AlterNativeArt

Thu 1 Apr John Hegley + Found in Translation + Barbican Young Poets Barbican Art Gallery | FREE | 7pm We help celebrate another side of legendary London architect and visionary artist Ron Arad. For the industrial design maverick, inventor of the SMS displaying Swarovski Crystal chandelier, is also a word fanatic. In this special event in conjunction with Barbican Art Gallery’s retrospective, eccentric comic wordsmith John Hegley performs a selection of poems inspired by Arad’s love of repartee. Literary new-kids-on-the-block Found in Translation take you on a breakneck mystery tour of obscurantist French writing group The Oulipo – an ‘a’e’i’o’universe of extremist poetry puzzles; and Barbican Young Poets respond to the exhibition with a selection of new works. All this in the delectable surroundings of the special exhibition venue where you can relax in Ron Arad furniture or have a go on his ping-pong table. Co-hosted by the Barbican “A recipe for madness” —The Londonist on Found in T...

'Martha Rosler reads Vogue' looks at the luxury magazine and the veils through which the amorous glances of commodities charm and fascinate with their illusions: Identification, aspiration, wealth, social superiority, class appreciation of the finer things in life, all these are imbricated in an orgy of bourgeois values; the enduring symptom of women's asymmetric relation to power insistently realized through the private world as to-be-looked-at-ness and being-for-others; the elliptic worlds of fashion, art, media, entertainment and the nexus of money; the co-dependency of the artist producing recondite commodities, possession of which bestows distinction within this realm. The works in the show by Alison Jones (ink drawings), Martha Rosler (video) and Milly Thompson (prints) span 3 decades. The show reflects on post-feminism as anti-feminism where invidious forms of oppression are obsequiously returned through the discourse of the free market and consumer culture. New form...

A celebration of drama CALLING FOR FILM ENTRIES Dead Line April 9th 2010 Now in its 7th year - *Buffalo-san a Black & Asian short film festival, part of the Wandsworth Arts Festival, is happening again on Sunday May 16th at the Bedford Arms Theatre space, in Balham. We will feature innovative and exciting short films from new and established film makers from all over the country and abroad. Including Q&A with film makers, great prizes for best film (chosen by the audience) plus showcasing live performance from poets and musicians. The festival will be attended by development executives from C4 – BBC Drama – The UK Film Council – Miramax -Working title and other film media professionals. The ethos of the *Buffalo film festival is to promote and celebrate innovative filmmakers from the Black & Asian Diaspora, and specifically encourage new audiences to explore and be entertained by the filmmakers visions. For more information and to request an application form email: wadeb...

Craft Rally is a series of inclusive and dynamic seminars for makers, supported by the Crafts Council; an opportunity for makers to exchange information and ideas both online and offline. Part 1: London Date: Thursday 25 March 2010; 10am – 5pm; evening event 5pm – 7pm Venue: Chelsea College of Art and Design, 16 John Islip Street, London SW1P 4JU Tickets for this event are £40 per place. Speakers, participants and contributors to the inaugural event in London include: * Rebecca Earley and the TED (Textiles, Environment, Design) team * Shane Waltener * Professor Kay Politowicz * Paul Harper and maker development group Alias * David Gates * Dr. Becky Shaw * Zoe Laughlin * Clare Qualmann Special events and activities include: * Repair & Mend sessions: Breathe new life into old and damaged clothes and ceramics in these practical sessions. * Talking Heads: Add your voice to the video vox pop that will collect ideas about contemporary crafts practi...

Saturday 6 March, 10am – 5pm Free Held at The Women's Library This day provides an overview of the rise of black British feminism in the 1970s. It will draw on the Black Cultural Archives’ recent oral history project, which collected testimonies from the women involved in OWAAD (Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent) and other Black women's groups. Heart of the Race considers the significance of the movement, and reflects on how grassroots Black and Asian women’s movement became important to an emerging black British feminist consciousness. In collaboration with Black Cultural Archives & London Metropolitan Archives. (Please note – this event was postponed from 14 November 2009).