collections: My Mother Was An Upright Piano: Fictions (Tangent Books, 2012), a collection of 56 very short fictions, and The White Road and Other Stories (Salt, 2008; commended, 2009 Orange Award for New Writers). Her stories have been widely published in literary journals and have appeared on BBC Radio 3 and 4. She is writer-in-residence in Bristol University’s Science Faculty and editor of The Short Review, the online journal spotlighting short story collections and their authors. Tania teaches regularly for the Arvon Foundation and gives workshops on shortstories, flash fiction and scienceinspired fiction. “Tania Hershman writes with such passion and playfulness, the pain and the fear and the hope woven through her stories hits all the harder. The result is beautiful, funny and quietly devastating.” Nicola Walker. www.taniahershman.com.
Daniel Jeffreys has written short stories and poetry which have appeared in Ambit, The London Magazine, Esquire and an anthology called Tales of The Decongested. He reviews for The TLS and The Tablet with a special interest in the supernatural. The Observer described his short shory The Bamboo Forest as an ‘undiscovered gem’. He says, “In the late 80s I tried singlehandedly to kick start the acid folk revival supporting Tanita Tikaram. Today I work as librarian. I have introduced electric guitars during baby rhymetime for hour-long improvisations around The Wheels on the Bus and Shakin’ All Over.” You can follow his hillarious library blog, Conan The Librarian, online: conanlibrarianlondon.wordpress.com/nympho-librarian/. “Scholarly, droll, subversive, Daniel Jeffreys is a natural dystopian, with a taste for the grotesque,” Geoff Nicholson.
Thursday October 3, 7pm for 7.30pm start, free entry: Haringey Literature Festival celebrates National Poetry Day at Karamel: Richard Dyer and Naomi Foyle. Booking recommended! See our page on the Collage Arts website: www.collage-arts.org
STOP PRESS: Haringey Literature Festival Writing Competition!
Come along to the Open Studios 8, 9, 10 November be inspired! Write a poem or micro-story of up to 200 words and send it in by the end of November to Kate Pemberton (kate@collage-arts.org), Collage Arts, .....We will judge the work in three categories - under 11s, under 18s and over 18s. State which category you are in, and include your name and email address. We will announce the results at our December reading and also online. Prize is your work on our website and coffee or juice and cake for 4 at Karamel.
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|The Quarter | N22OPENSTUDIOS | Collage Arts
Audiences are coming back for more each month claiming it’s
“the best comedy night in London”,
“…such an amazing, fun night”, and
Comedy & Cupcakes
“I was in a right bad mood when I got here but I haven’t laughed that much in years”.
COMEDY AND CUPCAKES is a fabulous new, free monthly comedy night hosted by award winning comedienne lara A king. The atmosphere is light and friendly with food and drink being served throughout the show. The show is an eclectic mix of hilarious straight stand up, superb musical comedy, smart improvisation and very funny sketch groups. The line-up is predominantly female but we always make sure we make room for one ‘token bloke’ each month.
October 2013 4
MAE MARTIN
Mae Martin began writing and performing comedy at the tender age of 13. She has been nominated for two Canadian Comedy Awards, and was the youngest ever nominee for the prestigious Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award. Her television credits in Canada include MuchMusic’s Video On Trial, Global Television’s “Global Comedians” (alongside Maria Bamford, Jon Dore, Dave Foley, James Smith and Matt Kirshen), The Comedy Network’s “Cream of Comedy” and the Space Network’s “Spacey Awards”. Mae is currently based in the U.K. where she has played at festivals and clubs across the country. She has been a finalist in the Musical Comedy Awards and the Hackney New Variety Act of the Year awards. This year she won “Best International Performer” at the Brighton Fringe and received stellar reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Mae is represented by John Noel Management and recently appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News, BBC Radio 4’s “Fresh From the Frings”, and BBC 3’s Comedy Marathon
NATHANIEL METCALFE
September 2013 TOM ALLEN
In 2005 Tom Allen won the competition ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ in Edinburgh and went on to win the BBC New Comedy Award later that same year. Since then he has performed at Montreal festival Just For Laughs, on tour in the US with Eugene Mirman and Reggie Watts and in the last two years has made his debut at Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne Comedy Festivals. He has also performed his own show at the Edinburgh Festival for the past six years. Last year he began a new live chat show incorporating stand up and parlour games with interviews from Margaret Cho, Sarah Millican, Ed Byrne, Mark Gatiss, Jack Whitehall, Amy Lamé and Dr Who himself, Matt Smith. Performed at the Udderbelly and London’s Comedy Café, Tom Allen’s Society is now a podcast available on iTunes. Collage Arts | N22OPENSTUDIOS | The Quarter |
Nathaniel Metcalfe has been doing stand up since May 2007, and got through to the semi-finals of the So You Think You’re Funny? competition after only five gigs. In 2010 he got through to the semi-final of the Laughing Horse New Act of the Year and the final of the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year. That summer he also appeared as one third of the sketch group The Brotherhood of the Leaky Boot in Edinburgh. He is the only resident act at Josie Long‘s Lost Treasures of the Black Heart club and supported her on the Manchester date of her UK tour in January 2011. He performed his first hour show at the Machynlleth Festival in May 2011 and hopes to take it to Edinburgh this year. Nathaniel could recently be heard on James Acaster’s Findings on BBC Radio 4. Nathaniel likes to write about himself in the third person.
JULIA STREETS
Julia Streets is an experienced compere and comedienne. In addition to her day job (which apparently she’s very good at because people tell her she shouldn’t give it up) as Founder and Director of Streets Consulting, Julia writes her own brand of material, based on observations of corporate life drawn from years spent earning her pinstripes in and around the City. In 2012, Julia was featured on Radio 4 Today Programme. She is a member of Funny Women, the network of female comedians and regularly gigs at regional festivals including which have included Edinburgh Fringe, Henley-on-Thames, Sevenoaks, Rye and her London events frequently sell out.
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zerOclassikal Project
Karamel Kids
With an always extensive line-up of free entertainment, there’s something for everybody going on at Karamel, and kids are no exception. Booster Cushion Theatre’s anarchic brand of solo performances featuring giant props and nursery rhyme mash-ups have become a fan favourite, as have Storyteller Mike Dodsworth’s captivating tales of fun and adventure. This autumn, they’ll be joined by Floods of Ink, who will be bringing their show ‘The Finders’ to the stage in November, which promises to be a fantastic new addition. Join The Finders as they embark on an adventure to explore the limitless possibilities of imagination. Aimed at children ages 4-7 the show combines music, movement and materials with the world of phonics, playing with the sounds our voices make and words we create. Who knows what they will find! Booster Cushion Theatre’s ‘Old Macdonald and the Three Pigs Plus’ is on October 18 and ‘A Christmas Carol’ on December 7 The Storyteller will be appearing on the September 21, and again on November 2, and 30 Catch ‘The Finders’ By Floods of Ink, on November 16 www.booster-cushion.co.uk
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The brainchild of sitarist Jonathan Mayer, this new concert series at the intimate Cockpit seeks to bring the intricacies of ancient musical techniques in to the 21st Century. With his ensemble, Mayer takes a radical approach to South Asian classical music, aiming to provide British born and trained performers the voice and platform to explore what their identity brings to the ‘ancient’ musical genre. A raga, originally defined in Sanskrit as ‘colour’, is an ages-old style of melodic playing based around incorporating specific melodies into compositions. Traditionally, different ragas are associated with different seasons or times of day, or even different genders. Through the centuries, the raga has become a staple of Indian classical music, along the way losing some of the elusive quality belied by its Sanskrit definition. Not wishing to merely recreate existing ragas, this endeavour sets out to find new inspiration in these timeless practices. Featuring performances of new compositions, reinterpretations of old, discussions, seminars, and public workshops, the zerOclassikal project is a modern take on an ageless art. The Jonathan Mayer Ensemble’s first undertaking is ‘Perseverance’, a completely new raga developed over a series of intense month long workshops and focussed on the theme of the vulnerability of hope. Through this composition, Mayer hopes to show that south Asian Classical music is very much a contemporary genre which can be used to create new material about important issues and subjects.
“Music should allow you to think about the world around you, not just sound pretty.”-Jonathan Mayer www.zeroclassikal.co.uk www.thecockpit.org.uk
|The Quarter | N22OPENSTUDIOS | Collage Arts
Exhibition ‘Making Home’- Exiles: The Ugandan Asian Story
ion), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 Exhibition dates : 6 – 18 Sep 2013 Address: Royal Geographic Society (IBG Exhibition Pavil
2AR
On the fourth of August 1972, Ugandan
President Idi Amin made a declaration giving all Asians a mere 90 days to vacate the country. His supporters said that God had made this decision, appearing to him in a dream and passing down the command. To most others, this was a cunning but obvious political ploy, cashing in on a growing climate of fear and mistrust. Amin enticed his citizens with ‘control of their own destiny… for the first time in history’, and forUgandans this must have seemed an exciting proposition. Independence had only come a decade previously and the nation was still occupied in clearing the remnants of colonial rule. Men like Idi Amin were allowed to flourish, giving way to a new kind ofleadership, and a new level of uncertainty.
were now finding work as labourers or taxi drivers. In Uganda, many lived in gated communities and enjoyed private healthcare, but in Britain, had to make do with what could be given. Through newly collected interviews, possessions, and photographs, the Exiles project tells the story of over forty years in the lives of Ugandan Asians in Britain.
In the following months, violent and sexual crimes against the Asian population increased, unchecked by Ugandan police. Businesses and properties were requisitioned, and ownership re- distributed to Amin’s supporters. All over the world, governments were preparing to receive refugees, with Britain alone taking in over 27, 000. Many were granted British citizenship as subjects of the former colonies. However, thousands, now stripped of their Ugandan identity, found themselves stateless and unaccounted for. Those who found new homes had to begin new lives, learning new languages and forging new careers. Former business owners and skilled professionals
Visions of home community film festival
‘Most of the story tellers felt that it was a much needed closure for their experience of expulsion in 1972’, said the Council of Asian People’s Santhosh Chandran, ‘ and the participation of over 40 young people made it really inter-generational. They were instrumental in collecting stories, researching and designing the exhibition’ Funded in part by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and made possible by the work of volunteers, ‘Making Home’ is a thought-provoking look into the extraordinary journey made by thousands of ordinary people, told for the first time in their own words. “Making Home” - Exiles: The Ugandan Asian Story will run from Friday 6 – Wednesday 18 September 2013 at the Royal Geographic Society (IBG Exhibition Pavilion), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR from 10am - 5pm daily, including weekends. Making Home: the Story of the Ugandan Exiles will be at Karamel, Coburg Road, N22 6UJ from September 30 - October 25 2013 . www. exilesproject.org
Collage Arts | N22OPENSTUDIOS | The Quarter |
Sometimes, it can be easy to take for granted just how much there is going on in Haringey. There are always great gigs to see, talks to attend, classes to join and restaurants on bars on cafes galore. But, under the radar of many, dedicated film clubs across the borough are lighting up week nights with screenings of exciting, and distinctive gems from all over the world. They take place in primary schools and pubs and almost anywhere except major cinemas, each with their own reason to be. There’s the Tottenham World Film Club, whose screenings carry on into the night with themed music and munch. Screen on the Green at the Asian Centre, showing Indian cinematic classics, Haringey Independent Cinema and their undiscovered, home grown joys, and too many more to name here. This year, for the first time ever, these disparate groups will be joining forces and bringing us Haringey’s inaugural community film festival. Entitled ‘Visions of Home’, across nine days, each organisation will be showing us what that phrase means to them, in specially selected locations borough wide. Speaking on what brought them together, Haringey Independent Cinema’s Tony said; “the thing we all have in common is we all love using the medium of film to put a message across to the residents of Haringey and we all want to run exciting and entertaining events.” There’s sure to be something for everyone, and even kids are accounted for by Wildcat Arts and their Saturday matinees. With international tales of displacement, hard hitting looks into British homelessness and a variety more to offer, the event is sure to be a successful staple of the Haringey social calendar for years to come. ‘Visions of Home’ will be taking place at several venues in Haringey, from November 21-29, commencing at 7pm, 21 November 2013 at Karamel, Coburg Road, London N22 6UJ.
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