Arts & Elbows

Pain in the Arts

2007-04-02T22:30:00.000+01:00

The latest installment courtesy of ECR-TV. Let me be the first to point out that the arson attack was actually in 2004. Doesn't time fly when you're waiting for the county council to do something?

The Last Resort

2007-03-14T19:27:00.000Z

As the sharper-eyed readers amongst you may have noticed I've not created entries for a while. Covering what is best opined as the "bright shining lie" that Arts Regeneration has proved to be is a fruitless pursuit. I will rarely make more written entries, but I will make more videos.
You can thank Eastcliff Richard for this new direction, his tax deductable donations to my beard and belly funds means I'll still be expressing a few honest opinions rather than wandering off to find more entertaining activities.

Off Season

2006-12-13T21:03:00.000Z

Despite Christmas Margate is as off-season as it can get at the moment with little of artistic merit going on. So time to sit back and watch humble me in a Video Nation short which the BBC invited me to do after that pleasant chap from BBC Kent did a piece on local blogs.
It's been quite edited and runs for under two minutes, but should interest the regular reader.
You can view this documentary gem by clicking here. Should you agree or disagree with the content and tone please leave a message on the BBC site, or here, or the generous could do both.

Revolution Saved

2006-11-28T21:02:00.000Z

Good news indeed for a unique facilty in Kent namely Revolution Skatepark, as they and their landlords Thanet Community Development Trust have managed to come to an agreement over the park's future. Regular reader may recall that TCDT originally intended to impose a whopping increase in rent, exceeding 200%, on the park and weren't interested in negotiating it. Meanwhile Dan Chapman, the man behind the park, was verging on stripping out the park and moving on.

With trenches dug deep it seemed just a matter of time before it would close, but thankfully one brave soul stepped into the no-man's land in between, in the shape of councillor Christopher Wells. Refreshingly neutral but also brightly aware of the value of the facility, he worked incredibly hard to overcome numerous hurdles starting with getting two furious sides to start talking again, many in between, but finally to deliver a solution agreeable to both sides.

The final agreement does sound as if it may have originated from the court of King Solomon, both parties had a surveyor in to estimate a rent in line with the current market, and then they split the difference and that is the new rent.

It's self evident to most residents that many councillors don't seem too involved with righting the wrongs we see from day to day, so how brightly brilliant to have Chris Wells show us all just how it should be done, turning disaster into a victory we might all enjoy. Well done him.

Exodus Exits

2006-11-17T21:36:00.000Z

Photo: Thierry Bal

They've finished shooting, packed their bags and have trundled off into the sunset, so goodbye to the Artangel team responsible for "Margate Exodus". Next they're off to an editing suite in deepest Soho to put the whole thing together. In the rather cute but unnecessary way that creative folk have they're still a little panicky about getting it to all fit into place, but there's few around here who doubt them.

Artangel co-director Michael Morris dropped me a sweet farewell email and asked me to pass on two things to you all. Firstly he'd like to thank us for having them and secondly more thanks for our support and enthusiasm for what they've endeavoured to do.

In addition he says he misses Margate already, and if you had anything to do with him you, like me, will know he means it. Margate misses them too, given that finally here was a project which was determined to include locals. How rich for A.A Gill to have dared to suggest they parachuted their project in here with no care for the town or it's locals, he obviously got it confused with the Turner debacle but wasn't paying enough attention to notice his mistake.

They'll be back of course, the film is be shown in three venues, namely Margate, London & New York. Good to see us ranked up there where we belong. The shows won't be until late summer next year, with the Channel Four screening some months later. A dreadfully long wait for all of us eager to see it, but there's a little something on the way to quench our cultural thirst. Channel 4 will be screening a documentary about the building and burning of Gormley's "Wasteman" at 8pm on the 2nd of December.

Acol Hits the Spot

2006-11-17T21:06:00.000Z

They're the friendliest art group around and never fail to stimulate so what a joy to be invited to the private opening of Acol Art Group's "November Show" this evening. The consistency of this group's work never fails to engage, the walls are jam packed with pictures and the prices are simply bargains. There's also the occasional surprise, this year it was Charles Smart who entered a picture of Elvis, very different from his usual and very strong landscapes but a delight none the less.

The atmosphere in the tiny village hall is welcoming verging on the chumly and reflects a way of life, the village way of life, which many villages lost long ago. This might explain why the group is so popular, there's no hint of artistic elitism, any attempt at "artspeak" would most likely be met with an outbreak of giggles, and most surprisingly there's no wordy justification for their existence. They just are, and they just do what they do, and they do it well.

They also know how to put on a good spread. I'm frequently whinging about the distinct lack of tea at art shows, for me there's little more civilised and sophisticated than a collection of good art which can be enjoyed with a cuppa in hand. The AAG not only manage to deliver a great brew, but the cup comes with a saucer too. Just when one might assume it couldn't get any better lo and behold it does in the form of some home baking, a cheesy scone with a magical savoury filling.

Although one of the best shows around it suffers from a short run, it's only open this weekend (18th & 19th November) so get thee there.

The Beat Goes On

2006-11-17T20:52:00.000Z

Following the success of his stunning ska night featuring Neville Staples, aka one of the Specials, Eli of the Qubar is following it up with another this time featuring "The Beat" as well the usual non-stop ska sound system. If Christmas wasn't close enough, good old Eli has managed to bring it forward a few days by staging it on the 22nd of December. Tickets are £12 each, limited because it's such a delightfully intimate venue and can be ordered by phoning 01843 571684. See you there.

Giles Goes Solo

2006-11-17T20:42:00.000Z

Local palette master and brush waver Anthony Giles has opened his solo show "Big Sky Exhibition" at the The David Burley Gallery in Birchington Library at the end of Alpha Road. It looks extremely promising but Giles is suffering slightly from the jitters, it being his first solo show leaving him feeling nakedly on show.
Can't see that he has much to worry about having, as he does, a good eye, a steady hand and a resulting collection of fine paintings. He'll be present at his show tomorrow (Saturday 18th) from 10.00am to around midday so a good opportunity to see both art and artist.

"Big Sky Exhibition" by Anthony Giles runs until 4th January 2007.

Art Guerillas in the Mist

2006-11-08T18:54:00.000Z

Picture the scene; an expensive space devoid of viewers for a few pieces of French art designed to take huge sums of local art funding out of the area for the benefit of anyone but local artists. Ironically the show is entitled "Unite" although that brave cry isn't extended locally, with most alienated from funding rather than united with it.

Suddenly from nowhere there's two musicians filling the space with sound, and a reporter and photographer from the Gazunder watching them. The trumpet player plays an ode to lost opportunities.

The guitarist takes the spotlit but otherwise empty stage. He's clearly breaking all the rules in becoming the first local artist to perform in this space.

He wanders around playing as one of the staff makes a hurried call to management, while the other puts out a priority call on the "shop safe" radio system. Priority calls are meant to be reserved for robberies, assaults or other serious crimes. For some reason musicians playing in a Turner Contemporary venue is rated as criminal, interesting when most locals consider how the millions wasted by the Turner Centre as a greater crime by far.

Ejected onto the street and greeted by the Community Wardens who seem bemused by the whole thing. Although one of them is convinced that for me to take photographs on the public highway is an offence. Despite having been warned I continue to exercise my rights as a free man although apparently this is a serious breach of "Human Rights" and this point is stressed aggressively.

Having surpressed her apoplexy the management find time to talk to a journalist from the Gazette. The reporter was far from impressed with being told her photographer was also breaking the law, and being versed in the legal liabilities of journalism wasn't having any of it.
It did beg the question "What are they trying to hide?".

Finally Turner Centre management face those dastardly criminals, internationally reknowned musicians Mark Hewins and Jim Dvorjack protesting at the one-way flow of arts funding out of the area and the lack of inclusion for local artists.
This gentle protest revealled more than local disaffection, it showed just how much the Turner loathes locals, local talent or anything that might question the construction of their highly profitable, for them, ivory tower.

A cut above the rest

2006-11-08T18:18:00.000Z

The scissor-welding wizard above is James making the "Slug" look incredibly smart with seemingly little effort but tons of style. James has opened Harbour Barbers in Market Street a swish looking bastion of Gents styling, and judging by the cut he delivered a fine Barber to boot. He's also pleasantly chatty and without ever resorting to mentioning the footy.
Originally local he's spent the past couple of years touring around the country in a narrowboat which is fascinating to hear about despite him not being too sure who Fred Dibner is. Apparently life on a narrowboat leaves little time for television.
I'm off for a much needed trim this week and I advise you do the same should you need it, it's a welcome addition to the old town and the best of luck to him in this new venture.

Take your pic

2006-11-08T18:11:00.000Z

Thanet's most furiously active art gang, the Acol Arts Group, is holding another of their packed to the rafters exhibitions at Acol Village Hall, Acol Near Birchington on Saturday 18th Nov & Sunday 19th Nov, daily from 10am -4pm.
Expect the usual wide range of talent and at prices which means everyone can easily afford to take something away to grace their walls. A must see!

A Dish Fit for a King

2006-11-08T18:01:00.000Z

Say hello to Bill and Ildi a delightful couple who've opened a new shop in Market Street in Margate's old town specialising in all things satellite & television related. As well as having the bright new shop they've got a website you can visit to meet all your hi-tech entertainment needs. They got a wealth of well priced goodies, and years of experience so forget those out of town warehouses were no-one knows much about anything they sell and get thee here.
A big Margate welcome to both of them, and the very best of luck with their new venture.

I must go down to the sea again

2006-11-03T18:13:00.000Z

There's a cracking new show at the Old Town Gallery, Margate packed with a popular subject around here, namely seascapes by Ramsgate painter Peter Radmall. Although I've seen a few of his paintings before nothing prepared me for the scope of his talent as made obvious by this one man show, there's tight and highly detailed paintings, some with more of an impressionist flavour and others which verge on the abstract.
Radmall really has caught the light well in them all, if you're a local you'll actually be able to tell roughly what time some have been painted because the sunbeams are so incredibly accurate, so a morning caught in Ramsgate Harbour really does scream early morning, and another of Margate Harbour is most clearly a partially cloudy late afternoon.

Unsurprisingly these have already started to fly off the walls, half a dozen sold on the opening night alone. There's something fit here for everyone's walls so I suggest you wander down there and have a butchers, you're likely to be delighted.

"Seaside - Isle of Thanet Seascapes" runs until 23rd December 2006 at the Old Town Gallery, 1-3 Broad Street, Margate. For details of opening times or other information telephone 01843 225565 or email stephenroper@btconnect.com

Keeping it local

2006-11-03T18:05:00.000Z

Hardly the latest in news but worth mentioning in case you missed it. The hard working soul above is Tony who's taken over the Harbour Newsagents in Margate Parade following Geoff's departure after the sad loss of his wife.
Tony's been making improvements galore making it a more enjoyable experience to shop there, today I even managed to pick up a copy of "The Chap" to compliment my packet of Camels. It's a vital small local business which would benefit for your support, so consider using it.

Viddy thee well.

2006-11-02T18:25:00.000Z

As if having one stunningly brill film show last week wasn't enough, along comes another in the form of Talent Circle’s "Supershorts" film festival. It's the lads from Community Pharmacy Gallery again this time hosting a touring film show on Firday 3rd November. It's seventy minutes of the best entries for this year's festival, each of which is five minutes long.
Doors open at 7pm, screening starts at 8pm and as per usual entry is totally free.

Two Days Later results

2006-11-02T18:00:00.000Z

Was it me or did the old town of Margate have an eerie air of suspense and dread hanging over it on the evening of the 27th? It was as if Dr Frankenstein himself was entering the Bulls head and wasn’t that Count Dracula flapping into the Wig and Pen? Good job the witch finder general or ‘Barnacles Nigel’ as most folk know him was on hand to keep evil sprits at bay. So what could be more fitting than a celebration of all things ghoulish than the finals of the 2 Days Later horror film makers challenge. As I rounded the howling corner opposite the Community Pharmacy Gallery in Margate, for tonight’s tribute to all things George A Romero it was immediately obvious that this was the place to be. A gaggle of rummy young coves were outside eagerly discussing the B movie Matinee films which had been playing in the afternoon, as well they might as such was the popularity of this event that over three hours of films had been submitted. But I was here for the main event, the ever popular audience vote. A wonderful opportunity to watch the very best of the competition entries and cast your vote for a winner, like the X-factor but you get to be Sharon Osborne.

Now in its forth successive year it would be easy to dismiss the 2 Days Later competition event as ‘local’ however nothing could be further from the truth, with entries from as far a field as Newcastle, Portsmouth and Brighton. The prizes on offer covered everything you would expect from a film festival including best screen play, acting and sound design. The prizes themselves reflected the serious intent and ambition of all involved, these included a private screening of your film at a Soho preview theatre, entry to the prestigious ‘Raindance’ filmmaking seminars and a whole host of other goodies.
The marketing for this event was a spot on mix of knowing B movie references and cutting edge graphic design, so much so that the giant ‘film style’ posters advertising the event in the window of the community pharmacy gallery have been snapped up by passersby weeks before the event. A nice touch was the use of the front of the gallery as a comfy viewing zone with the addition of not one but two extra televisions due to the overspill from the main projection area.
In the world of short film festivals we can count ourselves very fortunate to have those Beeping Bush fellows on hand to put something like this together In Jolly old Margate. And you have to doff your cap admiringly to anyone who is able to host the evening while his husky dog, or should that be Cujo? takes a nap under the main screen. A stunning event enjoyed by many so make a date to join me for another spook-tacular evening in twelve months time.

Review courtesy of The 35mil-boy

2DL 2006 Competition Winners

Best Film
"I am a youtube.com snuff video maker" Alan Meades of Broadstairs

Best Popular Film
"I am a youtube.com snuff video maker" Alan Meades of Broadstairs

Most Popular Film "B" Movie
"Macabre" Russel Gomm of Herne Bay

Best Student Film
"9th Flaw" Fran Shine of Margate

Best Screenplay
"Chain Mail" Michael Jenkinson of Canterbury

Best Cinematography
"Crop" Jerome & Isobel Dutton of Nonington

Best Sound
"Sister" Michael Stokes of St. Peters

Best Editor
"Crop" Jerome & Isobel Dutton of Nonington

Best Special Effects
"Sister" Michael Stokes of St. Peters

A day in the life of a film star

2006-10-26T23:48:00.000+01:00

It's not every day you stumble across a man working around a charred skeleton in Margate, but fear not it just happened to be the very first thing seen having turned up to the filming of the "Exodus" project at the Dreamland site. My son, the Slug, had wanted to get involved and was invited to be an extra and him being just nine and three quarters meant I had to tag along to keep an eye on him.

So having parked and signed in at security it was into one of the disused parts of the once great theme park. We could tell we were in the right place by all the costumed and made up folk sitting around including two ragged looking youngsters entertaining themselves on a laptop.

Having let the right folk know we where there it was time for the main activity of the day for the talent known as extras, sitting around waiting. There was a brief flurry of activity in visiting the wardrobe department, and another when it was suggested that rather than just being a parent I could be an injured teacher in the day's scene, namely the bombing of a school. Well never one to turn down a hint of fun I jumped at the opportunity.

So relatively soon after I was made up by the delightful Sophie and Zoe. Some of the children in the scene were as young as four and five and as the first injured teachers wandered out of make-up there were a few startled and worried young faces. So they were all brought in to watch me being made to look as if I'd suffered from a bomb blast. It started with wide eyed wonder verging on horror from the youngest but eventually as I joked and chatted they soon realised it was just a grisly game.

Then it was the call to the set, where Penny, the highly talented director, set about explaining what was going to happen. She spent most time with the children, probably realising they were the most talented amongst us, and making sure they realised it was all make believe. Some paid more attention than others, the Slug seemingly paying least.

Then it was make-up for the children, with Slug ear-marked for quite extreme make-up as his boyish taste for guns and gore had been noted. Sophie and Zoe spent ages working on him, something he enjoyed, and the first example of just how much effort goes into film production for a relatively few minutes footage.

This handsome looking soul is a runner, so I was lucky to catch him standing still. He basically looked after us humble extras, tucking himself out of camera shot and giving us our cues to start moving. He explained what's going on as well as being a genuinely affable chap. He's working as a runner to fund his training, so one day he will be a fully qualified stuntman.

This is Lucy, it's hard to tell what her job title might be because she seems to have more than one job and actually does more running around than we saw the runner do. She wasn't sure about letting me take her photo because I've taken it before and not used it. Not one to disappoint a lady, here it is.

This is one of my fellow injured teachers, the only difference being he's actually a teacher. So should you know any pupils from the Marlowe Academy let them know there's one of their teachers involved. I can't imagine any of my teachers doing anything similar, shame on them.

The scene is set, the idea being the injured teachers and pupils stagger out of this charred doorway making sure they don't trip over anything. Doesn't look much but with the smoke, lights and acting all going it was a scary scene. Mostly we stood around waiting to be packed inside, then we waited a little longer to hear the cry of action.

On the other side of the camera are piles of production folk. It might look like they do very little but that's far from the case. The amount of effort put in for every second of film is staggering. After a whole day we'd done three takes, all of us staggering out of the school. I lumbered around like a large piece of ham, but Slug went down a storm, showing that watching lots of old war movies is an educational use of time. Director Penny congratulated him on his part and quite genuinely so, she said similar to me but she was just being nice.

Shooting finished and having all been badly injured there was little more to do than pose for a few photos amongst ourselves. Expect to see dear old Ben Kidger in the finished scene quite a bit as he seems to be a natural drama queen, and the cameras love that.

Having finished playing our humble roles we took the opportunity to wander around the Shanty Town set, which was more entertaining than the meagre funfair it contained in the summer.

It was also quite spooky, the level of detail is such as to suggest a real shanty town but there's no one there. Again the amount of work put in is staggering.

This is the main path leading to the immigration control gates, washing hangs from lines, stalls are laid out selling various tat worthless in the real world, and tiny hovels lean against each other.

Having signed our release forms it's time to go home. Slug's acting has been exhausted but he insisted on wearing the make-up home so he might terrify his mother, and who am I to deny him that honest pleasure?

Spooky Pooky

2006-10-26T00:06:00.000+01:00

This Saturday night sees one of Thanet's greatest annual creative events. In it's fourth year the "Two Days Later" film festival is based on a simple competition. Entrants are encouraged to make a short horror film in less than forty-eight hours, hence the title, and the films are all shown in one night with prizes dished out for the best.
This Saturday (28th) is the screening night and I can't recommend it highly enough, there's an incredible packed atmosphere which is rarely found at other art events. It's also a great chance to see just how much talent there is around here.
The whole wonderful thing takes place at the Community Pharmacy Gallery at 16 Market Place in Margate. Doors open at 7pm, with the screening starting at 8pm. For more details visit the 2 Days Later website. If you want a seat get there early.

Say "Bonjour" to Regeneration

2006-10-12T23:02:00.000+01:00

The reality of the "Continental Market" imposed upon Margate High Street is a less than clever combination of making the lower High Street look like there's a gas leak and the extension of the ghost town feel of the old town a few hundred yards more. Today hundreds of cars turned the corner from Marine Parade, paused at the ugly barrier and then drove away.

Where the parking bays have been suspended for the placing of stalls there's actually a line of white vans. So folks like us who pay both rates and additional fees for parking are forbidden from parking there while traders who make no contribution to the town are given "carte blanche" to park where they choose and free of charge too.

So should you ever try parking illegally, as these vans did because suspension of parking means exactly that, just produce a yellow piece of paper with the words "Continental Market Trader" on it. If it works for them surely it'll work for everyone else?

For some free parking in spacious bays just isn't good enough. So armed with the all powerful scrap of yellow paper some were free to park on double yellow lines. An attractive addition to the High Street I'm sure you'd agree.

A couple of businesses were allowed to have deliveries as usual but if you're not a bank but a trader who doesn't use security firms to move cash around you're stuck. Good to see the crew of one such armoured van find the whole situation hilarious, no where else would they see such a stupid way of doing things.

The lads at Warreners spent the entire day wondering just where all their customers had gone. Suggestions that this scheme was bringing more people into the town were met with responses which I prefer not to quote.

Meanwhile at Domino's they stood around wondering not just how customers are meant to drive up to order a pizza but also how they're meant to run a delivery service when access to their premises is so limited.

So there you have it, a scheme dreamt up to increase trade by closing roads and parking spaces which started on Thursday and looks set to damage trade all the way through to Saturday. Luckily because it's a Margate Town Partnership idea no one at Thanet District Council is lumbered with any responsibility, neither is anyone elected. It won't stop there though, they'll all be grinning inanely and nodding positively when they claim it was a massive success.

Sacre Bleu

2006-10-10T22:30:00.000+01:00

The latest Margate regeneration wheeze really takes the biscuit. As if spending £4.9 million on the old M&S premises to allow French artists to have a exhibition courtesy of the Contemporary Turner Centre wasn't enough, next the lower High Street is to be closed for a French Market.
Here we'll pay French traders to sell overpriced French produce on stalls set in front of local traders' premises, rates free of course. The parking spaces along the lower High Street which the businesses there depend on for both customers and deliveries will be unavailable and every stall holder will be given free parking in the few spaces left, while local traders still have to pay.
Just what is the thinking behind this? Could it be that tortourous schemes like this mean spending money, hiring people, lots of organising and therefore offers jobs for the boys paid rather well from the public purse? And why the French? Maybe fact finding trips to local traders aren't as much fun as continental jaunts and the bottles of wine likely to be picked up along the way.
A genuinely useful idea, such as free short-term parking in all the towns, would be simple to implement, wouldn't require employing people and would be cheaper. Of course it'd be hard to build an empire around simple and economically useful ideas, so it remains unlikely to ever happen.

A nice B&B by the seaside

2006-10-06T22:41:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year again when Britain's finest but most unlikely artistic duo share another show. There's Andy Baldwin who looks half Grizzly Adams and half Bigfoot, and Brian Bushell who's all Harpo Marx who link together the former's sculpture and the latter's painting into the most unlikely side by side show on earth.

Brian Bushell's paintings remain the same as they've always been - disguising themselves as over simplistic strokes on first view, almost childish in their naivity. On further peering they're as accurate as X-rays, as concise as Japanese calligraphy despite their being disguised as near meaningless dark vague forms.

Andy Bushell's sculpture is similarly perverse and deliberately so. Large hulks of machinery invented to meet a requirement of smaller scale. In an age of microchips designed to manage everything there's a liberating joy in having a half-ton rusting machine six feet tall designed to do nothing but go "tapperty-tap-tap" every ten minutes.

This heady combination results in a show of very enigmatic work, most viewers adore it but aren't sure just why that might be and the perversity behind that is part of it's appeal. Neither would dare to patronise the viewer with an explanation of what they do nor why they do it, and therein lies the appeal. While most contemporary artists are desperate to convey their deep and meaningful intent in the most earnest way Bushell and Baldwin aren't really bothered by any of that. They actually trust the viewer to make up their own mind.

Above is a fine example, it's a Water Megaphone designed to amplify the sound of water. You crank the handle, put your head in the megaphone end and "et voila!" the sound of water is amplified. There's no need to amplify the sound of water though, and least of all for a half ton machine with hand cranked pump to do that, but in the finest tradition of long forgotten Victorian science that's exactly what it does. Isambard K. Brunel would have adored it.

Similarly in paint here's a vaguely circular scrawl, it seems too hurried and simple to portray anything of worth. A closer view reveals the form of a dead cat so microscopically accurate as to defy more modern forms of recording. It's painting disguised as lazy daub, a subtle ploy to allow fans of painting and painters to appear to accept the lazy painting of the post-modernists.

Above is "One Ton Bell", a frankly ludicrous invention lost in the classified advertisements of nineteenth century editions of the "London Gazette". You can wheel it around and ring it, like a portable belfry. Like almost every other modern piece of sculptural art it will having you scratching your head trying to work out just what use this could be to man or beast, bar the woman who bought it. The female buyer lives in Venice and was looking for a way to call her husband home when he's mucking about about on the water in his boat. So unlike every other piece of contemporary sculpture, it has a function most appreciated by it's new owner.

Of course a newly opened show isn't all about the art contained therein. It gives the gallery owner the opportunity to impress everyone with his Bertie Wooster impersonations.

It also gives the gallery staff the chance to run around making sure everyone has a full glass.
As well as giving the local intelligentsia the opportunity to discuss rapid drinking techniques for consuming as much free wine as possible while doing a cracking impersonation of Janis Joplin.
The sole additional joy was meeting someone who played a Vogon in the Hitch-hikers movie, luckily most left before he started reciting poetry.

"Sound & Silence" by Andrew Baldwin and Brian Bushell runs at Gallery IOTA until 29th October. Click on the IOTA link on the left hand side for details.

A Bang and not a Whimper

2006-09-30T20:33:00.000+01:00

It's not often you get to see a piece of sculpture by Antony Gormley unless you're lucky enough to drive past his brilliant "Angel of the North" on the side of the A1. It's even rarer to have him come and build something in the middle of your town. Thanks to the Exodus project that's exactly what we've been treated to, and plenty more besides.

The events of today were part public performance, but also for filming scenes for the Exodus film, a modern retelling of the Exodus story. So happy are we to have them choose dear Margate for their project we willed them incredibly fine weather, and we got a chance to watch how television professionals go about their trade. This is both illuminating and confusing, we've no idea of their script, they film scenes out of sequence, and they rush around a lot and then wait seemingly for nothing. It remains fascinating to watch though.

So there's a Gormley sculpture, fake policemen, a pretend news crew and a rowdy on demand crowd waving placards for a right-wing leader who doesn't exist. It's an odd scenario but one which feels quite agreeable in our humble seaside town. We're used to illusion in the name of entertainment so it doesn't feel out of place to have such a modern version of it on the Dreamland site, in fact it's almost nostalgic.

Here we can see Pharaoh supporters cheering, they're not cheering anything in particular rather they've been instructed to do so for the cameras. Their cheers at directed at a space empty of anything bar a camera crew.

Here's Bernard Hill as the Pharaoh, a frightening role made even more worrying by his resemblance to George Galloway. He oozed charisma to the point of seeming to be exactly what he was playing. Oustanding especially as a lot of folk fondly remember him as Yosser Hughes in "Boys from the Blackstuff" way back in the eighties. He's the only professional actor in the cast though, everyone else has been recruited locally.

As evening fell there was an explosion at the very heart of the "Angel of the South".

A pall of smoke drifts across the thousands assembled to watch.

Our Angel burns brightly as the sun sets.

Until only the RSJs remain, then everyone wanders off to the pub. A bizarre once in a lifetime event widely enjoyed. By far the most engaging large scale arts project we've ever enjoyed here.

The French are Coming, and taking all the funding.

2006-09-30T01:07:00.000+01:00

The latest offering from the Turner Contemporary Centre; "Unite, IV Projects by French Artists" has a very simple premise, the French are much better at culture than us, so it's perfectly alright to use more Kentish funds to promote French culture over English culture at at no small expense. This includes a number of purile banners along the High Street cunningly disguised as high intellect, and at no small cost to Thanet ratepayers despite no similar promotion of anything else, especially not local culture.

So using the empty space that is the old Marks and Sparks for a show is an absolute wheeze, even if it means the council having to spend a fortune buying the place, and it becoming expensive venue number three for the Turner Contemporary Centre ten million quid down the line. The simple fact that the art on show is piss-poor in comparison to local talent is best not mentioned.

Sure its moody, and aye it's contemporary but it's also rather boring despite it's gallic flavour.

So it's time to wander off to the second expensive venue, the substation, surprisingly the art here is better. Not much but it's better.

However it remains foreign, and the talent therein is no greater than the local talent if it might ever be given the level of funding enjoyed by the French in Margate.

Look out there's a VIP venue. It's the Droit House, the original expensive venue , which has devolved to a simple buffet of outstanding food. Although the proles aren't meant to know of it, there's an incredible spread of great grub and little art. Watch Sam Thomas stuff his face, a great excuse for him to not answer any valid questions, and get well paid for it.

Outside Margate continues to go about it's business, unaware that after ten million quid the Turner managed to eventually lay on a great buffet.

Meanwhile in the pubs the art intelligensia discuss the nights proceeding in an up beat manner. They're hoping that the Turner might finally set it's sights on local talent, because French talent is dangerously close to being local despite the Turner crews' taste for anything but. Given the enormous funds from local pockets it might happen eventually, but if it doesn't could they have more of that ham and cheese please.

TOPs a Spinning

2006-09-26T18:53:00.000+01:00

Season of mists, dusky fruitfulness, and folk getting grumpy.
Oh to be in the Brown Jug with poets drunk on scrumpy.
They're busy writing and arranging more poetry events,
most live in houses, some bungalows, but they prefer to be intense.

Poetry Appreciation
Mrs Corby's Tearooms, York Street, Ramsgate
Saturdays, 11.00-13.00
7th October, 4th November, 2nd December, 6th January 2007, 3rd February 2007.

Poems Over the Sea
Smiths Court Hotel, 21-27 Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville
Wednesdays, 19.30-21.30
20th September, 18th October, 15th November, no December event, 17th January 2007, 21st February 2007.

Poetry Workshops
Mrs Corby's Tearooms, York Street, Ramsgate
Saturdays, 11.00-13.00
21st October, 18th November, 16th December, 20th January 2007, 17th February 2007.

Poems & Pints
Brown Jug, Dumpton Park, Ramsgate
Thursdays, 20.30-22.30
28th September, 26th October, 23rd November, no December event, 25th January 2007, 22nd February 2007.

Exodus in the news

2006-09-26T16:53:00.000+01:00

A piece about the Exodus project by Margate's greatest living writer Iain Aitch features in the Guardian today. It paints a rather grim portrait of the town as a whole, but sadly is reasonably accurate in doing so. Rather than have to buy a copy of the paper you can read it online by clicking here.

Biggles Bails Out

2006-09-25T22:09:00.000+01:00

"Biggles" Moore looks set to retire from blogging, no surprise really there's so many more interesting things one might do with one's time. Despite coming from the mainland Biggles established himself here as well as any local and led most of the Thanet bloggists into the heady world of daring to comment honestly on our humble community. Read the story in his own words here.

The Sound of Silence

2006-09-25T01:15:00.000+01:00

Nothing succeeds like failure, and there's a deafening roar of silent failure over the all-new Turner Centre. The plans for the latest building might be available for the end of the year, but judging by the consistant tardiness that's another deadline not likely to be realised. The most consistant feature of the new way is how Council leader Ezekiel mentions words connected to speed, haste or rapidity whenever questioned over the scheme by the press. The sorry part being the media doesn't question this, not even after almost a decade and £10 million down the line.
The re-opening of the Droit House in April never happened, and shows little sign of activity, rather than use that expensive space they've refitted the substation which they'll soon abandon, then we've have two expensive empty spaces.
The Turner's next jolly jape is an exhibition from France, for which they intend to erect sixteen banners along Margate High Street. The designs, sub-standard scribblings are on display at the planning office at Thanet District Council, oddly enough an O level art student would have them rejected, but they're apparently good enough for a planning application. Business as usual then.

All Wells that Ends Well - maybe.

2006-09-25T00:33:00.000+01:00

Councillor Chris Wells has stepped forward to help calm things over the likely closure of Revolution Skatepark and helped wrangle a three month extension to the park's lease in the hope of generating serious negotiation over the parks future.
It makes a refreshing change to report on a councillor helping with vital issues so full marks to the mature machinations of councillor Wells, it gives Revolution a chance to save their facility and hopefully saves the public from watching Thanet Community Development Trust show their true colours in aiming personal attacks against the owner Dan Chapman.
Unfortunately for the public interested in this story part of the extension deal is a gagging clause, so don't expect to hear much more about it anywhere until it's too late. This is convenient for TCDT who despite turning over funds in the millions feel the best way to serve the community is to go around doubling the rents of world-class community facilities, and acting petulantly should anyone dare to point out the error in their ways. It also prevents the management of Revolution seeking publicity for their Save our Skatepark campaign, so no more embaressing stories on the BBC. I imagine the TCDT are rubbing their hands together with glee over that one.

Beeb on Thanet Blogs

2006-09-24T23:48:00.000+01:00

The Beeb did a short feature on local blogs for Radio Kent, the most amusing part being Eastcliff Richard having his voice disguised and sounding like he does after a few sherberts. I however just sound bored, and it makes a change to hear Biggles without the drone of aircraft engines in the background. You can hear it via their website or just click here.

Stop your messin' around

2006-09-24T22:58:00.000+01:00

Neville Staples played the Sugar Lounge in Margate on Friday and tore the roof off in front of a club packed with overjoyed punters. After a few good hours of drinking, listening to a classic ska sound system and er, more drinking Neville finally bounced onto the stage. The temperature soared by twenty degrees as the stomping began to fondly remembered Special's tunes. The jubilant crowd had to be calmed by the end of the first number as Neville was in danger of being pulled from the stage and paraded on shoulders through the town.
Most of the crowd last saw Staples as part of the Specials when they played the Winter Gardens, their enthusiasm not dampened by the twenty-six years in between. His supporting band all looked younger than the time passed but boy did they know what they where doing. Staples actually looked younger than then and took no time to strip off his shirt to reveal a muscular torso, handy because he needed strong lungs to make himself heard above the crowd, all of whom sang along to every tune, even the occassional Fun Boy Three ones.
Having exhausted the songbook and the fans Neville left with the walls dripping with sweat and not a dry armpit in the house.

One of the interesting side effects of the evening was the bumping into chums from twenty years ago, probably all last seen in the days of Lords. Most were typically local skinheads of the old school, i.e; non-racist ska-loving Ben-Sherman wearing working class folk.

Depite commonly and wrongly being tarred as thugs the atmosphere was friendly, everyone called everyone else "mate", crowds parted for people to walk through, people smiled at each other as they had fun and there wasn't a hint of trouble.

Even the odd long haired hippy was welcomed so long as they left their kaftan at home.

Here's the man responsible for a night of two-tone joy, the ever wonderful Eli. Big Thanks Eli!

Freedom - the art of doing what you're told.

2006-09-24T22:48:00.000+01:00

The ruining of the excellent Margate library is going ahead despite what the locals might want. The mockery of public consultation is pictured above, including the plans. Note the plans are ready prior to asking the public anything. Armed with emotive and biased questions such as "Don't you think the building is too dull and drab for a modern library service?", "Wouldn't it be better to have a more modern space for the 21st century?", etc, it can only be a matter of weeks before the Council claim more excellence in whatever they do.
They've already made plans for relocating the library service to the old M&S, although they're keeping mum about the high costs. One additional worrying development is the shrinking of the gallery area and it's conversion into a "Children's Gallery", so say goodbye to the usual high quality annual calendar of shows. If that wasn't poor enough it looks like they'll hand management of the space over to Creative Partnership, or The Turner Crew. Both highly experienced in making cash from art in education projects while delivering rather dull shows.
Just who this whole mess is set to benefit isn't immediately apparent, but despite us the locals paying for the thing it's unlikely to be us.

Is this man a criminal?

2006-09-24T22:30:00.000+01:00

This is John X, he's been described as a vandal by the Gazette in one of those dramatic stories packed with scary terms like "gangs", "turf wars" and "vandalism". The reality behind his activities are more mundane and interesting, but that probably wouldn't terrify OAPs into never leaving their homes and it wouldn't sell as many papers.
Long suffering traders down at Arlington Arcade were getting fed up with how scruffy the area had become and how unwilling the property management firm were in making any repairs. So when one of them approached the firm and offered to have the entire area decorated free of charge they jumped at the offer.

So partly in the manner of devil's advocate, and partly appealing to the local youngsters sense of style he comissioned John X to decorate the entire arcade in graffiti style. Suddenly there was an upcry from the otherwise silent when the place looked a mess. This was followed by wild claims in the local rags linking this legal activity with acts of arson and other vandalism.
It might be that John X makes an easy target, he's a local artist commissioned to create some community art and couldn't afford to defence himself against libels. Meanwhile down at the harbour end of the front the £10 million quid arts fiasco continues and it's a safe bet that no wild accusation of fraud, or similar, will even be hinted at.

Moany Codger Department

2006-09-24T22:23:00.000+01:00

Aside from the unsavoury effect on town centres by the development of large out of town shopping warehouses there's another which is probably only noticed by those of us tearing down the fast lane towards Old Codgerville. What is it about these places which make so many think it's the best playground for your sprogs ever?

Come Fly with Me.

2006-09-24T22:14:00.000+01:00

The first film set in the world of WWI aviation for decades has finally got a distribution deal. "Flyboys" has opened in the U.S. and is set to open in the UK soon. You can see a large number of the props and vehicles over at Manston Air Museum, including the two aircraft pictured above. The interesting part about those two is they're flat, for setting up in the back of shots. There's several three dimensional aeroplanes inside though, including a large Gotha and a copy of the triplane made famous by the Red Baron.
Incredible value as well, anyone under sixteen gets in free, everyone else pays just a quid with the additional attraction of the totally free Spitfire and Hurricane Museum opposite.

Must Try Harder

2006-09-24T22:06:00.000+01:00

What happens when you mix two artists, a bunch of pupils and public funds? Not very much if the recently closed exhibition at the Outfitters Gallery is anything to judge by. The show consisted of taking photographs straight of the little wallet they give you in Boots and sticking them on the wall in a line.
Uninspired, uninspiring and unattended by viewers showing how wrong we might be when we thought burning tax quids in the name of art couldn't get more blatantly poor.

Bobs your Aunty

2006-09-24T21:59:00.000+01:00

Several Margate old town properties are starting to be opened as businesses. Old Town Tearooms has been converted into a hairdressers but oddly retains the tearooms signage, further down in Lombard Street there's another hairdressers opening, and in between is a new comic shop.
The best of luck to all three, may your customers be plenty.

We've got to get out of this place

2006-09-24T21:34:00.000+01:00

The Margate Exodus draws near, and despite the best efforts of a dedicated few is tending to reveal more a lack of community and a wasteland of regeneration via the arts. This won't slow the production an iota but is likely to give London folks a terrine full of horror tales very likely to make them look elsewhere for future projects.
The G.P's on the island have been rubbing their hands with glee at the profits they've managed to wrangle from the licences needed for the eighty plus extras who are under sixteen. For each needs to have parental consent, school consent and a letter from their doctor saying they're fit enough. To make life easier for hard pressed doctors Artangel prepared forms which could be filled in by parents and simply signed by the docs. Seeing an opportunity for some quick cash the doctors have refused to sign them insisting on writing letters, often just a single sentence, and charging anything from Â£15-Â£45 for each one.

Michael Morris, the man behind the whole project , has started getting emails, faxes and letters from concerned councillors because the project features a large burning structure of a man. Despite this having been a part of the plan all along the councillors seem to not talk amongst themselves nor to the council and have suddenly started complaining about it.
It's not just each other they don't talk to, Margate's greatest writer Iain Aitch was commissioned to write a piece for the Arts section of the Guardian about the project. Lots of interested parties were happy to talk to him about it with two worrying exceptions; the first being Kent County Council who responded politely to his press enquiry with a "We don't want to comment." and the not so polite response from Thanet District Council which was based on the simple press office tactic of not bothering to return the call.
There was a brief rumour that the old art rag "NeatNeatNeat" might be resurrected for a special Exodus edition, and after months of wrangling a fee was agreed only for the plug to be pulled within days when someone from head office phoned the folk behind it to say "We really can't afford it, would you do it for free?"

Fabric of Society Attacked

2006-09-24T21:25:00.000+01:00

Despite the Gazette's intriguing posters suggesting anti-haberdashery feeling last Friday, the actual story was less surreal. Although dressed as an example of rabid bigotry it does seem that the whole thing was more lads being lads than anything else. Picture this; a bunch of scallywags find themselves in possession of half a dozen eggs and came up with the juvenile wheeze of throwing them at people. Of the six thrown one struck a local who happened to be of the Islamic faith, this was leapt upon and transformed into one of those horror stories which helps no-one. We can only wait with baited breath to see what happens should someone of faith get a parking ticket and decides to claim victimhood so keenly.

Eli Knows Don't Argue

2006-08-23T19:48:00.000+01:00

Great news for the culture vultures amongst us. No it's not another over-priced and under stimulating contemporary art event - it's actually a revival of great art driven by Eli from the Qubar/Sugar Lounge. After playing out massive cuts of ska at carnival weekend and getting a hugely positive response from us locals he decided to put on a ska revival night. Of course originating from Coventry means he's not just playing a pile of Trojan tracks, rather he's gone and got Neville Staples (aka Neville from the Specials) to come and play down here. As many might recall this'll be the first time he's played down here since 1980 to a packed out stomping crowd at Margate Winter Gardens.
Now if you know the venue you'll realise just how intimate it is, and if you remember the Specials you'll know just how much loved they remain to this day, so what an outstanding gig it promises to be.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better there's more, future gigs will feature both the Beat and the Selector. Tickets are limited to around 250, so don't think you might just turn up on the night and wander in.
The gig is on Friday 22nd September, tickets are £12 and can be ordered by phoning 01843 571684. If you want to make an even better night out of it turn up really early and get some of their Jamaican food served up.

Witnesses Sought

2006-08-06T02:52:00.000+01:00

Anyone who might have witnessed an attempt by a gang of three white males to rob High Street jewellers "Bling Bling Bling" on Saturday evening are urged to come forward. The gang are wanted by police for questioning. Anyone who saw their bungled attempt or know of their whereabouts should contact Margate police on 01843 231055.

Fire in Margate

2006-08-05T22:08:00.000+01:00

There was a fire at the rear of businesses on Hawley Street this evening. Five fire engines attended and quickly brought the blaze under control. Too early to tell how much damage might have been done as Kent Fire and Rescue are still there dealing with it.

Carnival Spirit

2006-08-05T21:36:00.000+01:00

This weekend enjoys a combination of both Margate Carnival weekend and the Mayor's Festival and sunny weather. There's still another day of fun to come so if you're reading this Saturday night you might want to get down here for tomorrow. The Parade is packed with tables, music and rides for the sprogs.

There's a nifty flight simulator over by the still closed Droit House.

A continental market, well French, stretches along the harbour although with a loaf of bread costing three quid it's not as busy as it could be.

There's some massive inflatables in Marine Gardens.

The beach is pretty busy with around eight sound systems playing out to an eager audience.

A steel band drumming away by the Clock Tower.

A never ending supply of beer.

Watch out for the cars using the pavement as a road though. I'd like to see locals try to get away with this.

Promenade and slipways have become free parking. Another move locals wouldn't get away with.

Not forgetting the tons of litter strewn around.

Must Sea

2006-08-04T21:07:00.000+01:00

The idea of giving Ruth Cutler free rein to do anything is always a damned good idea given how she's one of the brightest artists the Island has. She's yet to disappoint and has been consistantly thrilling since the days when the only arts regeneration around was the wacky idea of saving the Castle Hotel in Ramsgate by turning it into an arts trust way back in the eighties. Predictably it became another dull conversion into flats.

To have Cutler curate a show in association with The Thanet Coast Project based around art influenced by the sea is automatically a damned good idea but also an experience which is warm, evocative and damply nostalgic. The warmth comes from the paintings ability to put the viewer right there on the beach with the sun beating down, it's evocative for both artist and viewer in how keenly a few dabs can convey this bay or that beach beyond any doubt. The damp nostalgia derives from how well we who live on the coast actually know it, nearly every viewpoint is recognisable and we could give directions on how to get there while recalling the taste of sea spray the time we were there last along with the occassional tale of tide, swell or the time Dave lost his left shoe.

Luckily for us Cutler has managed to assemble the great and the good to grace the walls with fine paintings. The catalogue reads like a Thanet edition of "Who's Talented"; Marriot, Smart, Rintoul, Buckey, Bushell, Powley-Kemp, Edwards, McTurk, Hughes, Samson, Day to name but half and of course the very special Ruth Cutler herself. There's some fresh talent as well, most notably Thelma Findlay whose five oils are spread over two places. Both spots come across as strong work from different artists, so how beautifly shocking to discover it's the same shiny soul.

Ruth Cutler's work continues to be exciting and fun, she's still concentrating on using a lot of found objects in her work and the result is a thrill touched by a hint of hoarding the old and the obsolete. There's a feel of archaeology to it but more modern, so old bakelite switches replace roman oil lamps, sea worn fragments of brick rather than mosiac tile and rusted metallic forms of forgotten function instead of bones. My meagre words can't get across how immediate and gripping her work is, so go and discover it for yourself.

The only negative to the whole show is how it only runs for a week, well eight days. That aside it's yet another "must-see" at IOTA which has almost become a cliche given how everytime they have a show on it's a stunner. It's a most welcome cliche though, especially at a time when the majority of arts funding goes elsewhere for cold shows lacking both heart and humanity.

"SeaArt 2006" curated by Ruth Cytler runs until Sunday 13th August at Gallery IOTA. For more information, call the gallery on 01843 853117 or click on the IOTA link on the left hand side of this web page.

Subtle Turner of Events

2006-08-02T19:42:00.000+01:00

Having appointed David Chipperfield as the latest architect for the incredibly slow but suddenly revamped Turner Centre scheme it's only natural for them to hold a meeting to update eager followers of the project. Unfortunately you'd have to be madly eager, or being paid to attend, to manage turning up tomorrow at 7.30am at Solutions Coffee Lounge in Margate High Street. Of course cash being short it'll cost you a fiver to get in as well.
It's the usual less-than-engaging approach from all involved although it'll be a unique chance to have marketing director John Haywood talk at you, and interesting to see what regen head honcho Sam "I'm not here to answer questions" Thomas makes of coming this far into town. You might not have heard about the meeting not least because careful efforts have been taken to invite folk at the very last moment. Could this be so that KCC et al might claim the locals are apathetic when offered the chance to go to meetings?
There could also be a chance to meet David Chipperfield, although given the poor track record for the whole regeneration agenda it might have been better to have given the job to David Copperfield, as a touch of magic could really help.

Viva La Revolution!

2006-07-28T21:05:00.000+01:00

Although I originally intended to build this blogarama to report on interesting developments in arts and regeneration it has fast become a collection of barely concealed problems. From Kent County Council spending £10 million on sweet fanny adams but shamelessly claiming excellence in delivering a new arts centre while nothing was built, via an artist happy to use imagery from the shoal for shameless promotional purposes to Thanet District Council's attempt to rob us of a brilliant library service and disguise it as an exercise in public consultancy. Each a despicable attempt at empire building at public cost and with scant regard for us, the public, who pay for it.
It brings me no pleasure at all to reveal this latest story in deliberate local uselessness, where a landlord is putting a worthy business beyond viability with a whopping rent increase in excess of 218%. Who could this evil landlord be? Some portfolio property speculator with no regard for community or public no doubt.
Wrong! The heartless landlord is Thanet Community Development Trust and the tenant under threat is Revolution Skatepark. Just how TCDT can continue to claim their "first priority is to improve Thanet for everyone who lives, works or visits here" while increasing Revolution's annual rent from £20,000 to £43,650 and thereby putting them out of business is highly questionable.
Here's an outstanding facility - one of the best of it's kind in the country, used by thousands of locals and visitors under threat from a well funded quango which spends around £2 million pounds a year.
TCDT remains unperturbed by their greed threatening seven full-time jobs, six part-time nor the five hundred visitors a week who enjoy the wide range of activities on offer. These aren't limited to skating or skateboarding, but also include climbing, BMX, scootering and offering safe equipment for sale. Venues to perform these activities are scarce in the UK as is the expertise to run them, so to have one right in the middle of Thanet is a fantastic opportunity for local youngsters to participate in something healthy, and legal, safely right on their doorstep.
It has taken years of hard work and determination to provide such a facility and as a result, Revolution have created one of the best extreme leisure facilities in Europe which is also known as being one of the safest and friendliest there is. What they provide is a unique, indoor, fully supervised facility aimed at everyone from toddlers to adults.
Faced with imminent closure and a wealthy quango unwilling to negotiate in any way the brave staff at Revolution have started an SOS, Save Our Skatepark, campaign. So if you'd like to keep a world class facility in our neighbourhood, or you're bored with mindless quangos ruining our community while being very well paid for it you might want to sign Revolution's online petition and get in touch to share your thoughts with the following people;
Councillors
leader@thanet.gov.uk Sandy Ezekiel (Leader of the Council)
jkirkpatrick@onetel.net Jeffrey Kirkpatrick (Chairman of the Council)
roger.latchford@btinternet.com Roger Latchford (Deputy Leader of the Council)
Thanet District Council telephone: 01843 577000
Members of Parliament
steveladyman@email.labour.org.uk Dr. Steve Ladyman (Labour MP for Thanet South)
enquiry@rogergale.co.uk Roger Gale (Conservative MP for Thanet North)
Thanet Community Development Trust Ltd (Trustees)
john.holmes@tcdt.org.uk (Chairman)
anne.lord@tcdt.org.uk (Vice Chairman)
teresa.birchley@tcdt.org.uk
richard.chapman@tcdt.org.uk
uwe.derksen@tcdt.org.uk
paul.dickinson@tcdt.org.uk
helen.jezequel@tcdt.org.uk
Thanet Community Development Trust Ltd (Directors)
keith.morris@tcdc.org.uk Keith Morris (Chief Executive)
keith.single@tcdc.org.uk Keith Single (Finance Director)
Telephone: 01843 282470

For the next development on this story click here.

Spot the Difference

2006-07-28T20:42:00.000+01:00

Thanet District Council's cunning plan to replace cleaning the streets with a poster campaign is going great guns. On the seaward side of Marine Drive are the inspirational and quite expensive for what they are "Margate is Beautiful" banners, and on the other side a fine collection of rubbish. Perhaps a cunning ploy to make visitors who normally reside in slums feel a little more at home.

New Pole Dancers

2006-07-28T20:35:00.000+01:00

The new local habit of feigning your commitment to regeneration by erecting scaffolding for weeks is quickening it's pace.
The quangotastic joint headquarters of the Turner Centre and Creative Partnerships on Margate Parade being the very latest to follow this fad at no small cost. For the growing numbers of sign spotters out there, no that road isn't closed, but it will be as soon as it gets really busy. Absolute power might corrupt absolutely but until then the powers that be will have to limit themselves to closing roads in a systematically disruptive manner, and erecting scaffolding shortly after completely refurbishing a building with public funds.

Eager Beaver

2006-07-28T20:30:00.000+01:00

Not much more to this entry than to show you a photo of Stephen Roper beavering away despite the heat in the small but perfectly formed Old Town Gallery in Margate. There's a fine collection of crafts and great art available here plus the bright and bushy tailed Neil Sparkes show is still running. Go visit.

Slacks Off - Our Trace On

2006-07-28T20:15:00.000+01:00

Wandered down to a test screening of "Donovan Slacks" at the Community Pharmacy Gallery but despite turning up early couldn't convince the director to pose for a quick photograph, and his suggestion that I sit around for a couple of hours for the chance of a possibility of maybe getting to use my camera wasn't exciting enough to consider seriously.
Rather than leave empty-handed I took a snap of the sculpture of Tracey Emin which has become resident there. Not as good as the real thing of course, very little is, but an interesting reminder of how happy she has been to talk to humble me , or any other local for that matter, while a new director is far too busy.

Road Closed Rage

2006-07-28T20:07:00.000+01:00

Sadly another example of road-closed-when-it's-not syndrome, this time where Market Street becomes Lombard Street. To the right is New Cross Street which is one way but as it stands you have motorists using it both ways, some obeying the diversion sign as seen above, others obeying the one way signs from the top end. No doubt this is excellent delivery from the Highways department at Kent County Council, should there be a collison or other accident as a result it'll be us, the local rates payers, who foot the bill for this rank incompetency.

Men at Work

2006-07-27T18:34:00.000+01:00

When is a road not closed? When it's Margate High Street of course. There's been a mite of confusion for folk driving up the High Street to be greeted by a "road ahead closed" sign. Despite the best efforts of many the High Street is not closed, the sign actually refers to a brief closure of New Street as part of the annual festival of closing vital streets during the busiest part of the year for non-vital work.
Thankfully New Street was only closed for the best part of a day, but the sign remains - probably as a message from the Gods of things to come.

Margate is Beautiful, but...

2006-07-27T18:18:00.000+01:00

The occassional sight of a dried puddle of blood and broken glass very likely has a stronger effect on visitors than a "please don't litter" poster campaign. Such a vision can be seen on Marine Drive, and does make many locals wonder why cash is spent on such a poster campaign while the streets get grubbier.
Maybe we've all got it wrong, and such scenes are actually a new wave of street art from Eastern Europe ironically commenting on the state of British Streets while paying homage to medieval communicatability in a post modern world which regenerates itself via acts of random violence. Adopting such a stance will allow KCC to write this all up as further excellence in delivering regeration to the town via Arts. Hurrah!

Arson About

2006-07-23T19:29:00.000+01:00

A summer weekend wouldn't be complete without some moron commiting a meaningless act of vandalism. Yesterday it was vehicular arson outside Queen's Court in Cliftonville. Thankfully the brave lads of Kent Fire & Rescue Service were there like a greased ferret down a shiny drainpipe and had everything under control quickly.

Palace of the Ice Cream

2006-07-23T19:12:00.000+01:00

Being the metropolitan types we are it was all aboard for a trip over to the award winning ice cream emporium called Morelli's over on Broadstairs' prom. If you've tastebuds and you're local you already know of the Morelli's grand reputation for making outstanding ice creams for generations, they've the certificates and silverware on display to prove it - if you're foolish enough to doubt them.
A single spoonful immediately removes any doubt that this is very likely the finest you'll ever find, and they have a stunning range of tongue chilling delights from a simple cornette to gondula shaped dishes stacked with a banana split and the ever spectacular Knickerbocker Glory. There's also the more usual coffee but delivered by a family who've been serving similar long before it became fashionable and with more style than Starbucks could ever dream of.

The Bells, the Bells

2006-07-23T19:02:00.000+01:00

Enlightening to bump into the campaigners for a Ramsgate Parish Council who although having been successful in getting over ten per cent of the electorate to sign their worthy petition continue to gather both signatures and support.
Additionally endearing was their town cryer who very kindly gave the slug a lesson in bell ringing, town crying and the correct way to wear a tricorn. Important lessons for a growing lad I'm sure you'll agree. Despite a worthy effort he wasn't a touch on the real thing of course.
Brilliant to see a local political campaign do so well, and be so enthusiastic in going about it, almost enough to make me want to move over to the millionaire's playground which Ramsgate has become.

Mention the War

2006-07-23T18:37:00.000+01:00

Just looking at a photograph of snow can be a climatic delight at the moment, although the image above could be tainted by it's content. Panic ye not, it's of a display at this week's "War & Peace" show at the Hop Farm down in the darkest recesses of west Kent. Every year this venue is packed with such displays, hundreds of trade stands and thousands of military enthusiasts. The displays are put together by re-enacting groups, also know as men playing soldiers, and generally have a world war two theme, one group even brings their own Tiger tank.
The group behind the snow bound wreck won many admirers although the group's organiser came in for a fair amount of flak from his partners in re-enactment. An eye for detail and period consistancy is de rigeur amongst them - so those setting up this frosty display were all turned out in Wehrmacht winter kit, perfect for invading the Russian Steppes but a challenge when working in a field in Kent on the hottest days of the year.

Everything about the show is as entertaining, with a massive effort put in by just about everyone bar the organisers. At forty-five quid for a family ticket it verges on the pricey, especially when that doesn't include any form of map. You can buy a map for four more quid, but who'd want to feed the money-grubbing motive behind that? It's a shame because it mars an otherwise exciting and historically educational event.

Don't be Shellfish

2006-07-23T18:29:00.000+01:00

Good to see an enterprising chippy in Northdown Road, Cliftonville has found their own unique solution to the cod shortage, and are offering it at a discounted price. No idea what it might taste like, should it become popular there's never likely to be a shortage locally.

Slacks On

2006-07-22T22:56:00.000+01:00

Thanet's very own home-grown feature film "Donovan Slacks" is being screened for the first time next week at the Community Pharmacy Gallery on Friday, 28th, at 7.30p.m. It's not an official premiere though more a test screening to see how well the months of editing might go down with an audience.
Here's an opportunity to see the current version, meet many of the cast and crew and enjoy the unique atmosphere which CPG serves up.
There's likely to be a further screening soon with the Thanet Film Society, but if you can't wait for either have a quick butchers at the web site for the film at www.donovanslacks.com.

Phew - what a scorcher!

2006-07-22T22:52:00.000+01:00

What with Thanet being hotter than Honduras, balmier than Bermuda and warmer than Wakiki everyone has finally started to skive off to go and enjoy the sun. So if you're stickier than a bun and still reading this it's time to wise up and go do something outside instead.

Fun in the Sun

2006-07-16T18:49:00.000+01:00

This year's Painting Challenge was blessed by a divine mix of talent and sunshine, the latter had an effect on the former but expectedly so. At times it was so hot as to dry the paint on brushes between palette and canvas. Quex House was it's usual impeccable self but the gardens were even more stunning than last year.
Equally as stunning was the broad spectrum of talent beavering away at a great selection of paintings. As one of the judges this didn't make it any easier this year than last, it almost sent me into socialistic spasms wanting to give a prize to everyone because each painting screamed worthy effort and stylish vigour.

The heat was so fierce some finished their paintings and dashed off for shade and sustenance.

While many sought shade under the wide selection of trees.

Others sowed themselves around the walled garden.

A couple of artists decided to sit around the front.

While one went so far as to go so far - out into a field.

All enjoyed the exquisite serenading in a baroque style from Thanet Concert Clarinets.

At the end of a long hot day it was smiles all round for this merry band of artists.

The winners today were -
Peter Day - Best Watercolour
Brian Ward - Best Oil
Tony Giles - Best Acylic
Tina Rowland - Best Mixed Media
Peter Day - Overall Winner & Best Painting
Brian Ward - Runner Up

A great day organised by the dedicated Mike Samson of Acol Art Group, full marks to him, the competitors and those nice folk at Quex for giving everyone the run of their grounds.

Big Sky Success

2006-07-15T18:54:00.000+01:00

The Big Sky Jazz Festival is going down a storm with locals and visitors alike. The parade is packed with the hep, the happening and the mildly inebriated as band after band take the stage to bless ears with their cool tunes.
To compliment the wide selection of jazz acts there's a wide selection of food and beverage available with waiter service at the tables set up across the Parade in full view of the stage, as well as all the usual cafes and bars.
If you're feeling left out, don't panic. There's another full day of events tomorrow, gigs all through the week and yet another day of free jazz next Saturday. For further details click here.

Hit Me With Your Rhythm Brush

2006-07-15T18:23:00.000+01:00

Neil Sparkes' show at Margate Old Town gallery is packed with sharp vibrancy and colourful vigour. It so perfectly reflects it's inspiration by Mexico City as to make viewers feel the sunshine on their backs. Included are some studies for work commissioned by Jah Wobble, how reassuring to see that Wobble knows a top artist when he sees one.

Sparkes doesn't limit his talents to painting, he has a new book of poetry being published by Billy Childish's Hangman Books this autumn, and is internationally known as a vocalist and percussionist with Indie dance band Transglobal Underground and world music pioneers Temple of Sound. As if that wasn't enough he was part of a performance by BoGaRaBoU this afternoon in the Market place and will be holding a drum Workshop with Ben Badoo tomorrow. All in all an exciting show and thankfully for us another must-see.

"The Rhythms Inside My Head" by Neil Sparkes runs at the Old Town Gallery until 14th August. Telephone 01843 225565 for details.

Pole-tastic

2006-07-15T18:02:00.000+01:00

Yes it's everyone's favourite Media Centre, which is in Margate but isn't a Media Centre, it's Margate Media Centre. Regular readers might remember this building being featured back in April, shortly after the scaffolding went up to repair the roof. The odd part being how this building had just been completely refurbished for £150k.
At roughly the same time across the road the scaffolding went up on a near derelict building and therein is the threefold surprise. Firstly the other building is almost completely finished, an interesting mix of restoration and modern expansion in a delicate shade of mint green. Secondly there's no change at the Media Centre, thirdly and less surprisingly the return phone call from the regeneration department in response to my enquiry about the addition cost of the roof repairs still hasn't happened. They must be dreadfully busy.

Cubism Revisited

2006-07-15T17:57:00.000+01:00

The new look of the fortnight old cubes in Margate Old Town has evolved into the perfect metaphor for the Turner Centre, aka colourful but empty boxes.

Ramsgate in Portrait

2006-07-14T20:02:00.000+01:00

The painter Lydia Bevan finishes her five month residency at Gallery IOTA with her delightful show "A Portrait of Ramsgate" which opened tonight. It's interesting partly because it's always thrilling to see a contemporary artist who dares to paint but also because Bevan appears to have captured the feel of Ramsgate down to a tee.

There's a deliberately drab flatness to everything which reflects the mundane feel of the town, backgrounds without enough enthusiasm for texture, individuals rendered in simple and few brush strokes, with only a few detailed points such as the irrepressible beauty of a seagull or waves. It's not a negative view, more the out of season winter blues which we, the locals, know so well.

Of course Gallery IOTA doesn't ever limit itself when it puts on a show, alongside this are pieces of photography, video and prose from "TRUTH[and]FICTION", a collaborative project between Lydia Bevan and Emma Leach which launched the Residency in March. There's also a series of artist's talks and performance to accompany the exhibition, details below.

· Saturday 22 July - Creative drawing, printing and stencil workshop from 11.00. All ages welcome and lunch is provided. Just bring along interesting photographs and objects, and plenty of enthusiasm!
· Sunday 23 July - 'Who is Brian Bushell?' A new performance by artist Emma Leach that builds on ideas explored throughout TRUTH[and]FICTION. It will be showing throughout the afternoon at 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00.
· Saturday 29th July - Open mic night with a B-B-Q and music from live DJ's, compered by Claire Haslam [UCCA Student Union President]. Everyone welcome, to listen or participate. Starts from 19.00. Bring your own beverages.
· Sunday 30 July - 'Lydia Bevan and Emma Leach in conversation', an open discussion about the work made during their Artists' Residency. Starts at 14.00

"A Portrait of Ramsgate" by Lydia Bevan at gallery IOTA runs until 30th July. For more information, call the gallery on 01843 853117 or click on IOTA link on the left hand side of this web page.

Unhealthy Developments

2006-07-11T00:07:00.000+01:00

News in last weeks Gazette about a plan to change the pavement layout at the bottom of the Margate High Street has left many traders fuming. Thanet District Council handily claim this is to calm speeding cars, which sounds reasonable of course. The fact is there aren't any speeding cars here, the corner is too sharp for anyone to speed through it and in the last decade there has only been two minor traffic accidents in this spot.
So what could be the reasoning behind such a move? Could it be a handy way to fund improvements via the highways budget to bring benefit to a business owned by a good chum of senior councillors? Surely not.
Thanet District Council does seem keen on developments which help certain businesses without ever considering doing anything to benefit them all across the board. Likewise with residents, many having to suffer discomfort for the gain of others.

Kill Bill... posters

2006-07-10T23:18:00.000+01:00

With so many folk trying so hard to make Margate High Street a viable and friendly place it's disheartening to see people deliberately try to make it look like a ghetto. Step forward the Canterbury Marxists who decided to fly-post the windows of every empty shop with a collection of posters for their rather dull events.
One such event was at Canterbury Environment Centre, whose sole interests seem to be the immediate environment of their posher neck of the woods, and not responding to messages left on their phone asking just why they're happy to flypost in Margate.
In the true style of the trendyista there was no such poster campaign in Canterbury, no doubt they didn't want to upset their parents perambulations between Fenwicks and Debenhams and risk a cut to their allowances.
Sadly some locals followed this pathetic trend, first Adams the childswear chain decided to promote their sale in this low class manner but being new to it their combination of blu-tac and sellotape meant many were blown away. Most surprising was the later addition of an event at Quex House, not really their style at all.
These empty shops are private property so no chance of the council removing them, they'll remain all summer giving visitors the worst possible view of the town and leaving a bad impression greater than the sum of paper and paste.

Abstract Solution

2006-07-10T23:13:00.000+01:00

There's a few interesting abstracts up on the walls of Solutions Coffee Lounge in Margate High Street. Not sure who the artist is but they're worth a gander while you lounge on a comfy sofa sipping at a fresh juice. Sadly my photos came out a little blurred but they're well done and it's interesting to see art freely viewable on walls without sizeable cash subsidies.

Quex Challenge

2006-07-10T21:41:00.000+01:00

Thanet's busiest art gang Acol Art Group are holding another of their rather brilliant Art Challenges in the grounds of Quex House this Sunday (16th July) from 10.30 - 4.00pm. Entry is open to all with a small fee of £5 payable and prizes for winners in media categories.
For the non-painters it's a fine chance to take in the wonderful Quex House and Museum with the added delight of watching artists take their pictures from blank surface to finished work. Last year over twenty entrants secreted themselves throughout the grounds producing a wide range of fine work. Many sat on the lawns facing Quex House, others tucked themselves away in the walled garden and not one ran for shelter when the rain clouds threatened.
The single downside is the judging, well one of the judges. For unfathomable reasons I've been invited to judge again, an honour of course, but against the combined talents I do feel incredibly under qualified.

Further details are available from Quex House on 01843 842168 or from AAG leader Mike Samson on 07764-626854.

England 'til we Die

2006-07-01T19:12:00.000+01:00

No words suffice, no lyrics sing, enough to joy our hearts to bring.

Cafe Society

2006-07-01T17:28:00.000+01:00

Angela's Cafe on the Parade, Margate is one of the few traditional cafes left around these parts. It's tiny premises continue to offer outstanding no nonsense grub, even offering a take away service for local businesses which includes plates and cutlery. A small detail but much better than plastic boxes.
It's often packed, partly because it's small but mainly because it serves great food at reasonable prices. If you're looking for great nosh and a friendly welcome this is the place to go.

Book Burning for Beginners

2006-07-01T17:04:00.000+01:00

How interesting to read in Thanet District Council's rag "Thanet Matters" a piece entitled "Serving you better" which suggests that borrowing books isn't what folk really expect from a library. On a roll it goes further to claim what we actually want is a community library we can all be proud of. Pulling back from using those dreaded words "public consultation" it tells of asking people for their ideas and people chatting to customers in both the council's reception and Margate library. It all sounds terribly exciting and progressive.
The reality is slightly different. TDC is tired of having us, the great unwashed, cluttering up the entrance to their offices especially when they're all suited, booted and guiding inward investors around. They've come up with the terrific wheeze of taking over a sizeable part of the existing library for dealing with the public, particularly those claiming Housing Benefit.

Prepare to say goodbye to the Gallery Area which has shown hundreds of great shows for decades, shelves of books and many other vital features of an outstanding service with the most dedicated staff you'll find in any county council service.
Decimating such a service openly is wrought with difficulties, hence the suggestion of consulting the public. Additionally they've employed the powerful management technique known to most as bullying. Members of staff have been threatened to prevent them revealing any details of this scheme. It's a done deal.
Little wonder the council spend so much money on publishing, both "Thanet Matters" and "The Isle" are handy media vehicles for them. Having editorial control means they can use our cash to mislead us at best or in the case of the library tell us carefully constructed fictional tales. Soon these works are likely to be the only fiction available to the public.

Whelk I Never

2006-07-01T16:57:00.000+01:00

The Mannings are a family with a long history, as pillars of Margate RNLI, local fishermen and fishmongers. A swallow might not a summer make but each year when they put their seafood stall atop the harbour slipway every local breathes a sigh of relief as it's a sure sign of long sunny days to come.
It's the place for the freshest seafood in town, but if you're after something more substantial it's just a short stroll to their fishmongers in the old town. Well worth a visit.

Cubism Comes to Town

2006-07-01T16:37:00.000+01:00

An odd set of erections decorate Margate old town this year, basically box frames with either something from a pound shop or a laminated A4 poster from bygone days in the centre of them. These are probably meant to reflect Margate old and new, the seaside heritage mixed with the cutting edge of Arts.

Sadly they're a trifle disappointing looking like a hurried combination of cheap materials but revealing in showing the local authorities desire to claim the cultural high ground without culture nor hill. The singular effect it has on folk passing is one of mild amusement.

This weekend some public participation took place and many of the goodies in the cubes were taken, maybe the budget will stretch to replacing them.

Call for Artists

2006-06-29T19:25:00.000+01:00

The really rather good Thanet Coast Project has docked with one of the Island's greatest artists Ruth Cutler to run an exhibition inspired by our beautiful coast. It will be held at IOTA from 5th - 13th August and entitled "SeaArt 2006", but the organisers would also like to show other artists who have work reflecting the shorelines.
It's good to see someone including local artists in their plans so any interested folk should get in touch with Naomi Biggs on 01843 577409 or email her via naomi.biggs@thanet.gov.uk.

Big Sky

2006-06-27T21:22:00.000+01:00

Thanet's brightest new idea lately has been the Margate Jazz Festival which first played to a wildly enthusiastic audience last year under the name "Jazz in the Sunset". This year it's called "The Big Sky jazz festival 2006" with an equally impressive line-up. It's likely to be heaving with hep-cats so any potential visitors might want to book ahead for the gigs which charge for entry, or get here very early for the free shows. Any visitors looking for the "Piazza" should note that it's called the Parade locally and is by the harbour. If your view of the lighthouse on the end of the pier roughly matches that in the picture above then you're in the right place.
The full Programme for the festival is;
Friday 14th July
John Dankworth, Cleo Laine & Friends; Winter Gardens 7.30pm; £16 - Tickets 01843 296111
Saturday 15th July
Mark Lockheart's Big Idea, Annie Whitehead Big Sky Quartet, Julian Siegel Quartet, Christine Tobin, Colin Town's Mask Septet; The Piazza from 2pm; Free
BougaraBou; Market Place 3.00pm; Free
Light of the World; QuBar 10.30pm; £7 - Tickets 01843 571684
Sunday 16th July
Soothsayers Big Band, The Stan Tracey Quartet, Hkippers, Paul Booth's Harbour Jazz Orchestra, Liane Carroll & Ian Shaw Duo; The Piazza from 2pm; Free
Drum Workshop; Market Place 3.00pm; Free
Estelle Kokot; Newby's 7.30pm; £3 - Tickets 01843 292888
Tuesday 18th July
John Etheridge; Wig & Pen 7.30pm; Free
Wednesday 19th July
Carol Grimes; Impressions 7.30pm; £5 - Tickets 01843 227610
Thursday 20th July
Sosax; Cafe G 7.30pm; £7.50 - Tickets 01843 225600
Friday 21st July
Paul Booth & Friends; Smiths Court Hotel 7.30pm; - Dinner Bookings 01843 222310
Saturday 22nd July
Barb Jungr; The Harbour Cafe Bar 7.30pm; £6 - Tickets 01843 290110

Castles in the Sand

2006-06-27T19:06:00.000+01:00

Another bright day enjoyed by many including the builder of the most delightful replica of the Tower of London as pictured above. No it's not the annual beano for the English Trust, it's a model carted here by a crew of about half a dozen creative types shooting photographs for a Guardian colour supplement feature on places to visit with children.
The crew were determined to enjoy themselves, they even brought their own table with them on which they piled drinks and snacks. Hopefully this pleasant day out on the main sands will be reflected in the feature bringing much deserved publicity to the town. They believed it would be published this Saturday.

Joined Up Finking

2006-06-27T18:56:00.000+01:00

Thanet District Council is about to announce it's stunning plans to convert the old Marks and Spencers building in Margate into a mix of indoor market, office space and workshops. Here public funds will be used to offer cheap rents to folk to allow them to compete with the traders who stayed loyal to the town, with money from those very same trader's rates.
The indoor market is likely to feature stalls selling goods already available in the town, but with a competitive edge which isn't offered to any of those already here.
The oddest part of all is taking a large building and converting it into multiple mini-premises while the eleven year wait for the Turner Gallery, a large building, shows no sign of a single brick being mortared to another. It does lead to the question; Why would the Turner Centre be a success built on empty land by the harbour, but not here?

All New - Now Open

2006-06-27T18:30:00.000+01:00

An interesting sight greets visitors to Margate seafront this season, gone is the big wheel from the gap in the terrace after that fire but signs joyfully welcome one and all to the all new Dreamland Fun Park.

Down the slope we go to experience the "New Look"- excitement building with every pace.

The seafront entrance is locked shut, the arcades beyond in darkness. Fortunately there's clear signs pointing to the new entrance.

Just follow the yellow brick lines.

Watch out for the kitchen waste and water "feature".

Through the grand new gateway.

Turn right before you get to the big blue bins.

Not far to go now!

Under the scenic railway with it's wide range of empty stalls.

Oh, it's closed.

Artspeak in 12 Easy Lessons

2006-06-27T00:37:00.000+01:00

The most significant effect of funding arts from the public purse is not the great works it has commissioned rather it's unquantifiable but undeniable disfigurement of contemporary art in the minds of the public including many truly talented artists.
This is not a shocking development once you recognise how this new style of patronage is no more about art, artists or the public than it is about potatoes or soft fluffy kittens. It's a uniquely profitable opportunity for the non-creative and unartistic to build empires founded on management techniques disguised as high snobbery.
This disguise serves a stereo purpose, in one channel it proposes an connection to the elitism of high culture, in the other it suggests incredible intellect. The first wrongly implies membership of a cultural elite, arts managers are effectively no different from supermarket managers except most skillfully avoid delivering value for money, or decent levels of service. The latter is a more cunning ploy, an automatic denial of criticism because if one doesn't agree then one must simply be stupid.
The evolution of the Orwellian tongue known as Artspeak is a glowing example of all this. It's a deliberate attempt to obscure rather than illuminate in the style of a masonic handshake. If you rub the end of your chin and opine a "Hmmmm, I see..." you're in, but should you dare to apply critical thought you're simply not one of them.
Another shining example is when you see a piece of contemporary art with an A4 piece of paper of explanation on the wall next to it. This anti-communication is deliberate, it paves the way towards funding, not least because the government has a taste for art which says nothing, offends no-one and which won't encourage any form of meaningful thought. They adore the idea of reducing art to decoration for a self appointed elitist clique, artists to funded chums, and keeping the oiks out of their pristine galleries.
The only mildly inconvenient part is how us, the oiks, are the ones paying for it, but thankfully for those enthroned simply showing dreadfully poor and irrelevent art keeps us away rather effectively.

Crate Work if you can get it.

2006-06-26T23:18:00.000+01:00

Tucked away behind KFC in Margate High Street is Bilton Square, the old works there have been fully revamped thanks to a £100,000 grant from Arts Council England South East and a further £115,000 from the East Kent Partnership. The organisation behind it are called Crate, an art group you're unlikely to have heard of because their biggest project thus far has been securing the cash to buy and refurbish this building.
The Arts Council has very stringent rules about funding new groups, you can't just form one and expect a cheque in the post. So just how did a new group, which appears to have done nothing else, manage to gain almost a quarter of a million quid?

Lonely Artist Seeks Funds

2006-06-26T22:17:00.000+01:00

One of the most irritating features of our local Arts Regeneration, aside from the lack of either arts or regeneration, is the deliberate but subtle bullying of local talent into silence. Picture the sorry scenario; A massive arts project with public funds is announced, "Hurrah!" cry all the local artists, off they trot with portfolios and schemes only to be skillfully rejected with a cunning additional "Try again next year". With the patience only artists possess they wait, try again only to be procrastinated into further dull edged apathy.
Now all these artists are after is a couple of thousand pounds here and there, for a show of this or a commission of that. In the grand scheme of things it's the crumbs from the art table. Unsurprisingly those in control know this, but rather than use some small part of their public purse to encourage art activity they find it suits them better to deny it. This way they can keep hundreds of souls on tenderhooks, and silence any criticism.
Not a week goes by without me hearing another sorry tale of talent denied by manipulative management, each prefixed and suffixed with a plea for me to keep mum about it. For these artists know how a single whisper of dissent will get them entered into the naughty book, and taint not just their chances forever- but also those of anyone who might be associated with them. Meanwhile the schemes of those connected with the inner circle are fast-tracked through, in part to keep the buckets of cash flowing but also to maintain the back-patting circle modern art has fast become. Hardly surprising when all those earning smile broadly and claim things have never been better.

They got Rhythm

2006-06-26T21:47:00.000+01:00

It's only fair to declare a bias towards the Rich Rhythms crew (pictured above) who a couple of years ago responded to my call for artists for a Tsunami relief artshow. On the opening night they blew away the assembled throng with their West African style drumming; a combination of perfect timing, incredible syncopation and dodgy trousers.
Led by charismatic charmer Richard Latham, who looks half krishna devotee and half euro gangster, they do more than stunning performances. They do a mean line in workshops, offer one to one tuition as well as drum services including tuning and re-skinning.
If you're looking for a bright but different performance, or would like to learn how to beat the skins properly look no further.

Rich Rhythms can be contacted on 07960 989246 or via richrhythms@hotmail.com

In England - now!

2006-06-26T20:49:00.000+01:00

There's a gentle joy to spotting so many flags of England around at the moment, enough to wonder why we don't fly them so high for all the days when there's no World Cup. Despite the fashionable urge for many to decry it's use it doesn't wash with most. Especially when no such negative conjecture is dared with the flags of Scotland and Wales.

Will any of our artists accurately reflect this healthy obsession? Hopefully so, because it's an interesting evolution and cheap to emulate by a quick visit to a pound shop. In the hope of sowing a small seed here's my effort in the style of Robert Browning;

That the lowest cars and the lorry windscreen labelled Keith,
Round the broomstick pole flys this humble leaf,
While the seagull picks black bin bag split,
In England - innit!

Get the Sack

2006-06-19T21:04:00.000+01:00

No this isn't an anti-employment piece, nor a way to get to see all the footy. It's a brief notice to all you foodies out there to let you know there's some great new potatoes available by the sackload at one of the farms along Haine Road. They're a bargain at five quid a bag, and having had some tonight "au gratin" I guarantee they're scrummy.

Air we go

2006-06-19T20:53:00.000+01:00

The Kent Air Show over the weekend was a jam-packed success bringing thousands to the area for the unique experience it has become. It's unlike any other airshow thanks to our chalk cliffs, none of that neck bending skywards gazing here, rather the spectators gather on the cliff tops and watch the fly-bys over the sea at a more comfortable eye level.
Good to see a simply good idea work so well, no massive budgets nor pretension, just a simple fun day out for the whole family. Full marks to all involved.

Less is More

2006-06-16T23:01:00.000+01:00

Yes less is more, more cash. To put it in clearer terms zero is most, much better than something. Something which doesn't happen isn't as good as something different which costs just as much. This is the level of doubletalk we have been sold for a mere £10 million. Despite the original plan to build a new gallery we have not seen a single brick laid, and as seen in the Gazette's detailed report (earlier story here) on the county council's report on itself it's all top-notch.
How interesting to read a quote from the Turner Centre's leader; "Turner is more than a building project." - when anyone with eyes can clearly see it's less than a building project, it's an expensive empty space with a large staff. Surely it's just a matter of time before many assume it's not so much a regeneration project as a bright shining lie electro-plated with a heavy layer of corruption lightly brushed with the dust of nepotism.
The saddest loss is to local artists who see little, if any, direct advantage in such an enormous increase in arts funding, and who are wrongly tainted as being part of the problem when they're as alienated from it all as the rest of us.
The real winners are the arts management crowd, and their artist chums from anywhere but around here. The cultural ambassadors scheme is a fine example of this, where Turner employees journey to Eastern Europe in search of bright new talent without ever considering doing the same in East Kent.
The spending spree doesn't end in Bulgaria, despite having been given the Droit House on the harbour, extending it with the "Droid House" and to refitting it twice it remains closed despite claims it would be open in April. Rather than put shows on there they've started to put them on at the substation in the High Street, but only after an extensive refit at no small cost.
Along with the current trend of public funded regeneration it may well have proved cheaper to simply buy all the properties in the old town and give them away. Or maybe that's what they're doing?

Elementary Answer

2006-06-16T20:22:00.000+01:00

Three hearty cheers! Following a total refit a new cafe, sorry - coffee lounge, will open tomorrow at the bottom of Margate High Street called Solutions. Aside from the obvious creation of great coffee it has a large television screen for sports, very comfy sofas, and computers with internet access. The result is a pleasant welcoming atmosphere and a much needed boost for this part of town.
It was obviously going to be good from the start, even the builders involved were cheerful and friendly and that positive attitude has been carried through to provide a glowing example of an old fashioned Margate welcome. The very best of luck to all involved.

Groucho Marxism

2006-06-16T19:38:00.001+01:00

The late great Groucho Marx said "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." and judging by Simon Morse's show opening at Gallery IOTA he feels pretty much the same way when it comes to Marxist politics.
His work is divided into two distinct halves, one satirical propoganda posters urging viewers to join the revolution by going down the pub and drunkenly discussing politics, the other life sized cardboard cut-outs in 19th century dress seemingly gathered for a grand circus which will never take place.
This enormous collection of work fills IOTA's delightful space, the volume is such as to suggest Morse probably doesn't have enough spare time to even breath. Refreshing to see an artist who can be judged not simply on his great style and playful content but also his incredible work rate.
Good also to see IOTA offer up another "must-see" show, they seem to have developed it beyond an enjoyable habit to a spectacular obsession.

"The Marxist Magicians: Half a Revolution" runs until 9th July. Phone Gallery IOTA on 01843 853117 for details or visit their website by clicking here.

Brightly Gothic

2006-06-15T20:50:00.000+01:00

Being given the opportunity to wander freely around the home of one of the world's finest architects isn't an everyday occurrence, so imagine my unbridled joy at having such a chance today. Having recognised our shared passion for outstanding buildings the folk at The Landmark Trust invited me along to their open day for the press at Pugin's masterful Grange atop Ramsgate's west cliffs.
What absolute delight was in store, gone are all the hasty additions of more recent years, no more lean-to sheds nor blistered maroon paint. The wild meadow appearance of the grounds has been reclaimed as fresh and formal garden, every path crunching underfoot - the gravel so clean as to suggest they wash it daily.

If you've peeked at the Grange from outside the flint walls you may have noticed what a limited view you get. How refreshingly bright to walk around and get a true sense of the design and scale. The exterior is understated with walls of plain yellow brick and simple stone dressing, politefully balanced with a tower, where Pugin used to keep an eye out for ships in trouble, and an oratory on the south-east corner. It sits slightly askew to it's plot, probably to make the most of the rising sun, and fits perfectly as if it were glove upon hand.

The interior is breathtaking, entered through a long glazed porch with a mix of principle and hammerbeam rafters. This was an addition by E.W. Pugin, who was responsible for finishing and extending his father's work. The main hall has a grand staircase which rises along two brightly papered walls to a balcony above, doorways and passages aplenty lead to quite incredible rooms accurately decorated and furnished. Dürer woodcut prints hang on walls while tin jugs sit on tables suggesting far more than a dedicated eye for detail, rather a hint of time travel and half an expectation for a member of the Pugin household to stroll around any corner to demand you depart their home immediately.

I've deliberately avoided showing any wide interior shots, partly because no photo can do it justice but also to encourage you to go and have a look for yourself. The Landmark Trust are holding two public open days, on the 24th and 25th June. Plus four further open days are planned for September. I imagine they'll be swamped with visitors who, if they're anything like me, won't want to leave.

Sunset for Sense

2006-06-14T23:14:00.000+01:00

Kent County Council features in the latest issue of Private Eye with a short but succinct piece on the £110,000 "cast down the drain" in supporting the defunct Manston airport operator EUJet. It also points out how the former cabinet member for regeneration Alex King came in for no criticism from the scrutiny committee but enjoyed a promotion to deputy leader of the council.
What will they make of the report into the delivery of the Turner Centre? After £10 million and no sign of the gallery most would expect there to be a fair amount of introspective thought going on to get to the bottom of the debacle. Fear not, rather than honestly investigating exactly what went wrong they've decided to give themselves a simple judgement and rate the delivery of the project as "excellent". That's right folks - KCC's management of the Turner Centre scheme is excellent, so don't bother disagreeing because it's official.
It's a sad sign of business as usual so forget any high expectations, or any expectations at all, of the revamped scheme. Even if it's another long tortuous waste of effort and cash those in charge will be writing their own reports on their conduct and the score will be a pathetically predictable ten out of ten, even if everyone down here is delivered a fat juicy zero.

One Nil to the EN-GER-LUND

2006-06-10T20:56:00.000+01:00

For those who haven't been paying attention our glorious lads won their match against Paraguay this afternoon despite the usual antics of the footy drama queens we so often have to endure. Another endurance is the nonsense spouted about our loyal fans and their daring to use our nation's flag, often slighted as jingoism, incorrectly linked to violence and sadly sometimes portrayed as an indicator of inherent racism.
If any of these dodgy allegations were true it would be immediately evident if, as I did, you took a nine-year-old around your town with a massive flag to the numerous post-match celebrations to take a few snap shots. Surely they'd beat us both up and steal the camera. Actually everyone was wonderful, exceptionally friendly and only too happy to pose for a picture with my son. Click on the pictures for a larger version and witness the joy.
There was no hint of elitist belligerence to it, our new found chums included just about every type of citizen; young, old, black, white, drunk, sober, groups, pairs, loners, even an Albanian plus any other label you might choose to apply. They are, and shall remain, the very reason why regardless of all else we can all be proud to be English.

Lost at Sea

2006-06-09T20:24:00.000+01:00

Apologies for the slow rate of new posts. Blogger has experienced a number of problems over the past week affecting no two Bloggists identically. Some could post while others struggled just to load their pages, and comments went belly up in a variety of manners.
Of course Blogger is free to use and read, and as "You only get what you pay for." it's hardly right to complain about it.

They Want You

2006-06-09T20:03:00.000+01:00

It's time for all the musicians and singers on the Island to lift backsides from chairs and get involved in the forthcoming Exodus project or be damned to an eternity of sitting around grumbling. They're holding open auditions at the Christ Church campus at Westwood from 10.00 am - 8.00 pm on the Sunday & Monday which are the 18th and 19th of June.
Excuses for not having a bash aren't acceptable, they really are interested in anything and everything. They've even been down to the Dogget Coat & Badge to inspect the talented karoake singers who reside there.
For more details click on the Exodus link above, or phone 231121, or go to their office at 131 High Street (open 10.30-6.00 Weds-Sat), or email them at info@themargateexodus.org.uk. How much easier could they make it for you?

Variety is the Spice of Life

2006-06-09T19:47:00.000+01:00

Our national seaside dish has been radically developed by Nicklebys in Albion Street, Broadstairs. Like New York it's obviously so brilliant as to be named twice, so not only can traditionalists amongst us enjoy Fish 'n' Chips there's also Chips 'n' Fish for the more liberal. Don't worry if you don't like salt and vinegar as they have a cunning variation on that as well.

Rare Breeds Back

2006-06-09T19:34:00.000+01:00

How refreshingly to see that rarest of wildlife return to our shores at the ecologically essential watering holes on the seafront. Although typically nervous and a little flighty this photo shows six males and two females back after a hard winter.
Some have mistakenly identified these as Panurus biarmicus, and I briefly thought they might be Otis Tarda but that can't be right. Can any readers correctly identify them?

Bishop's Finger

2006-06-09T19:13:00.000+01:00

Welcoming visitors to Ramsgate is the sign above, imagine the joy inherent in a car packed with visitors at being offered such cultural variety. Similarly imagine their pleasure at finding , or rather not finding three of the four venues offered. The Motor Museum closed about a year ago, the Model Village three or four years ago, and the Museum in the library is a scaffolded mess following the arson attack.
The neglect which drives such wrongful signage is sad enough, but what's worse is the lack of imagination exhibited in doing so. Why not really go to town with it? Picture how much better it would be to include "Millionaires' Playground", "Luxury Swimming Pool" and "World's tallest Building".
Has the Turner postponement has generated a new slogan for around here? "Don't bother building it and they will come."

Thai to Die for

2006-06-09T18:46:00.000+01:00

It began with a whisper fuelled by the refitting of a bijou premises in Prices Avenue opposite the side of Thorton Bobby's in Cliftonville. As the cut vinyl signs bearing the word "Bangkok" went up it grew to a murmur, and when it finally opened it led to cheers of joys.
Yes, it's true, the much loved Malcolm and Mai are back with the latest instalment of the Bangkok legend. Originally in the old town Margate and briefly in Effingham Street, Ramsgate this merry couple built an incredible reputation based on three things they do incredibly well. Firstly their food, secondly their hospitality and thirdly, well it's their food again.
It's difficult to honestly claim which is most gladly welcomed back, because as the first mouthful of their light but scrumptious grub touches your tongue it's like meeting dear old chums again. There's such a lightness of touch to each and every morsel it's easy to believe a belly full might have you blown away on the wind.
Having just twenty covers the restaurant guarantees the usual care and intimacy which they like you to enjoy, but also hints at some difficulty in getting a table. To help prevent me being turned away I'll not share their telephone number.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

2006-06-09T18:35:00.000+01:00

An unfortunate shopper found herself underneath a shower of glass at the lower end of the High Street recently. Luckily it fell all around her the greatest damage being done to a nearby car. The culprit wasn't one of our local collection of ASBO-kids, it was the ever increasing population of pigeons, who have made the old S&S print shop their latest home.
This building was earmarked a few years back as one of the local eyesore buildings which were going to be fixed as part of one of the council's regeneration schemes. Aside from boarding up the High Street side when the plate glass window cracked not a lot has happened. This leaves locals keen on regeneration with the rather sordid thought that if the next falling pane of glass actually wounds someone something may well be done.

Home on the Grange

2006-05-30T21:47:00.000+01:00

The restoration work on Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin's masterful Grange in Ramsgate is complete after two years of hard work. Bravely led by the Landmark Trust and generously supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, considerable wise grants from Thanet District Council, the Jonathan Vickers Charitable Settlement and other charitable trusts as well as a multitude of donations from private individuals.
Today they were invited to a private reception to show the results, the most obvious being saving this stunning building from developers who wanted to ruin them by way of conversion into flats. In further celebration they will be holding two public open days, on the 24th and 25th June. There are four further open days planned for September. The building will be available for holidays for up to eight people from 3rd July although don't expect it to be cheap.