Red Alert
The final batch of pictures are back from our Cthulhu snapper Linda Matthew and this one group shot looks like a Dynasty-line up for a new medical drama. I'm calling it 'Red Alert', where the living and the undead work side-by-side to salvage and despatch souls that stagger into their emergency room - or their bed. Form an orderly queue! In repeat syndication on a cable channel in your area soon.
Did you do Cthulhu?
photo: Linda Matthew
We set the bar high with Blood Tea and I wasn't sure we could match it - at least not in volume of free-flowing alcoholic juju - but by crikey almighty, we did! The first pictures are back from our talented snapper Linda and they capture what was a brilliant group effort during Arkham Sanitarium's open evening for our expanded screening of The Call of Cthulhu. From Kev's extraterrestrial idol (actually modelling clay and spray paint rolled in dirt) to the moans and insane mutterings of The Dungeonettes, we sipped orange vodka from urine pots and scoffed enough Jelly Belly prescription beans to entice a sugar coma. But at least medical assistance was on hand!
photo: Linda Matthew
- photo: Linda Matthew
photo: Linda Matthew
photo: Linda Matthew
photo: Linda Matthew
photo: Linda Matthew
photo: Linda Matthew
Digital and Creative Futures
Kid Carpet
I've been producing an event on behalf of FutureEverything in partnership with Vision+Media as a follow-up to the extremely popular City Debate. Taking place on Thursday 1st July, the final few tickets for Digital and Creative Futures can be snapped up for no cost for anyone with an interest in cross-discipline discussion and ideas relating to the future of our cities, technological advancement and alternative methods by which we assess and interpret the world around us.
FutureEverything
Featuring Professor Steve Furber, Millennium Technology Prize Laureate and principal designer of the ubiquitous ARM 32-bit RISC microprocessor discussing 'The Relentless March of the Microchip', plus the political fist-of-thistles that is commentator and writer Gerry Hassan, addressing the dismal failure of ideologies: 'After the Century of Isms: What is the Future of the Future?' Kid Carpet will be providing an injection of kiddy punk upon poundshop instruments finishing off with a rapid-fire Unconference intended to tap into themes raised upon the day.
© Sosolimited: Prime Numerics
Installations on site will include the jaw-dropping beauty of Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir, Sosolimited's Prime Numerics mash-up of the final televised general election debate and Aaron Koblin's hand picked selection of the best in data visualisation. And all in the shadow of Salford's answer to Dubai, the emerging creative hub of Media City. Don't say I didn't tell you about it.
More tea, vicar?
Emma Rios
A mere glimpse of the super-fantastico illustration that Emma Rios has provided to adorn our doll's tea party at Inspace for Blood Tea And Red String. Finnish artist Sara Bjarland will also be contributing a piece to the projection screens: Blossom (2008) features brightly coloured carrier bags crumpled into balls which slowly unfurl to mimic flowers in time-lapse documentation, providing a complementary backdrop to our homemade soiree. Officially-cannot-wait.
Cosmic horrors
Simon Misra: The Sleeping God
With less than a week until my residency at Inspace begins I have spent far, far too long searching online for chocolate-dipped insects and clockwork bluebirds. Fortunately my call for artistic support didn't fall on deaf ears and I have an amazing line-up of contributors for both events. Wait until you see 'em! Blood Tea And Red String is now sold out, although it's still possible to sign up to the waiting list, while I suggest pleading with the gallery if you are truly desperate to attend.
Simon Misra: The Destroying Eye
Edinburgh-based prop maker Kevin Thornton, cupcake specialists Lizzie's Tea Party, make-up artist Jak Morgan, illustrator Emma Rios and the truly wonderful Magpie Market are on board for this one. Some of you will even be walking away with a handmade gruesome souvenir of the evening courtesy of our free raffle. Everyone loves a little flutter! Just be careful it's not still alive and flying in a kamikaze moth-like fashion toward your screaming maw.
Simon Misra: The Spider God
The images featured here are a preview of a Rorschach-inspired series of projection visuals by artist Simon Misra for our screening of The Call of Cthulhu. He'll be joined by artist Peter Adlington, winner of The Penguin Design Award 2009, as they help us turn Inspace into Arkham Asylum for the evening, blending medical efficiency with a sense of creeping unease. In a twist of serendipity, we're on the night after EIFF special event The Dunwich Horror, billed as the world's first audio horror movie if you fancy a Lovecraft double-bill!
Atmosphere
Christiane Cegavske: Blood Tea And Red String
It's all systems go (frantically mashes buttons of imaginary control panel) for a forthcoming collaborative project at the generous invitation of Mark Daniels at New Media Scotland and Inspace Gallery, Edinburgh. As part of official fringe activity for the Edinburgh International Film Festival, I'll be presenting two films with live, immersive elements as part of Atmosphere. Programmed in response to cinema auditoria built in the early 20th Century that used elaborate architecture, art and design to create a fantastical setting in which to watch a film, Inspace are re-imagining this concept using networks of sensors, algorithmic software and embedded art devices.
The Call of Cthulhu: copyright HPLHS
For this series I'll be proudly lifting the lid upon Christiane Cegavske's hauntingly beautiful stop-motion animation for adults - an astonishing 13 years in the making - Blood Tea And Red String (Saturday 19th June), accompanied by a vintage tea party. Alternately, Inspace will become Arkham Sanitarium for HP Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Thursday 24th June), filmed in Mythoscope to appropriate a vintage 1920s feel. Beware sleeping alien deities from the dawn of time! You should see how cranky they are when they wake up. Complementary medication will be provided.
For more on Atmosphere and to book your free tickets for these and other titles in the limited series (only 60 persons per individual screening), click here. Recently featured in The Skinny.