Update from Momentary Art Project

I am sorry I have been so remiss in not updating the Momentary Art Project blog, needless to say it is due to extreme buzy-ness for all concerned at MAP central.

Big day today for all at MAP at Lidl on Leasowe Road today as artwork from Wallasey School, now Kingsway Academy is being unveiled  at 2pm.  The Mayor and Mayoress will be there and the school are putting on a show. Apparently the weather is being kind with 22 degs forecast.

During the summer, two artworks were completed through assistence from Love Wirral with two local artists Breda Whyte and Fred Biddulph working with two local primary schools, New Brighton Primary and Mount Primary working on the themes of The Lighthouse and The Black Pearl. We thank The Light Cinema for their assistance. The artworks were reproduced on poly carbon and attached to the white art deco toilet block on Harrison Drive. This is part of a series of works that we hope to produce called "Brighten New Brighton". Two of our directors have financed another artwork for the Lifeguard Station nearby, with an artwork from John Christiansen, whom we have worked previously in his former role at Mosslands School. We are hoping in the very near future that a ceramic mosic will also be joining the art work on the toilet block.

In our unit, kindly offered to us by Neptune who have continued to give us support, we have had an ongoing programme of exhibitions, viewable from the pavement. Currently we have an exhibition from Wallasey School but this will be coming down in the next few days and will be followed by an exciting exhibition from The Black Pearl and all who play in her. This will in place throughout September and part of October and will be followed by an exhibition tying in with an Irish themed festival being organised by Jo of Calico. We hope to intice artists to create irish themed artwork (but more of this later).

Our Christmas exhibition will be another communal show that everyone can get involved in with 3d flat pack baubles, we are currently working on a template that you can download and submit your final artwork.

We are also working on two huge projects with United Utilities which will be tremendous if we pull it off. So wish us all the luck in the world and keep following us on facebook through our page Momentary Art Project on facebook and Friends group Friends of MAP and on Twitter MAP on Twitter

New Brighton, 1978 by Clare Kirwan

 

New Brighton, 1978

So easy to find myself there –

every hill led to the edge of land.

I’d freewheel without thinking

grey brown river. It meant nothing

to me, yet I sought it out –

it’s brackish solitude and always

the wind – sometimes a howl

you understand, sometimes a sob.

All the wrong way around. I was

too young for such nostalgia

but Seasons in the Sun

stirred up my teething soul.

Those were the days

of blue anorak, battered,

big glasses, briny,

bad hair tattered flags.

The prom was then, as now,

unlovely and all at right angles –

an expanse of pavement, lampposts,

railings, concrete wall, and then

the pirate fingertips of Irish Sea

hypnotizing, enticing me

to that churning horizon.

And going home seemed further

than the journey out had been.

So easy to find myself there,

then turning, realizing the wind

had been behind and pushing.

Head down, salted, gripping handlebars,

fighting back weather and inclination,

thirteen and against everything.

        

©  Clare Kirwan

From ‘Sculpted’ anthology of North West Poets to be launched in April
Click to go to Clare's own blog 

Moses came to Merseyside by Clare Kirwan

 

Moses came to Merseyside      

Moses came to Merseyside

and waved his magic staff.

It was his trademark trick and so

it always got a laugh.

He turned up at New Brighton,

and shouted from the beach:

I’m going to make the Mersey part

-  it’s only two quid each!

And Moses spake – at quite some length

though muffled by his beard

and people shuffled, keen to start

- that’s why they’d volunteered.

And all of them let out a gasp

when Moses raised his hand -

the waves receded, rolling back

til the river bed was… land.

The habitat was suddenly

more coastal than marine

from Egremont to Pier Head

- a long walk in between

On Fort Perch Rock, a crowd of folk

had gathered to observe

the faithful few traverse the gorge

- the ones who had the nerve.

And birds of prey on roof tops

looked down with greedy eyes

as they set out from New Brighton,

without compass or supplies.

Past rusty junk and sunken hulks

they shuffled on, quite stunned

to see  the bones of murdered men

and all we’ve jettisoned.

They turned to look at Wirral now

- how very small it seemed,

how very grey and far away -

but how Liverpool gleamed!

And how the Liver Buildings loomed

on cliffs that once were docks

now high above their heads – so far

they could not see the clocks

And Moses muttered something

his voice an utter blur

- so difficult to comprehend

through so much facial hair.

Some remarked how tired he looked

- his staff now seemed to quiver

and what’s that watery trickling sound?

and: Here comes the river!

And everybody for themselves

legged it to higher ground

they clung to ropes or climbed the walls.

Only a few were drowned.

This side is ace, the rest agreed,

(except the drugs and crime)

if there was a just a way for us

to come here all the time.

And so they built a tunnel

for they knew – without a doubt –

if they did it without Moses

they could get across for nowt.

But we all know that nothing’s free

- even a giant hole.

You can cross the Mersey any time

but the tunnel takes its toll.

So Wirral folk still stranded

on the river’s other side

still talk about the time that

Moses came to Merseyside.

And we all smile wistfully

when we think about how Moses

gets almost everywhere for free

while we pay through our noses.

After the Storm 19th Jan 5 to 7pm

Deadline for tender for Wallasey Storm tanks EXTENDED to noon on 20th of January 2014

MAP update

After a meeting this morning at the Light with Jane and Hayley and The Black Pearl crew, it was decided not to go ahead with the launch on Thursday and although the Winter Wonderland will materialise over a few days in the unit and into The Light, we will not do a launch on Thursday as previously advertised. 

We need to recuperate after the storm and build to a charity event in the New Year, which we hope you can be involved in. MAP did not get hit that badly, but as many of you know The Black Pearl and many businesses were affected by the storm last Thursday. The new event will be a celebration of the black pearl, surviving the storm and the relaunch of the ground floor cinemas at The Light...with a working title of "After the storm".

 

The evening will be a community event and a fundraiser - probably for the Black Pearl and ourselves, the Momentary Art Project (we are a community interest company with 7 voluntary directors) and maybe other. We hope to use one of the screens (with kind permission from The Light) to show footage from a previous storm with live music, and use the foyer space for more activities such as music and poetry. As yet a date has not been decided upon but we will be meeting again next week.

Feel free to get in touch if you want to get involved. 



Other news: Still looking for folks to tender for mural project...email MAProject@hotmail.co.uk

MAP directors Shaun and Liz managed to battle through and get some grant applications in to Love Wirral so fingers crossed and this is for an entirely different project...

We have many irons in the fire!

an Update from MAP for forthcoming shows and how to get involved

Dear Friends

"love the black pearl exhibition" will be open tomorrow (wednesday) from 11.45 til 12.45,  please come and see the photographs and paintings, inside in the daylight. The exhibition will run until the 8th of December and we hope to have other opportunities when the space will be viewable from inside before the end of the exhibition. Many of the artworks on display are for sale so feel free to ask for more information. Email MAProject@hotmail.co.uk

We are appealing for local artists of all ages to help create a magical seasonal exhibition in the heart of the resort.  “Winter Wonderland” is the title of the exhibition and MAP is asking local people to create individual snowflakes in shades of white, pale blue and silver - from recycled materials - to be hung in the MAP gallery space between SubWay and Starbucks. the Light Cinema will also play host to some of the snowflakes in their windows.

“Last year we asked residents to create sea creatures for our launch ‘Fish and Ships’ exhibition last December and they responded with enthusiasm, inventiveness, wit and artistic flair,” said MAP Chair Liz Byrne. “We are hoping that they will be equally inspired by the theme for this year’s Christmas exhibition.”

April Cheetham's contribution for Christmas Fish and Ships in 2012, our inagural show

Contributors should bring their snowflakes to the drop box which will be located in the foyer of The Light Cinema, anytime between this Wednesday afternoon and the 8th of December. Each snowflake should be packaged to prevent damge during collection and should have a parcel tag or gift tag with your name attached.

Local schools will be asked to contribute a wrapped box as a gift for New Brighton - a gift of joy, peace, happiness or whatever they feel New Brighton needs for the future.

The launch of the exhibition will coincide with a celebration at The Light Cinema with carols and local musicians on Thursday, 12th December in the early evening, times and details to be confirmed.The display will run until the middle of January. Artists will be able to collect their exhibits from the MAP unit on (Sunday 12th January 2014) between noon and 2pm.

We would also like to hear from experienced mural painters for a major project for Spring 2014 in the dips, a tender form is available on request and will also be posted here on the blog and facebook page. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAPmarinepoint/

We have an exciting programme begining to take form for 2014 and hope you will enjoy what is on offer in the next few months.

Best wishes from
all of us at MAP

Liz, Carl, Rose, Shaun, Jean, Andy and Alison

PS: Please feel free to forward to any interested parties. Many thanks.

MAP exhibition open tomorrow from 11.45-12.45 Wednesday and 1-3 Saturday

 

“love the black pearl”

The Momentary Art Project community interest company in conjunction with The Black Pearl team called for photographic images of our new Wirral icon, The Black Pearl, a driftwood boat that has captured the imagination of old and young on the beach between Egremont and New Brighton.

Anyone with an image of The Black Pearl was asked to submit for the Momentary Art Project exhibition “love the black pearl”. The ecclectic display is viewable from the 14th November in the window of the MAP Gallery, Unit 13, Marine Point (between Subway and Starbucks) in the Neptune development in New Brighton. We have arranged some times when we will open the unit this week

MAP exhibition open tomorrow Wednesday the 20th of November from 11.45-12.45  and 1-3 Saturday the 23rd of November.

 

Frank Lund of The Black Pearl said of the driftwood boat and the exhibition

 “When we started building the Black Pearl on a cold January weekend, she was the just the latest piece in the ongoing art project on the beach by Dalmorton Road slipway. We never expected the Pearl to last so long nor to become so loved within our community - and beyond. Over the months since that January day the Pearl has become an iconic image of New Brighton.

We often say that the Black Pearl is probably one of the most photographed subjects in the town and there is no doubt that the quality of these images and the frequency of their publication have contributed much to the fame and notoriety of the driftwood pirate ship.

Over the months, over the seasons, event by event, we have seen literally hundreds of wonderful Black Pearl images created by Wirral and Merseyside photographers and artists. But as image follows image the memory fades and it will be most rewarding to see so many of these moments in time gathered together, but briefly, in this exhibition. We, the many participants of the Black Pearl team, are certainly looking forward to this event.”

MAP was established as a CIC company in March 2013 to facilitate, encourage and enable arts in New Brighton. To find out more and  for times when the unit is open go to their blog

http://www.momentaryartproject.blogspot.co.uk/

or facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAPmarinepoint/

love the black pearl

"love the black pearl' is mid way through being assembled and we will launch it tomorrow night at the unit at 5.30pm, bring a strong torch as the unit is un-lit and we can explore the exhibits by torchlight...a novel solution to our situation but also useful as we hope to head to The Black Pearl itself  on the beach between New Brighton and Egremont. It seems only fitting to go and see her in all her glory by the light of many electric torches.

So please join us at Unit 13 between Subway and Starbucks at 5.30pm tomorrow, the 13th of November and then walk together (or drive and walk) to visit the old girl on the beach. Dress warm and be safe.

Closing of Wirral Pride of Place: 23rd of June 2013

 

WIRRAL PRIDE OF PLACE PROJECT 

The Caravan Gallery comes to New Brighton! 8^th - 23^rd JUNE

 

 

Momentary Art Project C.I.C will be opening the doors of their temporary unit in Neptune’s development at Marine Point , New Brighton to play host to The Caravan Gallery who will be transforming the empty space into a dynamic photography exhibition-cum-alternative visitor information centre exploring the identity of Wirral. A similar project is also underway in Liverpool.

The Caravan Gallery is a gallery in a caravan and mobile visual arts project set up in 2000 by Jan Williams and Chris Teasdale to take art to people and places other galleries might not easily reach. Their extensive photographic archive, publications and postcards document the reality and surreality of ‘the way we live today’. The artists have traveled thousands of miles and exhibited in hundreds of locations from supermarket car parks and contemporary art festivals to designer Paul Smith’s Space in Tokyo. Their exhibition Merseystyle: Photographs by The Caravan Gallery is currently on display at the new Museum of Liverpool and the caravan has been touring the area.

Alison Bailey Smith, one of 7 directors of the Momentary Art Project said, “Jan and Chris will initially set the scene with their own images of Wirral. They often photograph what we overlook or even ignore. In addition to their own photographs, other famous photographers - Martin Parr, Tom Wood and Ken Grant have agreed to contribute a local image to the Wirral Pride of Place Project. A selection of artists' books exploring the character of Merseyside resulting from a collaboration between students from Wirral Met College and Brigham Young University in Utah will also be on show in the space.

Visitors will be encouraged to add their own personal landmarks and observations to The People’s Map of Wirral and contribute Wirral-themed words and pictures to The People’s Wall. A creation area will be set up for people to make their own drawings, collages, postcards, souvenirs etc.

Local groups, societies and individuals are encouraged to bring along their Wirral-related creations and items for possible inclusion in the exhibition. These could include 2D and 3D artworks they have made themselves, poems, stories, photos, films, scrapbooks, old postcards, books and brochures, souvenirs, found objects and memorabilia. Items may be scanned and returned or kept until the end of the exhibition. Alternatively they can be donated to The Caravan Gallery archive. Some of the material collected may eventually appear in a commemorative publication.

The exhibition will not be completed until the final day so each will have a closing celebration where participants and visitors can admire the finished display.

WIRRAL PRIDE OF PLACE PROJECT 

Unit 7 (Momentary Art Project), Marine Point, New Brighton, Wirral CH45 2HZ

8 - 23 June, 12 - 6pm daily. The Caravan Gallery itself will be open daily outside the unit.

Launch event: Saturday 8 June, 6 - 8pm. Closing celebration: Sunday 23 June 12 - 6pm

Part of the LOOK/13 Liverpool International Photography Festival Parallel Programme

CONTACTS:

MERSEYSIDE PRIDE OF PLACE PROJECTS and THE CARAVAN GALLERY

For further information and images please contact Jan Williams or Chris Teasdale:

07808 160207 / admin@thecaravangallery.co.uk / www.thecaravangallery.co.uk

Facebook: The Caravan Gallery / Twitter: @thecaravangallery

Community Partner update: Poet Clare Kirwan

love new brighton - © Janine Pinion

Over the water

On this side wading birds line up

evenly spaced: the usual suspects.

Over the water, new towers rise

with metal fists to summon clouds

On this side, promenade centurions

patrol their battlements of water.

Over the water your turbines spin the wind

and windows twinkle like diamonds.

On this side we wave like abandoned aunties

you will not visit, who boast of your success.

Over the water all your new splendor

is a kind of puppetry suspended by cranes.

When I’m there I look back again to this side

when I’m here I look across to you

seagulls polka dot the sky over the water

and I’m lost, like them somewhere between the two

©  Clare Kirwan

 From ‘Sculpted’ anthology of North West Poets to be launched in April

Details of painting used to illustrate Clare's poem

7: Artist: Janine Pinion
Title: Wet sands at New Brighton
Medium: Watercolour

Janine Pinion
I’ve always lived by the sea, originally in Belfast and now in New Brighton. The tides rise and fall, changes in the coastal landscape happen slowly or overnight. I like the patterns left in the sands and the way light falls on them – bits of sky reflected in rivulets. I usually work in oils but over the past couple of years I’ve been photographing and painting the Wirral coast in watercolours. It presents so many aspects, from salt marsh to industrial docklands. I like the link to Ireland too.

 

love new brighton: 15th March to 25th April

Momentary Art Project: love new brighton

Artist: Helen Bennett

Title: Changing Tides

Medium: Mixed media

Price: £55

Impressions and expressions of New Brighton - old and new from local artists and residents will be on show in Marine Point, New Brighton in an exhibition called "love new brighton'. The window display of paintings, photography and craftwork will be on show from 15^th March to 25^th April in the Momentary Art Project unit (kindly loaned to MAP project by Neptune Developments). The 30 works were kindly selected by representatives of the surrounding businesses - from The Light Cinema, Brooklyn's, Chimchanga and Starbucks.

This is the 2nd exhibition at the Momentary Art Project, with new exhibitions planned following "love new brighton" as well as other secret projects, MAP is rapidly becoming a part of the art scene in Wirral. The Momentary Art Project is in the process of becoming a community interest company with 7 directors who volunteer their time, expertise and enthuisiasm to promote and exhibit art within the community of New Brighton encompassing both residents and visitors.

The artwork to the left is a submission by Helen Bennett, a local Designer and illustrator working in West Kirby, with a love of the drawn line, the natural world and the decorative arts. She said of her submission:-

"Living on the Wirral Coastline I am always inspired by our wonderful Wirral scenery especially our coastline and the power and drama of the changing tides. When considering my entry for Love New Brighton I wanted to express this appreciation with New Brighton's most iconic landmark. With rich jewel tones and a stylised swirling sea I hope you enjoy my mixed media piece 'Changing Tides'."

www.maprojectnewbrighton.weebly.com 
 http://www.momentaryartproject.blogspot.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAPmarinepoint
https://www.flickr.com/photos/93965456@N08/sets/72157632991385475/ 

Love New Brighton: the votes are in....

Yesterday, representatives of some of the surrounding businesses to our unit in Marine Point came to judge the artwork submitted for our latest exhibition. We wish to thank both the judges and all the entrants for their time.

30 pieces have been selected for the exhibition which we hope will be launched on Friday. Please watch here for updates on what we have got in store for you.



STOP PRESS
***********
Singing her jazz and blues will be local songstress Lilli Moore, delivering the words of wisdom and woe will be Clare Kirwan - poet of these parts and we are waiting to hear from one more star turn...all in The Light Cinema's comfy foyer.

We also heard from Brooklyn's restaurant that we will have a 20% discount for all joining us for our meal (drinks not included). So RSVP.

Carl's Angels

A lovely message of support from Carl Leckey MBE who had the idea for MAP

The MAP team working on the installation 

"As Doctor Martin Luther King said. "I had a dream that one day? Well, I had the dream and it became true when Danny from the Marine Point organisation agreed to my request for the use of an unoccupied unit in the new development. The dream could have become a nightmare as I didn't have a clue how to organise what I envisaged. But rescue was at hand in the guise of some wonderful artists and enthusiasts. With their expertise and and excellent planning combined with damned hard work the Momentary Art Project was born. The initial part of the project phase one consisting of a colourful window display is to be unveiled on Friday 14th December 1700hrs until 1800hrs in the unit between the Hungry Horse and Travel Lodge. Phase two will be unveiled in the New Year consiting of? Welll that is a big secret but be sure it will blow your socks off. Welcome one and all and thanks to the many participants that are making the exciting project possible.
Carl Leckey MBE. CF. FRSA."

Christmas Fish and Ships

Momentary Art Project (MAP) will be launched with a festive fishy themed installation this Friday 14th December Neptune’s Marine Point, New Brighton at 5pm. 

Colourful fish from Mosslands school

 
The seasonal ‘re-purposed’ seascape is currently being made from buoys, boats and buckets along with flippers, fins and fish.  Artists from around New Brighton, Wirral and Liverpool have been busily creating fish from recycled plastic and these will be displayed alongside fish made by the boys of local secondary school,  Mosslands. Each creation will have a tag with a Christmas message from the artist.

The outdoor launch will involve local performers: pianist, Taner Kemirtlek and rock band, Refrain and will start at 5pm with music in the auditorium (wet weather venue has been kindly offered by The Light Cinema). Brooklyn's Diner will also be playing host to local singer, Lilli Moore. The grand reveal will happen when the lights in the unit will be switched on at 5.30pm (between Hungry Horse and Travelodge). All welcome, wrap up warm as viewing is outside only.  In the spirit of ‘Christmas giving’ members of the public coming along to the launch are asked to bring gifts of packet and canned food which our special M.A.P Santa will happily receive and pass onto local food banks.

Momentary Arts Project is a new exciting community based organisation set up after local resident Carl Leckey MBE came up with the idea to use empty spaces to create art displays from and by the community. M.A.P will initially be based in vacant spaces in Neptune’s recently completed, Marine Point Development. M.A.P was set up to occupy vacant space within the development on a rent free basis until lettings are agreed and will continue once full tenancy is achieved. MAP has also arranged for a local artist to work with out of date posters to create Christmas decorations for The Light Cinema and hope to work with other businesses in the development and beyond.

Neptune, along with H&S Joinery have also donated materials to the community project, to enable us to create a start up display that will hopefully lead to further collaboration with local businesses and artists to create permanent exhibition space. Collection points for fins were set up with Veolia Environmental services at 3 local recycling sites, old diving gauges were contributed by Wirral Sports and Leisure and MDF were rescued from the fit-out for the latest restaurant to come into Marine Point.

Daniel Hynd from Neptune said: "We are delighted to be working with the Momentary Arts Project on this exciting new community concept. The group have some exciting ideas that will no doubt bring more visitors to New Brighton, and will create a location for local artists to show off their talents."

And we are delighted to be given this opportunity and this is just the begining!

From

Alison

For the Momentary Art Project

Our Walls

Walls created by John Earp with help.

Latest shots of John Earp's wall

 Friends of M.A.P (Momentary Art Project) New Brighton) · Taken at Marine Point · 

Made from boards donated by contractors at the Lido, paint from Neptune, wood from the Biennial courtsey of the Open Eye Gallery] and :the Bluecoat and help from Carol Ramsay and Wendy Williams

Eimear's fish

"here she is, Delores made from a rubber glove, stuffed and dressed with found fabrics, painted with left over gloss paint and refusing to dry! not quite complete, need to give her some lips but cannot proceed nor transport her till she decides to dry ;)"