February 2012 Exploring Arts, Culture, Music & Film within Bristol. FREE

westworld011

including Robert Mugabe... Ups and Downs of 2011 Charlotte Farmer Towards a Better Shithole Bristol Radical Film Festival My Nu Leng

FEatuREd uWE aRtistsFrancesca Backhouse Ed Tolkien

2 Liam vs Bristol/Bingo/Animation Awards

EditorJenny PearceSub-EditorsEd SharpJames Moorton

ContactUWE PublicationsFrenchay CampusColdharbour LaneBristol, BS16 1QYwww.westerneye.net

Contributors Francesca BackhouseMartha CliffLarrissa HuggardMason JetmoorHannah KamesterJames MoortonPeace NejrynJenny PearceRaoud PradeshJessica PrattenPaul SavilleEd SharpEd TolkienOliver Tong

Special ThanksCharlotte Farmer Mattkomattko.tumblr.com

TypesetGrotesque MT StdBerthold Akzidenz Grotesk & Warnock Pro

Creative Direction & Design Holly Catfordcatford.com

holly@catford.com

Jack Frankliniamjackfranklin.co.uk

hello@iamjackfranklin.co.uk

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Liam Roberts is a third year Graphic Design student who decided one month ago that he would wage war with a whole city. In an aim to learn more about competitiveness and its pro’s and cons, Liam has been taking challenges of almost any nature. So far his challenges have ranged from a simple game of noughts and crosses to as far-fetched as picking up single grains of rice with chopsticks. After each challenge has been completed, not only do the scores get tallied up, but also all events have a designed outcome to look at and enjoy. Over the coming months, Liam will be taking on a host of challenges and would like to invite everybody to come and take him on. Your Westworld Editor challenged Liam to a game of online Scrabble, of which we regretfully print that the results were 1-0 to Liam. To challenge Liam and find out how he has been getting on, go to: facebook.co.uk/liamvsbristol

The British Animation Awards will be requiring the vote of the nation when the people’s choice nominations are screened at 23 venues across the country – including Bristol’s very own Watershed.On the 1st, 8th and 15th of February, you will have the chance to view a shortlisted selection of animation films, separated into three categories.The professional, student and advertisement shorts appear to come in every dimension, from Petra Freeman’s two dimensional, Van Gogh inspired ‘Tad’s Nest’, to Jo Lawrence’s beautiful stop-frame animation ‘Glover’ – the tale of a glove making explorer (a personal favourite).The beautiful thing about all of these films is the stunning mind flow it must have taken to create them. The combination of art form and intricate narrative makes for some truly inspiring, and at times, comedic films to par some of the greatest non-animations of all time.Animation is not to be taken lightly, and remains a different league of art form to regular film, which is justification enough to experience and become a part of one of 2012’s animation events of the year.If you miss out on the Watershed’s showings, I suggest heading to the Animation Awards website and consequently scouring the internet for as many of the shorts as you can, as a wonderful means to procrastinate.

“22, a wee and a poo”. Not how you would usually expect one to call the numbers in a game of Bingo, but then, ‘Bingo Bango’ is not how one would usually expect to play the game. Every Sunday from 8pm, No.51 in Stokes Croft becomes home to Luke Keeno and his titillating game. You will find no pensioners here (it’s not that they aren’t welcome, they probably just find the hilarious jokes a little distasteful).Luke plays the perfect Bingo host. His voice, with Alan Partridge-esque undertones, was made for radio, and if he had a show, it would become a daily fix of mine. His funny, lively persona and hint of awkward nerdiness makes the game (and he does actually dedicatedly make the game himself each time). When a friend and I recently attended, we though it brilliant value for money. In our first game we easily made back our ticket fee (50p each) in free shots, which were won in a number of bonus rounds. Oh yes, bonus rounds, another way in which this game of Bingo is unique. With every few balls that are called, an exciting noise sounds an extra round. The rounds range from guessing which song’s lyrics are being read out in the voice of a random impersonation, firing a gun at a target, guessing the celebrity/ animal hybrid, to a round of ‘Where’s Keeno’… The prizes are simply brilliant. Jealously eyeing up the other winners choice loots of Nun Bowling, air guns, a mushroom growing kit (just your average mushrooms) and a poker set, I ended up playing all three rounds, lusting over the Truth or Dare Jenga up for grabs. I came tantalisingly close to a full house, but was pipped to the post with just one number to go. My companion and I did however return home slightly tipsy on free booze and the proud owners of a lucky bag and a pack of Top Trumps; and so the fun continued back home.

Luke Keeno also hosts ‘Blankety Quiz’, a quiz show with a twist, every Tuesday from 7pm at No.51.

Liam Vs BRistol

AnimAtion nAtion

72- A CrutCh And A duCk

James Moorton

Jenny Pearce

3Robert Mugabe

I was recently lucky enough to catch a screening of the wonderful and gripping tale that is ‘Robert Mugabe… What Happened’ at the Watershed’s Afrika Eye film festival. The film, which stands as an important part of the campaign to remove Mugabe from power in next year’s elections offers us all the chance to come to understand the complexity of his lasting reign within Zimbabwe.

Made by director, Simon Bright, who grew up in Zimbabwe but is now in exile in Bristol, the film breaks the mould of the story of what has happened to Zimbabwe being that of a black/white issue as represented by our media and Mugabe himself. Instead, the film works to build a chronological account of Mugabe’s more than three decade long reign of power. Depicting through archival footage, a carefully selected soundtrack and interviews with some of Mugabe’s closest associates the film shows how the man who once drank tea with the Queen of England, at first built up a country fresh from imperial rule, and then went on to destroy it. When speaking with Simon, a man whose down-to-earth humbleness, despite what he has experienced and achieved, I find quite astounding. He tells me that this choice portrayal “gives Mugabe a kind of depth and humanity, which makes his actions all the more contemptible or condemnable, because he is not some kind of weird other being, he is a human being like the rest of us, with moral choices like the rest of us to be good or bad and he takes his choice to hang on to power.”

At the beginning of the film, we see Mugabe rise to a highly positive public profile during the year of 1980, more specifically April 18th, the day that marked Zimbabwe’s independence from British rule. Mugabe famously stated on national television, that “if yesterday I fought you as an enemy, today you have become a friend and ally. If yesterday you hated me, today you cannot avoid the love that binds you to me, and me to you”.

The film then informs us of Mugabe’s childhood, how he and his family after being abandoned by his father, were left to be cared for by missionaries. We are told of his mother’s intention to install catholic values within him and how he was somewhat of a loner as a boy. Out of these circumstances we see a man grow into someone who was highly intolerant of injustice, and held the utmost regard to education. Upon this notion, Mugabe can actually be celebrated in terms of the education system he designed, giving all Zimbabweans the right to receive this for free.

Beholding what some would call a highly political mind, Mugabe sought to give his people land for farming, and certain resettlement schemes were set in place, one in particular gave three million hectares of land to black Zimbabwean farmers. Appearing to give the people what they wanted and deserved, would not, in the long run be enough to contain his ambitious need to gain the utmost control. The area of Matabeleland were aligned with the ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People’s Union) party, much to Mugabe’s distaste, thus sparking him to ultimately destroy and slaughter those who stood in his way. This party later became known as ZANU-PF (Patriotic Front), as he forced what can be considered an unwanted coalition. Further issues, including South Africa destroying oil supplies and Mugabe’s draining of the economy to compensate and fight back, all contribute to the decreasing popularity and down fall of his own self-portrayal. When watching the film, a particularly disturbing moment arrives in the form of the campaigning advertisement of ZANU-PF from 1990 –keep an eye out for this.

Some twenty years later, his new opposition are seen as the Movement for Democratic Change. His reputation for stealing elections and rigging the votes still holds no limits. Within the film you will see the conditions his people have to endure in order to vote. This vote ultimately being stripped from them, or their right to vote taken away altogether. It seems that the land that Robert Mugabe originally sought and fought to build and improve has been destroyed and corrupted by his own doing.

The film embodies a rollercoaster of emotions, with the power to shock and disgust, as well as including cleverly placed snippets of humour. It never fails to amuse, to hear that the man who is basically a construction of British appearance, manners and taste (not to forget his love for the music of Cliff Richard) is someone who actually hates all things British.

The fact that Simon was arrested for a previous film shows that Simon and his interviewees have in fact put their lives on the line to get this message out for Zimbabwe. This indicates the massive cultural and political importance of this film. “Having been arrested once and experiencing imprisonment made me frightened, and I had to do this film undercover, as of course you would never get permission to film, so there was a big air to overcome. There was a lot of logistics to make sure we didn’t get picked up. I kept my head very low and just did my job. We also had to be careful about contacting each other, and there were a number of various mechanisms that had to be put in place so that wouldn’t be seen,” says Simon.

Simon adds: “At a certain stage you do not want to be muffled. It’s like the reason I decided to make the film; I could have just stayed in Britain safely but I wanted to make the film because I wanted to make a statement, most people wanted to make that statement, so we [myself and interviewees] all joined forces to make the film and I salute their courage and their bravery. They are all a lot braver than I am as they are still there. They made a decision that now is the time to say what they have to say, and I think they welcomed the opportunity. At a certain stage of a regime, such as in Syria at the moment, people will stand up, be counted and say what they have to and terror instantly loses its impact, and that is when the regimes topple.”

‘Robert Mugabe….What happened?’ is being shown at Bristol’s own Cube cinema sometime in March. I urge you to check the listings, get yourself a chance to see the film, and witness a great part in what will hopefully be considered as Mugabe’s soon-to-be fall from power. The film also goes national in March/April and is also eligible for a BAFTA award so no doubt – and fingers crossed – you will be hearing lots more about it in the weeks to come.

robert mugAbe…

Jenny Pearce and Jessica Pratten

What happened?

You can read the rest of Jenny’s illuminating interview with the hugely inspiring simon Bright online at www.westerneye.net/category/westworld

As we begin the year 2012 and send off the year 2011, we find ourselves reading what we are typing in the voice of a school Headteacher, looking down at all our little pupils growing up and up. Oh what a wonderful year it has been, children of Bristol and beyond. We leave behind a year of riots, revelry and rapture to enter one of triple fees, hosting the Olympics and... uh... rapture again, kind of. I hope you’re all keeping to your New Year’s resolutions seeing as it appears this will be the last one you will be alive. Bloody Mayans. In no particular order, here are the top 20 best things, and the worst 5 things that happened in Bristol in 2011.

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Oceana nearly closed down. But then it didn’t Rumours were rife when Nightclub firm Luminar went into administration in November. Where 11 cities, including Brighton, Basingstoke and Northampton were fortunate to say goodbye to Luminar run clubs (Lava, Ignite, Liquid and Oceana), Bristol was not so lucky. The nightclub that divides popular opinion is infamous for it’s themed rooms and over priced drinks, but we don’t believe it shows the finer summits of Bristol’s nightlife, or Britain’s for that matter. Better luck next time perhaps.

Commercialisation of Gloucester Road When one the most independent and eccentric parts of our wonderful City was ‘graced’ with a Tesco, a Sainsburys and a Costa in one year, our hearts sunk a little bit. Admired for it’s delightful charity shops and authentic London-esque anti-glamour, Gloucester Road is by no means the place for huge chain supermarkets, and the coffee is far more adored in the cosy jazz fuelled cafes of Stokes Croft. We speak for the masses when we express our bitter disappointed in Bristol City Council.

bAd ‘unsMason Jetmoor, Peace Nejryn and Raoud Pradesh.

The Riots of Tesco, Stokes Croft April’s protest-turned-riot exudes the kind of anti-fervent expressionism that does no justice to the positive spirits of Stokes Croft and it’s residents. 8 Police Officers were injured, petrol bombs were suspected, and violence created a heavy night of fear for Bristol. Of course we believe in the reasoning behind the protests (see above), but it was this night that foreshadowed the haunting summer events of 2011 for our Nation. We are ashamed that it was in Bristol.Naughty zombies could mean the end of Zombie walk - This year, the undead may not get a chance to rise from their graves, after a small minority of the thousands that attended last year decided to ruin it for the rest of us. Fireworks were let off into the public, including one that nearly hit a child. Bottles and stones were also thrown at riot vans, possibly the worst vehicle you could choose to throw something at. These zombies really did need brains.

The Red Factory eviction We were very sad to hear that Portland Square’s Red Factory was evicted back in November. Squatters broke the building back in 2008 and gave it one almighty clean up. The building then became home for dozens of homeless anarchists and was used as a community centre including a cinema, language and numeracy lessons and yoga workshops. A sure example of a squat that will be sorely missed by the local homeless community, and a chilling reminder of what is to come for the squatting scene this year.

4 Good 'an bad

Mattko

Mattko

Mattko

See No Evil Festival This street art spectacular took a spray can to conventional art festivals, getting international artists involved in the vibrant decoration of what was once a grey and gloomy Nelson street and the production of wall pieces as big as 40 foot tall. A usually disused building became home to one hell of an arty party, featuring colour changing stools, the biggest disco ball we have ever seen and music from the ever popular Julio Bashmore.

Standing up to Tesco in Stokes Croft When mega chain Tesco was given the go ahead to open in Stokes Croft after 90% of the community voted against it, there was a huge spread uproar. Sittings were held outside the store on a daily basis, and it became the focus of much local artwork. However, the fact that these protests then became a riot is what we did not love (see our top five worst things). We still rate it highly, however, down to the sheer commitment and richness that the people of Stokes Croft showed in their volumes. The base reasons behind the protest supported great things, and if we restore our memory to those aspects, we restore our confidence in humanity a bit.

St Pauls Carnival Bigger, better and bassier than ever, over 90,000 people attended the Caribbean style carnival for its 44th year back in July. A glittering pageant of costumes, cultures and floats was followed by a huge free party style knees up as rigs lined the streets to celebrate the area’s unique cultural heritage. We found ourselves dancing down low at the Malcom X stage with a 76 year old Rasta named Raaf, which is when we decided that this is perhaps the best annual weekend Bristol has to offer.

Kelis at Pride The bitchy queen of pop got everyone singing along about their proverbial milkshakes at Pride Bristol in Castle Park back in July. Even your straight female Editor was left a little hot under the collar over Kelis’ flawless riving in a blue patterned jumpsuit and sparkly quiff. Other Pride highlights included the hilarious La Gateau Chocalat with her outfit made entirely from yellow tutus, and Bristol’s 2nd ever LGBT pride parade.

TAA party at Bingo Hall Squatters of the old Bingo Hall in Bedminster saw the potential in the building and chose to have one amazing party before facing sure eviction. Including: ‘The TAA’s got talent’, featuring singing dogs and a burlesque bonanza, a pop up photo studio, the junk fashion show, artwork by a vast number of fantastic artists, such as Fredwah, a children’s area, music from the likes of Ed Cox and purely dazzling décor ending with a finale and a half as thousands of recycled bingo tickets fell from the ceiling as confetti.

Opening of the MshedThe multimillion pound museum opened in June and has since been short listed for the Best European Museum award 2012. What we love about the Mshed is the way that it celebrates all aspects of the city’s culture, from post men to protestors. Far from being dusty and dull, you will find something that interests you here, what ever your walk of life.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party outside Costa Costa was given the go ahead to open without correct planning permission, ironically just days apart from when it was announced that Occupy Bristol would soon be asked to vacate due to their lack of planning permission. It was also only a month away from the Tesco riots. Cue the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a party thrown outside Costa, that involved tea, cake, mad hats and most importantly, the message of how mad our planning system really is.

Zombie walk bigger than ever before The undead took to the streets of Bristol again and this time in their thousands. The unsuspecting public did not know what hit them as the sleepy October streets suddenly became flooded with the hunt for “brainnnsssssss”, not that many brains could actually be found amongst the sleepy shoppers. Unfortunately, a small minority of Zombies decided to ruin it for the rest of us (see worst things), so here’s hoping the awesome event can still go ahead next year.

The In:Motion line up The people picking the performers at Motion throughout 2011 certainly knew how to cater to every audience and taste; whether you were into electro, dubstep, drum and bass, house, trip hop... or ‘chillwave’; and everything in between. Honourable mentions include Jamie XX, Shy FX, Dark Sky, and DJ Yoda. However, some of the selections were not so honourable; Skream, Calvin Harris and Jamie Woon, we’re (not) looking at you. However, I guess that’s a matter of personal opinion, and the In:Motion umbrella tended to cover everything, what ever your flavour of raver.

Slutwalk In October, the international Slutwalk protest came to Bristol. Hundreds of women (and some men), marched through the city centre to protest against rape, sexual violence and the blaming of victims. The movement originates from the backlash against a Canadian police officer’s misguided claim that women ought to stop “dressing like sluts” if they want to avoid getting raped. The argument has since hopped over the pond and with it brought many to question their (sometimes archaic) attitudes towards rape. Despite some confusion about the idea of re-appropriating the term ‘slut’, the march was a huge success in terms of raising awareness about sexual violence in a country where a rape occurs every nine minutes.

UpfestJune brought to us the now annual urban paint festival, which has been growing strong since 2008. Originally a one day ‘Paint-off’ created by true art aficionados, Upfest now runs tours, events and exhibitions all year long, rising to the status’ of it’s inspirations Super Cans (Southampton) and Cans Festival (London). The festival now runs in full support of Bristol based Children’s charity NACOA and deserves full recognition for its community inspiring commitments.

Bristol’s lacking a certain Panache… Obviously, whilst we feel bad for those who lost their jobs, at least they won’t have to ever set foot in that place ever again. Do not mistake this inclusion of Panache closing down as an act of nightclub-related snobbery; we’re just glad our Jack Wills wearing brethren will be forced to discover that Bristol has much more to offer than Lil’ Wayne and Jagerbombs.

Brisfest Brisfest has been taking place annually for five years, and 2011’s festival was a great success. Tens of thousands of people descended upon the Harbourside to witness performances from Laid Blak, Buggsy, Rodney P, Congo Natty and even an energising routine with Mr. Motivator. Other attractions included a silent disco, crazy golf, cabaret and circus acts, and a party held by the infamous Alfresco Disco in an underground car park. The event is largely run by volunteers (including lots of UWE students) working for the Bristol Festival Community Group. If you’re interested in being a part of this year’s event, visit www.brisfest.co.uk/get-involved/.

WOW! Gorillas trail for Bristol Zoo August was an exciting time to arrive back in Bristol after a long summer, being welcomed with a host of life size, beautifully designed Gorilla statues dotted around Bristol. With designs created by local schools, residents and professional artists alike, this was really something special for Bristol, as our Zoo celebrated its 175th year. To top it off, the auctioning of the Gorillas raised over £400,000 for vital gorilla conservation work and for local Bristol charity, Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal.

Bristol Beer Factory Winning BBC ‘Best drinks producer’ CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ales) have petitioned their mature taste buds off over the years, and with Bristol very own real Ale brewery winning such a prestigious award, it is clear that they have proved successful in the South West. For such a small brewery to win this highly respectable token is a fantastic deal for Bristol Beer Factory, and whether your tastes desire a light and local ‘Sunrise’, or a heavy and bitter ‘No7’, we can all join in within a strong sense of pride for our factory.

The Free Shop made it into the media finally After working from a squatted building since 2008 to give away clothes, books and house hold items for absolutely-frick-all, the Free Shop in Stokes Croft finally gained a bit of recognition in the media. Yes, it was to report on the looming eviction, but any publicity is good publicity. Another organisation then claimed squatter’s rights on the site and moved straight back in, carrying on the good work, this time in the public eye.

Occupy Bristol They came, they camped, they conquered. But we’re not quite sure if they conquered. Regardless, the silent protests of Occupy Bristol brought none of the discord of London’s Occupy St. Pauls, but instead represented Bristol’s dignity and passion at it’s best. With the sturdy remains of the protest standing on College Green until very recently, Occupy Bristol proved that there are more effective, harmonious ways to express strong opinions than the haunting and recent riots of last July. They simply require courage, ardour and longevity.

Eats Everything won DJ Mag’s Best Breakthrough Producer It is pretty self explanatory as to why this is so brilliant. A massive well done to the man that has proved that Bristol’s underground music scene is still leading the way. Eats Everything (aka Dan Pearce) also created an Essential Mix for musical mover and shaker, Radio 1, that has been on repeat on our Ipods ever since- Hooked on those hooks.

The Motorcycle Showroom opened - opening as an independent emerging art space in Stokes Croft, The Motor Cycle Showroom programmed exhibitions and events alongside studio and workshop facilities. With frequent openings and strangely themed bar nights like Kings of Pin and Bike Smut, it quickly became a Bristol institution. They have begun this year with a mightily packed program full with local up and coming artists as well as residencies and visiting shows from around the world.

Bambi Legs left us all weak at the knees Started by a group of Devon bumpkins back in late 2010, Bambi Legs was bigger than ever last year, with a line up that was bordering on ridiculous. Bringing a festival style vibe of live music, paint jams, wandering buskers and dance and circus acts to the Black Swan, this night kept us impressed on a monthly basis. Notable acts included Jazz Steppa, Mungo’s Hifi, Gypsy Unit, Mr Woodnote and Undercover Hippy.

Disclaimer: This is the opinion of the writers and not necessarily Westworld.

good ‘uns5Good 'an bad

Tara Evans

Snow globes. Those little glass Christmas things that you shake and watch the snow fall. Fascinating as they might already be, this month’s featured artist creates worlds within them. After graduating from St. Martin’s with an MA in Communication design 6 years ago, Charlotte has worked freelance, embracing a wonderfully elegant array of art forms/techniques. Ready to accept and connect her work’s imperfections, we spoke to Charlotte about working for huge brands, the most simple of inspirations and of course, being a part of the Bristol art scene.

How would you describe your work? I’m an illustrator and screen printer...with the occasional bit of embossing thrown in.Subject wise it’s a bit varied but I think the link is secret worlds - the small scenarios that might exist in a collection of snow globes (King Kong and Godzilla looking lovingly into each other’s eyes), maybe what two ornaments sitting side by side on a shelf might want to say to each other or what your favourite pet might really be thinking. If I don’t give the game away in a speech bubble then the clue will be in the title – they’re a really important part of my work and I have a lot of fun thinking them up. I really enjoy drawing in a very detailed way while making a bit of a mess at the same time, I like the way using different processes can change what you start out with...so I draw using carbon paper, then lean on the enlarge button on a photocopier and if it’s a personal project I’ll finish off by screen printing various layers. I’m going through a huge gold phase at the moment and have come up with a slightly secret recipe for gold printing ink.

Who have been your main influences? I’m a big fan of David Hockney’s early work, especially the series of etchings he did while he was at the Royal College, also I saw a really scribbly sketch in the Victoria Gallery in Bath by Frank Auerbach which made me want to scribble more myself. Illustrator influences are Ceri Amphlett, Roderick Mills (who told me that his drawings are quite small so that he can watch TV at the same time) and Laura Carlin – I got her illustrated book of Ted Hughes’ Iron Man for Christmas and it’s amazing.

Tell us about why you decided to go into illustration?Originally I did a fine art degree and once that was over I needed to find a job where I could draw and not have to wear smart clothes, so illustration was the only answer – it took a while to get going though.

So, you have done projects for the likes of Baileys and Bloomsbury, which projects have you found most fun?The most fun project I’ve done recently was for a small business coaching company – I had to draw the gremlins which stop you from getting on and doing things, such as doubt and scepticism or thinking that people are laughing at you – I ended up doing scribbly animal hybrids with paperclip tails, brief cases and moustaches...quite hard to describe, they should be on my website soon. I’ve also done some Jubilee tea towels for New House Textiles, I had a good time drawing old royalty...I’m thinking of extending it into a personal screen print project involving old royalty and their favourite pets – bring on the corgis!

Do you prefer computer work mixed with hand drawn illustrations, or a bit of both? I do use a computer for illustration jobs but it always starts with lots of carbon paper

drawings and the computer part is the very last bit...my scanner is quite smudged too – which is all part of the process.

What do you like best about your job? Where do I start – almost everything...I enjoy the drawing part and I love the whole screen printing experience, except maybe for the cleaning up part. I don’t think I’d have been very good at taking orders from a higher level but I sometimes feel like I could do with a secretary to sort out the boring paperwork and answer my emails.

I really like your piece ‘Hidden Agenda’. Tell us a bit about it.That was one of my favourite drawings from my MA. I was doing a project about self important business men – which mostly came from weekly trips to London, sitting on the train to Paddington overhearing lots of commuters talking very loudly on their phones and disturbing my reading, so I started to copy them down instead...the drawing itself is a mixture of mono printing (the same technique that Tracey Emin uses in her drawings) and photocopy transfers onto a roughly painted white background – which I scratched bits of the overheard conversations into..You studied Communication Design at Central St Martins, what was the best bit about that and do you think it has helped you get where you are today? My MA at Saint Martins was brilliant – the illustration tutor – Andrew Foster was fantastic, probably because he could be pretty scary, we had crits every week and people did occasionally cry – but I don’t think you learn much from “i like it, it’s nice” comments. Also my love of a good title comes from one of our many seminars. One occasion that particularly stands out was an illustration group trip to watch Napoleon Dynamite at the cinema with the brief to draw about it in the dark!

Bristol art has had a lot of publicity , with artists such as Bansky and great events like the recent See No Evil festival giving us international recognition. What is it that you like most about Bristol’s ‘arty’ culture? There’s certainly lots going on, Spike Print Studio (where I do my printing) has great facilities and there’s always someone good to talk to about art stuff. Bristol has lots of places to see unusual films and I’ve seen bands on the Thekla and in the Louisiana which have inspired the messier side to my drawing.

Would you rather work for an agency or keep freelancing?It is my plan this year to get an illustration agent, I think it could lead to more interesting projects and I’m not good at the money/negotiation side of the job.

What would you advise someone when beginning a career as an illustrator? People offering you work might say they can’t afford to pay you much as they’re a small business just starting up – but remember that you are too!

Charlotte’s work is available to buy from the Smithson Gallery, run by Anna Smithson, at www.smithsongallery.co.uk. You can also find some of Charlotte’s detailed works at www.charlotte-farmer.co.uk.

8 Charlotte Farmer

Charlotte Farmer

It’s Us! It’s Us! Is the first part in a series of group exhibitions between UWE Bristol & University of Reading students. The opening exhibition at the Motorcycle Showroom is a parody of conflict between the two cities, as Reading takes the role of the antagonist, and any opportunity for compromise is sabotaged.

The collaborative exhibition will then be transported and re staged in the Turbine House, Reading. In outdoing Bristol this radically alternative space shrouded in history will showcase the finale of It’s Us! It’s Us!

its-us-its-us.tumblr.com

Bristol Motorcycle Showroom Private View 9th February 6-9pmThursday 9th - Sunday 12th February

Reading Turbine House Private View 23rd February 6-9pmThursday 23rd - Sunday 26th February

27th February – 4th March

Documentaries come in a host of varieties; from Natalie Cassidy, or ‘Sonia from EastEnders’ if you will, discussing her most recent diet plans (which unfortunately for Sonia, seldom appear to work), to the cute, if a little weird, personification of animals in ‘March of the Penguins’ and the like, suitable for nationwide mainstream cinema.

Bristol’s Radical Film Festival will this year be ex-soap star free and is sure to bring us an offering of the most engaging and effective political and social modern documentaries over the course of a week, ‘culminating in a weekend of screenings, talks, workshops and debates at the entirely volunteer-run and not-for-profit cinema, The Cube’. Sounds delightful.

Bristol is, evidently, a city dedicated to the arts. I rarely go a day without being told about a new art exhibition, a folk festival or a new ‘quirky’ coffee shop. However I admit to my failings in seldom actually going to them. I even tell my friends that I am going to see a new exhibition, partly for a positive and morally inspiring source of procrastination, and partly to promote my ‘individualistic’ image. I am stuffed to the brim with ideas, inspirations and exciting prospects, but I can’t seem to put any of it into action. But when I do see a wonderful new film at the Cube or Watershed, or pop into a free student art exhibition, I feel instantly liberated and refreshed, and I am reminded of the importance of art and expressionism.

Being a part of our society could be easy. We could continue to half-heartedly laugh at middling American sitcoms, waiting for sleep and a new day to come, or we could watch something with depth, character and passion. Something that will inspire us and teach us things that further our mind flow and better the use of our short lives. 

Tickets available from www.bristolradicalfilm.org.uk

9Stokes Croft - Film Festival

Stoke’s Croft is home to The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, an organisation that harnesses the strong alternative political and artistic current of the area. The PRSC uses a highly creative initiative, including street art and it’s use of galleries and a china shop in Jamaica Street, to raise awareness and funds for the struggling and misunderstood community, who they feel have been overlooked by the government. The organisation was founded by well regarded eccentric Chris Chalkly, who has recently given a TED talk on the issues the area has faced and how they decided to deal with them. The organisation relies heavily on volunteers to keep the place running. I met with PRSC volunteer, Katy Bauer,  who has just completed the Think Local exhibition, which featured 48 of her paintings of local creatives. 

Describe Stokes Croft in three words. Dirty Old Town

You have identified a Cultural Quarter within the area of Stoke’s Croft. What does this mean and what do you think the importance of this Cultural Quarter is? It was a way of creating a unique identity for the area. Just by calling it something makes you think, maybe it’s not just another shit hole. It was a way of holding its head up I guess. Just because a place is scruffy and has been a dumping ground for all the city’s most shattered people doesn’t mean it’s worthless. The work the PRSC has done has proved that. We work in a different currency if you like. It’s not about smart cars and big profits, it’s about getting along the best way we know how and not just sinking, and that’s interesting.

Why have you included The Bear Pit as part of the Cultural Quarter? It’s the way to Stokes Croft from the city and nobody had bothered to look after it so Chris thought we should.

On your mission statement, it is mentioned that you wish to influence the development of the Stokes Croft area. How do you feel you accomplish this? We mainly manage it by not asking permission. Much of the street art is illegal. Our Museum was probably illegal (I never asked anyone whether I could open it to the public but there are probably plenty of Health and Safety restrictions on doing something like that). Our painters’, yard which facilitates a lot of the street art in the area, is kinda illegal. All these positive things would probably have been impossible if we had asked the council for permission to proceed, and yet, through our dogged persistence - and Chris’s patience – they are beginning to see the value in what we have done. 

Tell us a bit about the recent outdoor gallery project you did in The Bear Pit.  What did you hope to achieve with the project? How do you think it went? We wanted to make it an uplifting place. It’s a great achievement, all possible due to the generosity of the artists who worked for free, and the PRSC. We got money to pay for the boards themselves, but nothing else. All the hard work, materials, organisation, publicity etc, was a gift from the artists and PRSC. Nobody cared about The Bear Pit for decades, now everyone wants to do things to it. And I’m sure they shall. 

toWArds A better shithole bristol rAdiCAl

film festival2012

James Moorton

Do you feel that your organisation may be helping to get the issues through to the government, or is it still falling on death ears?It’s been agony but PRSC has changed some minds. Chris is a revolutionary thinker, and that’s difficult to understand at first because we’re all so used to the way things are, but they don’t need to be that way, we’ve just been taught to believe they do. But there are some good people in local government who are beginning to get it.

 I thought your Dutch auction was a brilliant way to help less established artists sell their work. Could you please explain why the decision was made to change the selling gallery to a china shop (a great one at that) and also a bit about the space? The Dutch Auction was great, but it was very complicated to run and very expensive. Our running costs are huge and we don’t receive funding so although the Dutch Auction worked well, we have to focus on our economic initiatives – Stokes Croft China and Stokes Croft Murals – if we are to remain un-funded and therefore independent. The Dutch Auction will reappear, just not now.

You recently put on the ‘Think Local’ exhibition in the Jamaica Street gallery and will be putting on another called ‘Think Local 2’. Tell us a bit about them. Think Local was a show of portraits of local people. Think Local 2 will be clay heads of local people. Sculpture and portraits are traditionally made of people seen as significant. We think everyone is significant.

 What is your personal favourite project that you have worked on so far? Probably painting the 48 portraits for the Think Local show. The sittings were great. And painting is great. It’s another world.

The Carriageworks on Stokes Croft are currently up for development and what exactly will happen to it has led to a very interesting debate. What do you think it should become? Do you agree that it should be made into flats and shops or do you think they should do something a bit more creative with it? The owners are a disgraceful bunch of greedy developers who are used to wearing down the council until they let them do what they want. What they didn’t bank on was a community that cares and has the confidence to say so. Of course it should be something more suitable than flats and shops for Christ’s sake.

What has the PRSC got planned for us this year?  Well, we’ve been putting on quite a spread for the last four years, and will continue to do so as much as we can, but we are not funded. So, perhaps the question should be: What have the readers got planned for us this year? Will you see the value in what we are trying to do and support it in a real way? Volunteer? Donate? Shop? Participate? It’s the best thing I’ve ever got involved with.

Is there anything else you would like to add? Yes; Chris will be furious with me for being so stroppy in this interview!

To find out more about the PRSC and it’s work or to get involved, visit www.prsc.org.uk

Jenny Pearce

10 My Nu Lend - The Iron Lady

In an audience teaming with the over sixties, with only your mother for company, it is hard to get excited about The Iron Lady. What with so many other new releases, such as Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and War Horse, hogging the cinematic limelight, it is easy for another political/historical Drama to get lost in the hype. But one obligatory viewing turned into two highly enjoyable afternoons watching this thought provoking production.

The film takes on a controversial angle; rather than representing Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) in her prime, it depicts the once ruthless politician as a lonely recluse suffering from Dementia, requiring assistance in every part of her life (something she insisted she did not need in her days as prime minister). The film focuses on notions of regret, as an ageing Thatcher relives her life through flash backs. This is accompanied by the touching storyline of her visions of her late husband (Jim Broadbent) and Thatcher’s stubborn nature is reflected by her refusal to rid of any of his belongings eight years after his death.

Operating around Margaret Thatcher’s flash backs is perhaps where the film takes a tumble. As is seen with so many flash back films, the story line often seems disjointed and leaves the audience whispering to one another ‘who’s that? What’s going on now?’ It feels a little rushed at times and the amount of information stuffed into the movie makes it feel a little like a GCSE history lesson. It seems that the director, Mama Mia’s much celebrated Phyllida Lloyd, may do well to follow the advice we are given when writing essays; focus on one point rather than waffling on.

Cheryl Cole once announced in one of her L’Oreal campaigns, “It’s all down to the right castin’” and by gum was she right. It is the casting that makes this film. The glorious Meryl Streep achieves what so many actors fail miserably at, she becomes invisible. Far from playing herself she is unrecognisable as Lady Thatcher, accomplishing her mannerisms effortlessly. Other cast members can easily be commended. Carol Thatcher, (Olivia Colman), makes an adorable lisping addition to the story. And Denis Thatcher, (Jim Broadbent) bringing out a lighter and almost humorous side to the brutal politician. The prosthetic team must be applauded purely for the fascination I have over the wonderfully accurate sets of teeth they produced for Carol and Margaret.

Far from the view of Thatcher’s supporters, criticising the film of being insensitive and inappropriate given Thatcher is still alive; I believe that Maggie T got off quite lightly. The much hated public figure is represented in a far more human light and you almost end up feeling sorry for the old girl (though perhaps in the same way that you feel sorry for Captain Hook when he is eaten by the crocodile).I found it a surprisingly enjoyable film. It’s one of those films you feel really good about going to see, it’s not trashy or clichéd, it’s elegant and poignant and well worth a watch, if for nothing else than to see Meryl’s stellar performance (and those false teeth of course!)

The Iron Lady is in cinemas nationwide. 3 starsDirector: Phyllidia LloydAge Certificate: 12ARunning Time: 105 mins

Ex-UWE student James ‘Jammo’ Irving is the Bristol based half of My Nu Leng, working together with Londoner Tommy Jackson. Combining equal parts garage, house and dubstep, My Nu Leng are sounding promising for 2012. In fact, if Westworld had a stereo (or an office space for that matter) they’d probably currently be playing on it. Jammo joins us to answer a few questions

What is your favourite track out there at the moment? Pusherman’s Shake It Off, which is out now on LNUK Records

Which of the tracks you’ve created, or helped to create, are you most proud of?I think the My Nu Leng track Fireflies is the one I am most proud of. We both had a lot of input in to its outcome and it changed styles numerous times before finishing. The finished version has received a completely unexpected response with support from Mistajam and a handful of Rinse FM DJs. The track was featured on a recent compilation Big Step for Dub, and is the title track of our debut EP, out now on Mindstep Music. We also have a forthcoming Fireflies VIP & Remix EP with remixes from Tunnidge, Crises and Wonder.

Your tracks with My Nu Leng and those as Jammo are quite different; do you prefer working as a collective, or solo?We rarely get the opportunity to actually work on a tune at the same time, due to the distances between us. In that sense, there are not too many differences in writing Jammo or My Nu Leng tracks. I like being able to send projects over to Tommy and see the direction a track can take. The music I write as Jammo has taken a backseat over the last six months, due to being busy with My Nu Leng tracks, collabs and remixes. I am aiming to work on some new Jammo material some point this year.

What do you use to make your music? I am currently using FL Studio 10 on PC with a pair of KRK RP8 Monitors running through an E-MU 1616 PCI soundcard. I don’t work with much hardware and am constantly trying to expand my sample collection. I use a few VSTs including Massive and Nexus. I frequently use the Waves FX plug-ins including the reverbs and compressors.

ten minutes With mY nu leng

Tell us about the best night you’ve performed atMy Nu Leng are residents at 51° 27', a weekly night at Thekla. Every week they have some of the biggest names in the UK Bass scene covering House, Techno, Garage and everything in between. We always have a great night there and would strongly suggest people check it out!

If you could listen to the works of only one artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?I would have to say Burial; his music is a huge, huge inspiration to both myself and Tommy. A track for any mood or moment, I am still yet to find a situation that a bit of Burial doesn’t help!

Vinyl, CDs, digital, or..?I learnt to mix, like many others, on some dodgy belt drive decks and as soon as I could, I moved to Technics 1210s. Over the years I started using CDs to play in clubs, but I still have a huge love for vinyl, and I know Tommy does as well. When we are able to mix together we use Serato with time coded vinyl.

Any last words?Just a huge thank you to anyone that has taken the time to check out our music, our sets or radio shows in 2011. We have music forthcoming on Mindstep Music and our debut 12” on LNUK over the next few months as well as a lot of remix and collab projects, so keep those eyes peeled!

To have a listen to My Nu Leng’s music, go to www.soundcloud.com/mynuleng or www.facebook.com/mynuleng. For bookings, contact mynuleng@gmail.com

Martha Cliff

Ed Sharpe

the iron lAdYA review

11Short Story

My name is Camus, his name was George and her name is Liz. Perhaps to start where starts finish is my best option; you see George was a runner and just two weeks ago he had taken it upon himself to run a marathon. This was no surprise; he was under a shadow of obsession, he’d done marathons before, but this one meant something and he had decided it was to be his last. George’s Mother had just been dragged from the world with a scream and a struggle. A knife plunged deep into her stomach was followed by streams of vermillion and cries that I cannot bare to imagine, wails that by all accounts were animal and savage; base primal screeches like gulls bawling overhead. She had been attacked for unknown reasons near her home, the world had chosen her to be swallowed up, to lie endlessly in an oak coffin beneath the dirt at the hands of cold steel. George was running this marathon for her. He was torn apart when his Mother died and this marathon was coming up so he decided: “I’ll do this for her, but you know I think I will never run again afterwards.”

George’s Mother was always at his races at least for most of her life. It was only when she moved house out to the country that things became harder; she couldn’t drive. She hadn’t been to see him in about a year and promised that she’d make his next one. Her death came too early for that, I don’t think he ever got over it.

I’d seen him run before and it was a thing of beauty. Liz and I, her being his girlfriend at the time, often went to see him race. Liz would stare intently at his legs as he ran past, watching the muscles roll and tense. Quad and calf pulling and relaxing in wave like motion was, for her, pure delight. We stood egging him on as people do. Every so often I would glance at Liz, when George was warming up, or between checkpoints in the longer races. They were an attractive couple, Liz especially. Her lips poured honey and when she opened her mouth sultry tones quivered within my ears; syllable after syllable I found myself drowning in her voice until it was a blur of calm noise, like distant waves breaking endlessly at the edge of the abyss. Her cheeks wore an innocent blush, her skin was virginal white and this blush was a spread of warmth in the frost of it all. Rose was the natural tint of her lips, in between speech she would brush her teeth against the bottom lip, softly, calmly, pressing down only very lightly forcing the rose to fade only where her teeth lay. Liz had the body of a goddess, all soft edges and not an ounce of unnecessary fat about her, she rose and fell in every place a woman should. No bone protruded, yet she retained definition. She had skin as soft as silk and eyes of a deep dark mahogany shadowed by fluttered eyelashes that were darker still. Liz’s hair matched her eyes and this hair hung down loosely across her face, framing those mahogany eyes that seemed to want nothing but love at its most primal level.

mY nAme is CAmus…

I always think George must have known about me and Liz, though he never explicitly said it to either of us. We had been sleeping together for three months before the marathon that took place just under two weeks ago.

When his mother died there was a backlash. Liz and I didn’t speak for a while, nothing more than a friendly hello. We felt that it would have been insensitive. It was the three days that led up to the marathon that really changed everything. Those three days hold more significance to me than any other three days I have lived so far.

On the first day George and Liz made the most passionate love they had done for years (I only know this for she has told me subsequently through agonised tears). George came over to my house that day holding a rather damaged box; it contained certain items that I had always admired of his, he told me that he had recently decided to place my real favourites in this box thus creating a gift for my 30th birthday. Incidentally it is my 30th tomorrow. I stood confused for a long time at the door, the wind seemed to drag our words away with it and he stared at me almost crying.

“Any reason for the box?”

“Early birthday present Cam, let’s not just stand here, open the door.”

He’s not been through my door since. I recall sitting there with him going through each item and remembering what significance, if any, it held. The worn and broken compass that he kept on his mantel piece was drawn from the box with a nostalgic sigh, he had found it the day he met Liz. It was beautiful for its blazing orange rust and peeling leather boundary, he used to tell me it brought him “nothing but luck”.

The second day I didn’t see George for I was at a meeting with work, but that evening I received a phone call from Liz in which she just cried for a good ten minutes until saying finally, “I don’t love you Camus”. That night I sat with a bottle of whiskey and watched the fire blur as my eyes filled with bitter tears until I slept, the heat against my skin was almost too much, almost. I was awoken with a start at 3:07am to my phone. It was Liz again, awake in an empty bed, George’s cold impression left on the one side and no note telling her where he’d gone. I went round there at her request, for comfort and to see if there was any clue as to where he’d gone. Liz, in her panic, had been stupid for there was a note on the kitchen table that explained he had decided to stay that night in a hotel to get himself mentally prepared for his run, complete with an address and a ‘P.S’ that read, “please don’t ring”.

The third day was the morning of the marathon that was to start at 10. Liz and I had decided to go together. In the car on the way Liz said, “I wonder where Edith will be stood” (Edith was George’s mother and I know Liz was fond of her). I looked blankly at her for a moment before she realised and broke down. Death never quite sinks in. George wasn’t at the start line and he didn’t answer his phone. He was normally there a good hour before his races began, so this was odd. It must’ve been around 9.50 when Liz and I really began to worry. His phone was still unanswered and our only option was to go the hotel. I sped there, I slammed the car door behind me as we ran inside, and at this noise time seemed to dilute and the next few minutes are an utter blur. Reception gave us his room number, 407, so we ran to the lift. All I can remember of Liz is tears. The expression on her face must have matched mine; a nervous pain that could not be shaken. That lift took what seemed like hours. I remember crashing through his door with some force in fact my shoulder still retains the ache.There, in the bathroom, George swung. He was truly a beautiful man, even now. Liz fell to the floor and I could not move. The whites of his eyes looked at me, his face had become a blue-purple, his soft hands hung by his side swaying gently. The twine was cutting, pressing hard against his neck, fading the colour much like the teeth against Liz’s bottom lip. His feet were mere inches off the ground swinging in an intangible wind. There was blood dribbled down his chin, dripping ceaselessly to the floor, the crimson stains were too much and I began to cry. The wounded screams of Liz enveloped my ears and there was nothing else, just screams crashing like waves against me.

That’s when the dark descended and I lay alone in a calm ocean, watching his muscles roll and tense, quad and calf pulling and relaxing forever as George’s feet paced hard against the dirt..

Oliver Tong

Francesca Backhouse

Ed Tolkien

Student Showcase

Francesca Backhouse is in a second year studying Illustration. She told Westworld “I love experimenting with many different medias and enjoy creating depth through layers in my work. I have learnt that perfection is difficult to achieve and happy accidents add an entire other dimension to my work so I have tried to loosen up in my style a lot.”

You can find some of Francesca’s work at www.francescabackhouse.weebly.com

Ed Tolkien is a third year Graphic Design student with a keen interest in applying his skills to social and community causes. He says:

“The major role of the graphic designer is that of the communicator, or the enabler of communication. Without communication you cannot hope to have a healthy and prosperous society. The printed and online media platform in which our work typically exists, means that we have an audible voice in society and the capacity to reach a wide audience relatively easily. I reject my practice’s long-standing affiliation with the nation’s advertising-bloated, materially preoccupied consumer culture, and believe that graphic design should take a step towards a more informative, constructive role where sustainability, education and equality is the new capital - not shiny new watches. There are so many worthwhile organisations out there working towards a better future for communities and social groups, and if you can contribute to their efforts then why not!? '

You can find Ed’s work at cargocollective.com/edtolkien.