Culture Shots - Art at the NHS

Artist Lucy Burscough in the atrium of the Manchester Royal eye hospital. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Culture Shots is a week-long series of events at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS trust, aimed at promoting health and wellbeing through exposure to art and culture.

It is the first time in the UK that a trust has hosted a museums and galleries week within a hospital setting. A series of lectures, workshops and performances are taking place in conjunction with institutions including Whitworth art gallery, Manchester art gallery, Manchester Museum and Salford museum and art gallery.

During 70 sessions over the week, the positive contribution to health of spending time in museums and galleries will be promoted.

Full article at The Guardian here.

Andrew Brooks photography

Photographer Andrew Brooks is giving a talk tonight at Statham Lodge, showcasing some of his shots and talking about the work that goes into creating them. We really like Andrew Brooks images, they range from futuristic cities to mythical landscapes. They are composites, sometimes involving hundreds of images captured, and built up out of many layers of post production to create the final pictures.

The event is tonight, Wednesday 8th February 2012 at Statham Lodge Hotel, Warrington Rd Lymm starting at 8.00pm

Free for BIPP members or £5 non members.

Disneyfication of Joy Division

We spotted this article on Creative Review and it piqued our interest, what with Joy Division having such a big impact on our local musical heritage in Macclesfield. Bizarre as it seems, someone at Disney thought it would be an excellent idea to combine Peter Saville's Unknown Pleasures cover design with the iconic Mickey Mouse branding. Hmmm, not too sure on this one and it seems it was pulled fairly soon, with various interested parties including Joy Division/New Order drummer Steven Morris making their thoughts known on it.

You can read the original article at Creative Review here

Garry Olsen

We are always interested in local craftspeople and Garry Olsen is someone we have become aware of through the artist Jane Mitchell. Garry has been a designer and maker of high quality hand-made furniture for over 25 years and also teaches Furniture making courses which introduce tools, timber and hand-tool techniques. In addition to the services he offers Garry also has a showroom and Art Gallery which can also be hired out.

Find out more at www.garryolson.co.uk

Dear Photograph...

This is an incredibly simple but powerful concept. Taking a shot of an old photo in the original location creates a new image, which appears as an echo of the past in the present.

Started by Taylor Jones this has become something of a phenomenon and interestingly sparked a recent debate when Chevrolet produced an advertising campaign that was incredibly similar.

You can see more of the photographs at dearphotograph.com, or follow them on Twitter here.

David Mellor Cutlery Design

David Mellor CBE, Royal Designer for Industry, is the best known cutlery designer in Britain. Born in Sheffield, historic centre of cutlery making, he trained originally as a silversmith. He also is responsible for the design of the National Traffic Light system which is still in use throughout the UK.

Based outside Hathersage, a village near Chatsworth in Derbyshire, you will find the David Mellor Cutlery Factory, the new Design Museum, the Country Shop and Café. We can recommend that you pay them a visit if you are roaming the Peak District.

Stunning Google Streetview Photography

Aaron Hobson has assembled some great photography as part of his Cinemascapes series, the difference is he has not taken the shots, he has found some of the most remote and beautuful locations he could find on Google Streetview and collected them together.

Great concept and the shots he has chosen do not look like they have simply been captured by the automated eye of a street view camera car.

You can see them all here.

Paul Smith Olympic Stamps

Paul Smith has collaborated with the Isle of Man Post Office to design a prestigious collection of seven stamps to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As a lifelong follower of the World Cycling, Paul Smith was honoured to be asked to participate in this project by the Isle of Man Post Office. The island is home to heroic Olympic Cyclist and good friend of Paul Smith, Mark Cavendish. The Paul Smith Isle of Man stamps were officially released on 1st January 2012 and will be available to buy from Paul Smith shops globally.

Creative Christmas...

We have just sent out our Christmas cards, and this year they let you get creative too. The blank card comes with a retro pack of rubdown Letraset Christmas symbols so you can create a design that suits your own taste.

(PS - If you aren't on our Christmas card list, then not to worry, we have a few left, so get in touch and we'll post one out to you - first come first served!)

Merry Christmas!

PING Collection Spring Summer 2012

We recently took delivery of the PING Collection Spring Summer 2012 brochure, which is part of their marketing campaign for the season.

Jack Sevens Interview

Jack Sevens is a new gallery in Macclesfield, Cheshire. We went along and spoke to David Richardson about how they started and the artists they represent.

Murdock Barbers

We are always interested to see new retailers or different approaches to the high street experience and on the Millican blog we spotted Murdock, a traditional men's barber in Covent Garden on Monmouth Street.

Taking the traditional barbers services a stage further by retailing accessories and apparel is a great idea. Next time we are passing we'll be in for a trim and a spot of shopping.

Photo by Rob @ http://thecave.homeofmillican.com

Photo by Rob @ http://thecave.homeofmillican.com

Ladybird books app + Charles Tunnicliffe



We recently saw the new iPad app for the classic Ladybird books. This reminded us that Ladybird illustrator Charles Tunnicliffe was born a stones throw from our offices in Macclesfield and as well as this famous series of books, also illustrated "Tarka the Otter" and many others. He eventually moved from Macclesfield to Anglesey and spent the rest of his life there until his death in 1979.

www.thecharlestunnicliffesociety.co.uk

Large Format Photography Masterclass

Large Format Masterclass with John Davies.

Large format offers the ultimate in photographic quality. Redeye and Open Eye present a unique series of three one-day workshops to challenge and inspire you.

28 November 2011, 10:30 - 17:00 GMT

Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, L3 1BP, United Kingdom.

Find out more here including prices and how to book onto the course.

How to draw Tintin

Tintin has been big news of late with the release of the Spielberg/Jackson film, but we noticed this great tutorial online that shows how you can draw him yourself. Further instructions can be found here.

1882 Ltd

North Staffordshire company 1882 Ltd began life as Johnson Brothers in 1882. Emily Johnson is the fifth generation and is breathing new life into this brand with her passion for ceramics. The intention is to take a very traditional material and approach it in a modern way. She is the first designer for 1882 Ltd and her first collection of bone china lights, named "Bone" is only just the beginning. Emily has recently displayed these lights in an exhibition "Boned in England".

Peter Blake - An Alphabet

Running currently until 4th December 2011 at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, ‘An Alphabet’ is a display of 26 silkscreen prints and shows Sir Peter Blake's fascination with letters, fonts and typography.

Peter Blake incorporates imagery from popular culture into his work, including comic books, consumer goods and advertisements. In this display you can find anything from a poem about Leopards (in 'L'), to images of Father Christmas (in 'X').

More info here

Aeolus

A sculpture by Luke Jerram currently at MediaCity, this weighs over ten tonnes and features various steel pipes that "play" the wind as it blows past, creating some pan-pipe(ish) sounds. Here is what it sounds like if you don't get chance to see/hear it in person.

Aeolus - Acoustic Wind Pavilion at Eden Project by Sounding Out Aeolus

Manchester Mystery Tour...

Set off down the Boulevard of Dreams (Oxford Road) and take in the sights and sites of the city’s film history. See the homes of the stars! See fabulous real locations used in films! Did you know that Hulme was once revolutionary St Petersburg? Burt Kwuok was born in Rusholme and Charlie Chaplin went to school in Ardwick? All this and more on the Hollywood of the North coach trip, hosted by CP Lee. The coach trip starts at 12:00 and will conclude at Cornerhouse with a screening of George Formby’s first film Boots! Boots!, which was made at Manchester’s own Mancunian Film Company.

Click for more info

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a 500 acre rural setting containing modern and contemporary sculpture and encourages you to explore both the art and nature. 

This autumn, the first major UK exhibition by Jaume Plensa continues alongside new work in the open air and a solo show in the Bothy Gallery by Rachel Goodyear.

Visit the YSP site here.