15 February Culture events to keep you busy

Until 22 February
NICKLIN REVISITED
Reuben Colley Fine Art
During the 1950s & ‘60s University of Birmingham Geography tutor Phyllis Nicklin captured Birmingham at a time of massive change. Not only was the urban environment being significantly  transformed but new communities were changing the city’s demographic profile too.
In collaboration with Brumpic Reuben Colley Fine Art have invited a number of artists to produce work inspired by Nicklin’s photographs. The exhibition will feature paintings & drawings by Reuben Colley, Mark Godwin, Danny Howes (pictured above), Rick Garland, Horace Panter, Mark Lippett, Stephen Earl Rogers, Annette Pugh and Kevin Line.

5 February – 10 April
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2015
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
This world-renowned exhibition showcases 100 awe-inspiring images, featuring fascinating animal behaviour and breath-taking wild landscapes. Dive deep into the oceans, fly amongst the tree tops and journey across sand dunes discovering the variety of life this world has to offer.

7 February, 6 March, 11am – 5pm (and first Sunday of the month onwards)
MAC CRAFT MARKET
mac birmingham
An exclusive selection of products from local designer makers offering ceramics, jewellery, paintings and much more – it’s a great place to pick up original home and gift items.

9 & 10 February
MOTIONHOUSE: BROKEN
mac birmingham
Broken erupts onto the stage in an adrenaline-filled spectacle. Athletic contact work, spectacular acrobatics and a gripping narrative combine with a revolutionary set design and digital imagery that melds with the performers as they move. Tickets £22.

12 February, 11 March, 15 April, 7.30pm – 10.30pm
COVENTRY LATES
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
One night a month the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry opens their doors for an exciting evening of art, music, drinks, talks, performance and history inspired fun.

13 February, 12 March, 9 April, Saturdays 10.30am – 3.30pm
SKETCH COVENTRY
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
Join local urban sketchers in the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry Café for a day of sketching around Coventry city centre at this informal and supportive event.

14 February
VALENTINE MATINEE: BRIEF ENCOUNTER
The Lighthouse
Tickets £6.70 / £6.20 concessions £4.50 under 25s/students

15-20 February
CREATIVE WEEK IN THE MEAD GALLERY
Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre
In response to Gerard Byrne’s new exhibition, Coventry artist Jo Gane will curate the activities area in the Mead Gallery.

16 & 17 February
20 STORIES HIGH: THE BROKE N BEAT COLLECTIVE
mac birmingham
20 Stories High and Theatre-Rites join forces to create a unique mash up of hip-hop, theatre and puppetry bringing together 4 amazing artists: beat-boxer Hobbit, b-boy  LoGisTics, puppeteer Mohsen and, from the Midlands, singer/rapper Elektric, to form The Broke ‘N’ Beat Collective. Tickets £12.

16 February, 12–5pm
CAMERA OBSCURA FAMILY DROP-IN
Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre
FREE drop in event
Birmingham Obscura will be installed at Warwick Arts Centre, allowing participants a chance to explore a mechanical camera obscura with artists Pete Ashton and Jenny Duffin.

17 February, 1-3.30pm
PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY FAMILY WORKSHOP
Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre
Use recycled materials to construct a working pinhole camera in this workshop led by Jo Gane. £3, book in advance.

19 February
CHRIS MARTIN: THIS SHOW HAS A SOUNDTRACK
mac birmingham
Movies always have a soundtrack… so why can’t a stand up show? Join ‘one of the UK’s best observationalists’ (The Guardian) for a brand new stand-up show accompanied by its own original soundtrack. Tickets £10.

25 February
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: AS YOU LIKE IT
The Lighthouse & mac birmingham

25 February
DENADA DANCE: HAM & PASSION
mac birmingham
A gender-bending evening of seductive and provocative dance. Three short narrative works form this kitschy and filmic bill of contemporary dance with a very Spanish flavour – a true feast of meaty dance soaked in a salsa of passion.
Tickets £11 (£9).

26 February
AUSTENTATIOUS: AN IMPROVISED JANE AUSTEN NOVEL
mac birmingham
Undoubtedly one of the most talked-about shows on the UK comedy scene, Austentatious: is a comedy play spun in the inimitable style of Jane Austen – and based entirely on audience suggestions.
Tickets £15 (£13).

The Open Project @mac_birmingham

‘The Open Project’ invites artists of any age and art discipline to share their work this Summer at mac. Curating the art – making decisions about how the work is selected and displayed – will be the responsibility of emerging young creatives (aged 18-24 years) through mac birmingham’s Next Generation programme. They will have the enormous task of curating four exhibitions, leading to a final ‘salon’ exhibition’ where every piece of art will be revealed.

Valentine’s Day Inspriration

So, it’s the time of year when everyone gets dewy eyed and love struck – yes Valentine’s Day is coming. Not that we’re keen on falling in love with the ‘commercialism’ of it all but it’s good to have an extra excuse to party or wine and dine the ones we love, right? Here’s our pick of what to do, whether you’re coupled up or single and ready to mingle.

Unmythable @mac Birmingham 24th-25th July 2012

 

The greatest legends from Greek mythology come alive in a fast paced, daring re-awakening of some of the greatest stories ever told – perfect for the entire family.

Directed by Mike Tweddle, watch as the theatre transforms into the great ship The Argo and the audience become its crew. Join the young hero Jason and his Argonauts on-board as he sets off on his biggest mission yet – the quest for the Golden Fleece.

The Destroyers with support from Sheelanagig at mac, Birmingham

Birmingham based The Destroyers, accompanied by Sheelanagig, brought their distinctive blend of rock, folk and klezmer (everyone knows klezmer), along with many other genres, to the outdoor arena at the mac over the weekend in what was a sold out spectacle of sight and sound.

The outdoor arena at the mac, Birmingham, is one of the best-kept secrets and rare gems of the Birmingham music scene. Like an urban coliseum of irregular concrete (where seating pads are a must) the unique venue works to increase the theatricality and anticipation of any performance, not least that of two of the most charismatic bands working the folk scene today.

Anticurate want your ART

mac birmingham calls out for West Midland art
Open Day – Sat 9 Jul 2011, 11am – 6pm
Exhibitions – Wed 3 Aug – Sun 7 Sep 2011

This is your chance to get your work displayed in an exhibition at mac’s first floor gallery. On Saturday 9 July the venue will be transformed into an Antique Road Show style space where you can bring your art and pitch to a panel of anticurators.

REVIEW: MATMOS – mac, 15.5.11

Cluttered with wires and gadgets, the mac’s more ‘relaxed’ seated theatre had no time to prepare for the hysterical onset of spine-shivering lunacy. Making most people question their own sanity, John Wiese’s chaotic, industrial intensities examined the characteristics of a video nasty soundtrack, delving deeper into the grime of extreme distress.

Brilliantly Birmingham

Various venues throughout Birmingham

Until 9 January 2011

Don’t be fooled into thinking that Birmingham’s metal industries died in the Black Country Museum. Rusty coal shafts and enamelled roasting trays may be the prime features of our forgotten industries, but this ugly duckling saw many swans emerge from its tinkering in iron and steel.

mac opens this weekend

With the launch of mac this weekend we had a sneak preview of the building last week and we absolutely LOVE it!

Gorgeous artwork, great open spaces and an amazing opening weekend line-up ensures a fab time will be had by all visitors.

We had a chat with the woman who has been at the helm for some time now – Dorothy Wilson – here is what she had to say: