An Artistic Streak

Passing by the Contemporary the other day, I noticed that they were getting things ready for their next exhibition entitled 'Alien Encounters'.

The highlight of the exhibition is some artwork from Sun Ra, the American jazz musician who claimed that he was from another planet, but actually born in Birmingham, Alabama during 1914 and died in 1993.

It looks quite a chaotic scene with things scattered all over the place, but lets not forget that important cup of tea on the table. It seems that there were no seats available, as the artist was sat on the floor. She seemed to be so busy in what she she was doing, that she wasn't aware that I was standing at the giant window, but just looked up as I was taking the shot.

Gadgets

This is Manchester based electro band Shield Patterns, who played at the Contemporary on Saturday night.

I really went to see the support band who I like called One Girl One Boy, but stayed to listen to this duo, and thought they were very good.

They played in almost darkness, except for a couple of red lights, so I thought it would look better as a black & white.

Abstract Art

This is part of the Contemporary art gallery wall, but I have twisted it round to give it more of an arty look. Especially with a perfectly blue sky.

Follow The Arrow

Two new exhibitions have just opened at the Contemporary. One is about the work of Geoffrey Black; a Canadian artist who seems to make work out of rubbish, and Asco, a group of American artists who got together in the early 70s and who made some strange photographs.

So too very different but similarly odd forms of art. Not really to my taste. But I was interested in the fact that one of the big windows had been completely blacked out, except for a couple of peep holes, where you got an idea of what was going on inside.

I noticed that a lot of people had looked through the 'eyes' and had left their imprint of their foreheads and noses, so it looks exactly like a face, who's wearing an unusual hat.

Head And Shoulders Above The Rest

Besides the Daleks, the biggest foe of the Doctor is the Cybermen.  Those seven foot unemotional androids who shout "delete" as they shoot anything that stands in their way to domination of the universe.

They first made their appearance in 1966, and have been appearing on and off since then. A little curious fact is that they battled every doctor except Jon Pertwee. Which sadly makes only the Daleks to face each of the eleven variations of the Timelord.

I went to the Contemporary today, as their latest exhibition has just opened.It's called "The Universal Addressibility of Dumb Things".  A rather pompous title for a exhibition if I've ever heard one.

Still what was on show, is a bit better than some that's been on lately. I was therefore surprised to see the head of a Cyberman as an exhibit.  After I took the photo, I was told off, as apparently this time you couldn't take pictures, due to some complex copyright problem between the exhibitors. This is a great shame, as I wanted to take a shot of a giant 30ft Felix, that was also on show. I feel a sneaky pic adventure coming on.

Stone Age Fashion

I popped over to the Contemporary today as they have a new exhibition on now and I've not been to see it yet.

This costume is by Italian artist Piero Gilardi who was involved in an art movement of 'poor art' or Arte Povera, as they say in Italian.

I'm not sure whether anyone would want to wear this outfit, even though the stones aren't real; tI think hey are made of some sort of sponge.

Lines

After so many events and places that we've been to over the past few weeks, I thought I would slow the mood down a touch with a little bit of street photography.

I haven't really done that much photography on the streets of Nottingham recently, even though I go out walking around the city centre every lunchtime. It's just that I don't really see anything that's worth taking. Or I'm just not quick enough.

But I did spot this girl propped up against the wall of the Contemporary arts centre, and thought it would make an interesting shot, with the various vertical and horizontal lines, with the mirrored effect of the girls' legs.