Metal launched Toku chan Likes to Look Up, a new exhibition by Lee Baker last night at the Temporary Arts Project (TAP), North Road in Southend on Sea.  The evening was sponsored by Courvoisier and the exhibition has been supported by Essex & Suffolk Water, Southend Together, Arts Council England and Southend Borough Council.

The exhibition continues until 26 March.  Opening hours are Thurs / Fri 11am until 2pm and Sat / Sun 12noon until 4pm or by appointment.  To make an appointment please call metal on 01702 470700 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

On Friday 5th March Rebecca Joy Sharp and Elizabeth Willow hosted a tea party at the station to gather inspiration from local residents of Edge Hill, past and present, for their forthcoming performance The Ballad of Juniper Davy and Sonny Lumière.

Its been a busy week for Leo, and ourselves. Culturepool organised an event last weekend which brought a group to Edge Hill station on the train after a visit to the Walker Art Gallery where they caught the Aubrey Williams 'Atlantic Fire' show with a tour from the Director Reyahn King.  They then enjoyed some delicious hot soup at Metal and a talk with Leo about his show and the wider Liverpool and the Black Atlantic programme.  Then Leo held a two-day workshop with some first and second year fine art students from Liverpool John Moores University.  And after a few more tours with students from both Liverpool University and Knowsley Community College, Leo ended his stay in Liverpool with an Aga Discussion!

Artist Simon Poulter interviewed Wilko Johnson at Metal's Chalkwell Hall this week.  The resulting article is now online at the Thinking area of this site.

Just delivered! Our new sofa for the top floor of Chalkwell Hall has been designed by Southend based furniture designers Carpenter & Carpenter.  Hand made in natural wood, and upholstered with fabric made from stinging nettles and pure wool.  We love it.

Leo Asemota's exhibition 'The Handmaiden' opened on Wednesday night.  Thanks to all those who came.  The work looks amazing in the former Engine Room at Edge Hill and Leo has chosen so many different materials that relate to Liverpool, his ongoing work on 'The Ens Project' and his interest in the historical relationship between Liverpool and West Africa.

The exhibition is open Tuesday to Friday 2pm till 6pm and on Saturdays 12noon - 4pm, or by appointment.

Photos by Mark McNulty (www.mcnulty.co.uk)

MA Students from the New Media course at Goldsmiths University used Metal's Chalkwell Hall and the grounds of Chalkwell Park as the venue for their DataJam - an open event that saw around twenty students experimenting with different ideas to explore the media and communications systems that exist between people, and within places.  The students worked with one of Metal's current artist's in residence, Graham Harwood on the project.

Despite freezing temperatures the sun still shone on Chalkwell for a glorious fun packed day of Chatterbox Challenges. The free event for 0 - 5 year olds was aimed at supporting Language and Communication Development through the Every Child a Talker and Forest Schools programme. The Ugly Bug Ball was organised by the Early Years & Childhood Team at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and took advantage of Metal's fantastic facilities at Chalkwell Hall.

Local schools in the area came out in their droves to take part in arts inspired activities from mud pies, singing and story-telling to scavenger hunting with park rangers and hands on investigation of insects and bugs!

The day was a great success, with an attendance of 1000 children (all leaving rather dirty but very happy!) and adults, as well as hundreds of creepy crawlies, which we hope aren't hiding in the house!