AlterNativeArt

So in my quest to fill my days with all things art I visited the Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art at the Barbican. What can I say about the exhibition? First off it is fantastic! I had to do a double take when I checked the time and found I had been in there for almost two hours! Having checked out the site and downloaded the audio guide on itunes prior to my trip I knew it would be an interesting time (audio guides can also be borrowed free of charge from the desk). Upon entering you are greeted the esteemed Dr. Klaatu via audio and written text. The introductory text introduces the four main themes of the exhibition; Magic and belief, Communication, Relationships and Rituals. Following the gold lines that lead out from the theme title board to the various sub-categories reminded me a little of the Wizard of Oz 'Follow the yellow brick road' and that I did. The works are classified through Martian perspectives, attributing function to each piece. Artwork is treated as artefa

Yesterday I went to see the Vanity Fair exhibition currently at the National Portrait Gallery. I must say this is definitely worth a visit. The exhibition marks decades of photographic work form the likes of Cecil Beaton, Man Ray, Mario Testino and Annie Leiborvitz to name but a few. Vanity Fair was first published from 1913-1936 coinciding with the Jazz era, silent films and experimental photography. By 1983 photographs were no longer black and white and much had changed in the decades that had past. But to their credit the images do not reflect any discomfort in returning to the scene. Many of the newer images are easily recollected, especially the Hollywood issue covers and the iconic pictures of Diana Princess of Wales, but it is the more obscure black and white photography and early colour images that really draw attention. I found the image of Josephine Baker on stage so dazzling it could give the present day beauties a run for their money. Vanity Fair captured the movers and sha

Equator Media (partners of AFFORD) are working with Time Out on a feature for an issue in late May, which is a special edition on Africa.The theme of the feature is London from an African perspective.We are looking for photographs taken by members of the African diaspora in London showing their perspective of the city.We are looking to get photos from a wide variety of people, spanning the diversity of African nations within London.Brief• To enter you must be from Africa originally and now living in London• Photos can be of any aspect of London – people, places, events etc. Whatever represents London for you…• You do not need to be a professional photographer to submit an entry• Entry is free• Chosen photographs will be featured in late May in Time Out• Please send all photographs to jo@equatormedia. co.uk before April 21st

Africa House June and July 2008 Deadline: April 30, 2008 Send materials to: Africa House, 50 Washington Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760 Africa House, a beautifully restored 6500 sq ft multipurpose, multidimensional site for art, culture and education focusing on Africa and the African diaspora is located in the historic Village of Endicott in upstate New York, the birthplace of IBM, 10 minutes from the city of Binghamton, and just three hours from New York City. We house two galleries--Akégo and Sahara--and seek submissions by artists of African descent and anyone who utilizes African art, design, aesthetics and sensibilities. We welcome any medium including sculpture, painting, installation, photography to exhibit in our galleries. We are now accepting submissions for our June, and July 2008, juried and curated exhibitions, “The Black Aesthetic” I and II. We are looking for sculptures, paintings, multimedia installation, and photography works that fit the theme of our planned exhibition. S

I thought this was such a great image cause it really represented the mayhem going on around me in at the Whitechapel stop of the Olympic flame

I am so use to seeing those veteran blogs- with so many posts you are scrolling for days BUT I guess we all start somewhere! For now check out my facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15319830436 and my reviews at www.sayitloud.org.uk http://sayitloud.org.uk/data/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=501&Itemid=28 http://sayitloud.org.uk/data/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=513&Itemid=28 http://sayitloud.org.uk/data/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=480&Itemid=56