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Pecha Kucha 4
Metal's 4th Pecha Kucha Night took place on Thursday 25th March. Pecha Kucha is a place for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. Each presenter is allowed 20 slides (all image based), each shown for 20 seconds – giving 6 minutes 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter is up.
On Thursday we heard from artist-led collective CoExist, mosaicist Paul Siggins, James Harrod of Longpier.com, costume designer Holly Murray, animator Kidda and visual artist Lee Baker. All are currently developing or showing work within Southend.
Pecha Kucha Nights now take place regularly in over 200 cities around the world. Click here for more information about the global phenomenon of Pecha Kucha.
Metal's next Pecha Kucha Night will be on Thursday 15 July 2010. Details will be posted on our Home page blog soon.
Written by Colette Bailey 19 March 2010
March Future Station Meeting
On Tuesday 16th March we held a Future Station meeting at Edge Hill Station. Each member was asked 'what is bothering you?' and we were met with a variety of responses, the group then discussed how some of these issues could be resolved creatively.
We were joined by Luciana Berger the Labour and Co-Operative Prospective parlimentary candidate for Liverpool Wavertree who wanted to know our opinions on how the government could better support arts and culture.
Below are some drawings made by Ailie Rutherford who was doing some live drawing throughout the meeting. The three drawings represent; preparing the meal, the meeting taking place and finally us eating!
Written by Colette Bailey 18 March 2010
'Autonomy' project with Liverpool John Moores University
Metal has been working with Liverpool John Moores University first year students on their 'Autonomy' project. We had the pleasure of listening to their exciting plans for artworks. The Students gave wonderful presentations and were each given advice from Jenny Porter from Metal, Eliza Brittles from 20 Stories High, Vinny Lawrenson Woods from Culturepool and Visual artist Katriona Beales.
Written by Colette Bailey 18 March 2010
Origami Workshop
Year 4 pupils from Westborough school took a trip to see the Toku chan Likes to Look Up exhibition by Lee Baker at TAP in Southend on Sea. Pupils were able to meet Toku chan and his friends, watch an animation about Toku chan and see the Japanese Kite Battle in the winch room.
After viewing the exhibition, artist Nastassaja Simensky and the Metal team led an origami workshop where pupils produced some large 3-D origami animals including a fox, fish and a frog.
We will be repeating the FREE workshop on Sunday 21st March from 2 - 6pm at TAP, North Road, Southend on Sea SS0 7AB. The event is drop-in, and is for all ages. Materials and refreshments will be provided. For more information please contact
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. 
Written by Colette Bailey 17 March 2010
Munich
I ended February with an exciting trip to Munich. Following on from Metal's involvement in "Open Here" www.open-here.eu which brought together artists from six european cities in 2007, Dr. Martin Rohmer from the Department of Arts and Culture in Munich has again invited Metal to participate in a project that will, pending a successful bid to the EU, bring 13 participating cities and arts organisations an exciting opportunity to explore new and innovative ways to develop residency programmes and create new opportunties for artists.
Below is an image of work made by Munich based artist, Ina Ettlinger who has a studio at the impressive 'Platform 3' www.platform3.de. I'm happy to report that the beer and bratwurst in Munich are as good as ever.
Aufweidersein.
Ian B
Written by Colette Bailey 12 March 2010