Culture LAB with Oreet Ashery

Metal devised and hosted the second in our series of Culture LABS in October 2011 with the performance artist, Oreet Ashery.  The week-long, residential LAB held in Southend brought together live artists and stand up comedians to explore humour and the processes of developing work.  The LAB was facilitated by Oreet Ashery and Simon Poulter. Participating artists were Caroline Smith, Mem Morisson, Owen Parry, Scottee and Oriana Fox. Visiting comedians included Simon Munnery, Alex Horne, Shaista Aziz and Markus Birdman.

During the week a number of artists developed ideas for new projects.  These were presented to a number of invited guests at the end of the week and several of the projects have already gone into development.

See what the artists had to say at the end of the week:

On Saturday 15th October, the area to be used for Metal and St Francis Of Assisi's community garden was unveiled. . .
Artist Robyn Woolston has since been working with the local community and schoolchildren to develop a design for a Blitz memorial gate for the entrance to the garden.

If you would like to be involved with the community garden please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your details and we will add you to our mailing list . . .

Tomorrow, Thursday 27th Ocotber, is the next edition of Future Park artists evenings for meeting and sharing at Chalkwell Hall.

It's free to attend and starts at 8pm. For more information, see Future Park page.

Here are some photos from September's event, where several presenters discussed the role of art education:

We are working with The Academy of St Francis of Assissi to create a permanent artwork and community garden in collaboration with local people and schoolchildren to commemorate the Blitz. Everyone is welcome to get involved with the project. Come along to Edge Hill this Saturday at 10:30am to find out more then pop over to The Academy for a fun filled day and to generate some ideas for the space :-D

But before that. . . like the garden page on Facebook and prepare your green fingers

During our current exhibition STILL: Conflict, Conservation and Contemplation, we have hosted numerous visits from Primary Schools. Each group was given a tour of the exhibition and some took part in a paper marbling workshop. We loved how inquisitive and enthusiastic the children were. Here are some photos from a workshop with pupils from Whitefield Primary School.

Exhibition continues until Saturday 22nd October Tue - Fri 2-6pm Sat 12-4pm

CHALKWELL HALL
GHOST STORIES – TALES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE

FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER FROM 8.30PM-10.30PM
TICKETS £10 FROM BOOK INN, LEIGH ON SEA

Chalkwell Pop Up present a special Halloween event on Friday 28 October in the spooky surrounds of Chalkwell Hall, a building literally dripping with ghostly history.  The team that, by day, brings you the warm welcoming Chalkwell Pop Up café will, by night, tap into the spooky underbelly of Southend, Westcliff, Chalkwell and Leigh on Sea.

The evening will include readings from local writers Rachel Lichtenstein and Syd Moore who will uncover the truth behind some of the scarier local legends. Alongside these fireside tales will be the trade mark excellent cuisine from Chalkwell Pop Up in the form of a light supper.  Attendees are able to provide their own drinks and bring some of their own paranormal experiences for discussion too.

Tales From Beyond the Grave starts at 8.30pm and is for adults only.

Tickets
Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from The Book Inn, 49 Broadway, West Leigh On Sea or from METAL at Chalkwell Hall

For  further details  please contact:
Fiona Magill
Mobile: 07545 101 153
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Twitter: @chalkwellpopup
Facebook: chalkwellpop

Platform Youth Theatre based at Metal, Edge Hill Station is a free theatre group for young people aged 7-11 ran by Eliza Brittles and Natasha Selden.

The group presented their debut performance 'Argle Bargle' at Metal Liverpool on Sat 17th September. The show was written by members of Platform and Joe Shipman. 'When J and Nat are told they can't be friends, they find themselves in the land of Foo where magic and truth unfold'

Platform are recruting young people aged 7-11 from the Picton and Wavertree
contact Eliza for more info
07857327995.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

On Friday 30th September we officially started on our garden project at Edge Hill with help from Mark Barker, Northern Rail's Client and Stakeholder Manager West, and his team who cleared and made safe a stretch of land at the end of platform one.  The project, a partnership with local academy school St Francis of Assisi, will create a garden to commemorate local people who died during the Blitz 70 years ago this year.  It will also create a space for the local community to come together to grow food and flowers.

If you would like to get involved we'll be holding an open day, together with St Francis of Assisi school,  on Saturday 15th October 10.30am until 4pm.  The day starts at 10.30am at Edge Hill Station and then from 12pm at St Francis of Assisi for some food and to take part in some family friendly activities; cookery, art and design workshops, and seed planting.  Please RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call [0151]707 2277.