A massive happy New Year from all at CCA - we're back for 2009 with some great new programme coming up, keep checking back on the site for details of new events to be announced soon. In the meantime, you might want to take a look at this month's Dance on Screen event, breaking from what we did in 2008 with the historical stuff, this month takes a look at a very modern movement in African-American dance, with a screening of Rise, looking at 'clowning' or 'krumping'. Check out the trailer here and the Dance on Screen page for more details.
The guitarist Davey Graham passed away this week and somehow there hasn't been enough attention paid to that event. While his profile was highest in the early 1960s, his impact has resonated through the decades - from Jimmy Page and Johnny Marr to the present day. There's a good, brief, radio account of his life here and a great excert from a movie called Cain's Film made in 1969 about Alexander Trocchi in which Graham accompanies a dancer.
Is it ok for one blog to reference another blog? It is when the news is this important. Thomas Pynchon has another novel set to be published called Inherent Vice. Pynchon is notoriously camera shy and a true recluse. Having effectively vanished in the 1960s, he was so unknown to the world that in the 1980s he was even identified with a mythical bag lady, Wanda Tinasky, who reputedly lived under a bridge in the Mendocino County area of Northern California. He started publishing again though at the end of that decade and finally broke his public silence in 2003 when he appeared on the SImpsons :) Naturally his character wore a bag on his head but you can find out more about that appearance here.
Although the Hacienda is now a fixed icon in contemporary culture, it's less well known that Tony Wilson set up a regeneration consultancy, Livesey/Wilson associates. Sam Jacob, creator the superb blog, Strangeharvest, describes the Livesey/Wilson vision of an allotment as 'a place which produced much more than prize-winning marrows. An allotments produce might also be cultural, its fruits being community, education, independence, and health benefits...' Find out more in Jacob's piece 'From the Factory to the Allotment: Tony Wilson, Urbanist'.
Most blogs are a form of news report, despite the wide variety of formats. The film maker, David Lynch, may be unique in creating a blog in the form of a Daily Weather Report. Of course, it isn't daily. And sometimes it doesn't mention the weather (see these samples on YouTube here and here).
This Saturday at CCA Scott Street Bar, Divine 18th birthday party warm up. Ian Mac & Jamie Kidd with guest Neil MacInnes ( RPM ). PychSoulFunkFreakbeatSkaPopRocknrollSurfGarageRnbRockabilly. Free entry...
To keep you in the loop, the Scottish Ensemble event planned to take place here at CCA on Sunday 14 December has now moved venue to the Strathclyde Suite at the Royal Concert Hall. The event, which features an open rehearsal of new touring commission, Green, to celebrate the 80th birthday of Scots-American composer Thea Musgrave, gives the audience a chance to meet the composer at the rehearsal. A rare opportunity to hear the ensemble as they prepare for their forthcoming tour, tickets for the rehearsal are still available from CCA box office or on the door at the Concert Hall. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by the change of venue. For more information go to www.scottishensemble.co.uk
Kill Your Timid Notion is almost upon us, a weekend festival feast of performances, screenings and events from Ken Jacobs, Keith Rowe, Bruce McClure, Paul Sharits and more… On tour for the first time since it's yearly stint began at DCA in 2003, KYTN brings together an eclectic mix of some of the great experimental artists, musicians and filmmakers of our time. Come along and have an experience that will leaved you confounded... for programme details and links to the KYTN website, visit the Kill Your Timid Notion page.
We're just about to hit the last month for both the CCA Creative Lab and the CALQ residency call for submissions. If you haven't yet applied, do take a look and get cracking with your proposals...
The Creative Lab residencies offer a great opportunity for artists to explore new ideas in a supportive environment. If you're currently working in live art, contemporary performance, new theatre, time-based media or interdisciplinary arts, we'd love to see your proposal. More details about CCA Creative Lab.
Previous Creative Lab participant, Anthony Schrag
Likewise, the CALQ residency is a fantastic scheme between CCA and the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres in Quebec (CALQ), to provide an exchange residency, sending one Scottish artist to Quebec and bringing one artist from Quebec to Scotland to carry out a residency at the CCA. If you're working in contemporary music (instrumental, electroacoustic and electronic music), sound installation, audio art and / or media arts using new technologies, this could be a great opportunity for you. More details for the CALQ residency.
Current CALQ artist in residence at CCA, Martine H Crispo
Well, we're busy gearing up for the opening of our new exhibition, Open Field, which opens tonight to a special VIP list (or those lucky enough to stumble upon us!) Open to the public from tomorrow morning (11am) until Saturday 17th January, the exhibition features new work by 15 Scottish based artists created during the Caravan residencies at Balfron, Loch Lomond.
A whole selection of events will run alongside the exhibition, including performances on a Horse Box Orchestra, film screenings and radio plays, together with live improvisesd soundtracks to new animation. For full details of the exhibition and events, check out the Open Field page Hope to see you at some point during the exhibition...
Open Field - new work by 15 Scottish based artists
