Eye Candy Festival of Popular Visual Culture is back for a second year and taking place in Birmingham. We’ve picked a load of our favourite artists and asked them to come and help us brighten up the Southside district of the city with newly commissioned works, events, films, talks and a very cool art fair on bikes. We’ve also got our own Mobile Vintage Cinema for the whole weekend and it is all FREE to attend.
EVENTS
Vintage Mobile Cinema (pictured above)
Hippodrome Square, Hurst Street
Friday 1st November: 12-8pm, Saturday November 2nd: 12-8pm, Sunday 3rd November: 11-4pm
The beautifully restored 1960’s Vintage Mobile Cinema comes to Eye Candy to showcase a series of free films, documentaries and animations about art and visual culture.
This is a chance to experience a unique slice of cinema and automotive history, which combines to give the audience an exciting film viewing experience unavailable anywhere else. The 22 seat movie theatre is in the sound treated, fully upholstered and climate controlled rear of the vehicle, with carefully tiered seating to ensure everyone gets maximum viewing pleasure.
Bicycle Basket Bazaar
Le Truc, The Arcadian, Ladywell Walk
Saturday 2nd November, 12pm-5pm
Curator Trevor Pitt has hand-picked a unique array of artists, illustrators and designers who will transform each of their bikes into an emporium of delights – kind of like an art fair meets car boot sale, but more compact and kinder to the environment.
The bazaar will take place in the convivial and lively atmosphere of the wonderful Le Truc where you can hang out with the artists and your get your hands on affordable original artworks and editions from this stellar line up: Jane Anderson, Stewart Easton, Meeno, Lizz Lunney, Husky Organic, Ben Javens, LumberJackJoe, Mini Moderns, Dawn Painter, Simon Peplow, Claire Scully, Keep and Share, Abject Records, Luke Thrush.
Est. 2006 by artist Bill Pollard, BBB is all about Bicycles, Creativity and Good Cheer.
The Culture Cart
The Arcadian & Hippodrome Square
Saturday 2nd November from 12pm-8pm
The Culture Cart is a pop up art workshop, gallery and space for creative dialogue. Hosted by an English gentleman on a vintage bicycle the hand crafted cart is a workshop on wheels that allows the public to create woodcut prints, bespoke postcards and greeting cards, as well as one off screen printed items. Every workshop is inspired by each bespoke event, and the historical and cultural heritage of every town they visit!
Tue 29/10, (time TBC)
Richard Kelger
Film Screening / Talk, BCU Parkside
Thu 31/10, 6pm-9pm
EYE CANDY Launch
Launch Party & Networking, Le Truc
RSVP at https://eyecandyfestival2013.eventbrite.com/
Sponsored by Red Stripe
Sun 3/11, 12-4pm
French Icons Live draw event, Le Truc
ARTIST COMMISSIONS
Here are some of the artists that have been commissioned to take part in the event this year. More to come…
Alicia Dubnyckyj, Centre City (Hill Street)
aliciadubnyckyj.com
Bringing instantly recognisable skylines to life Alicia’s distinctive cityscapes have been exhibited extensively throughout the UK, US and Europe and are held in private collections all over the world. The newly refurbished foyer at Centre City will be home to her latest specifically commissioned large-scale piece which visitors will be able to see at the beginning of December.
ANNA GARFORTH, Loft Lounge Car Park (Corner of Bromsgrove & Lower Essex Street)
annagarforth.co.uk
Unique inter-disciplinary designer Anna Garforth’s client list is one that many artists would understandably be envious of. Commissions have ranged from international magazines to brands like Converse and even political parties (her beautiful moss illustrations were used to promote a campaign for the Green Party). For Eye Candy Anna has been commissioned to present a new, large-scale piece of work that will be situated on the side of Wynner House.
BILLY IS ALEX, Fireside (Pershore Street)
billyandalex.com
Living between the UK and Germany the curiously named Billy is Alex makes vibrant works that certainly get noticed. Playful and fun Billy is Alex’s pieces adorn walls, shutters and hoardings throughout Europe. For Eye Candy Billy is Alex will present a piece of work on the front of the Fireside building.
JEREMYVILLE, Billboard (Fireside Car Park between Hurst Street and Pershore Street)
jeremyville.com
Spreading the love of his daily Community Service Announcements we’re delighted to have the wonderful Jeremyville take part again in the second Eye Candy event. This year we’re upscaling the size of his work to Billboard status. Whether at home in Bondai Beach or in his NYC downtown SoHo studio we bring a touch of Jeremyville to Birmingham for one weekend.
SAM PIERPOINT, Fireside (Claybrook Street side)
sampierpoint.com
Inspired by culture, travel and Mother Nature, Sam’s work encapsulates the beauty and serenity that the natural world offers. Working across different media (including shoes) she’s taking on a wall at Eye Candy to share her beautiful work to passers-by.
STINA JONES, Banana Leaf (Smallbrook Queensway)
stinajones.co.uk
Stina Jones is a freelance character illustrator from the West Midlands. Her imagery is as cute and fun as it is a little bit strange. For Eye Candy Stina will present a new piece of work on the window of the old Banana Leaf cafe.
TANKPETROL, Fisher & Ludlow (Lower Essex Street)
tankpetrol.com
After braving the cold wastelands of Poland, Tank decided to park up in Manchester with his weapons of choice: spraycans, stencils and his secret technique. Initially working on canvases, Tank found himself surrounded and influenced by graffiti and soon started to create work with street art elements, but a unique Tank flavor. Tank creates work inspired by women’s portraits, mixed with geometric shapes and animals.
Area Culture Guide 