Light Night is over for another year. Thanks to all who came and we hope you had a fun, interesting and illuminating time! Pictures are being uploaded to our facebook page and please add your own. If you have any feedback on the event (or things you’d like to see for next year) email arts@leeds.gov.uk
thanks to all the artsists, venues and organisations who gave up their time and put huge amounts of work and creativity into the projects.
Hopefully see you all next year!
For further information click http://lightnightleeds.co.uk/events/leeds-steampunk-semaphore-office/
For Leeds Steampunk Semaphore Office’s website click http://lsso.wordpress.com
If you haven’t managed to get your hands on a brochure, those lovely people at the Yorkshire Evening Post have published the full brochure listings in their ArtScene supplement today. Grab a copy!
Lovely owl picture on the front cover of the supplement is by Michael Oakes.
This Light Night is going to be Candlelight Night at Brasserie Blanc in Sovereign Street. Diners are in for a treat on October 7 when the restaurant will be lit only by the flicker of candlelight, there’ll be a stunning art installation and, now that the weather has turned, a warm and welcoming hot toddy too.
Brasserie Blanc have sponsored Yorkshire sculptor, Marcus Levine who will be displaying two of his pieces in The Light and is busy working on one of his acclaimed Whisky bottle sculptures for Brasserie Blanc. The restored Victorian mill alongside the River Aire with its exposed brick and vaulted ceilings will be a beautiful backdrop for the dancing shadows and warm light created by hundreds of tealights and candelabras..
Jayne Castle, manager said: “We wanted to take part in Leeds Light Night and know what a lovely atmosphere just using candlelight creates in the restaurant. We thought it would be lovely to share that with diners for one night. As Marcus’s sculpture is created with empty Whisky bottles it seemed only right to offer Light Night diners a free hot toddy too. Marcus’s sculpture will be a wonderful centrepiece the effect of candlelight on the glass promises to be very special. ”
On the night diners will be able to try Brasserie Blanc’s Dine With Wine menu at £11 for two courses and £13.45 for three. Book a table online at www.brasserieblanc.com
Like Walking In The Dark
By The Baggage Handlers
What is it?
Like Walking in the Dark is: a subtle-mob; an interactive sound walk; a peace of mind walk; a sonic uplift. Through this intimate, poetic sound journey, audiences listen to and engage with, the narratives of a group of writers and artists living with mental health issues. Audiences learn more about the ways in which the city is mapped out in the stories and voices, of people living with and surviving mental health distress, everyday.
Created especially for Light Night 2011, Like Walking in the Dark is an illumination of the ways in which mental health issues affect us all.
Written and performed by:
The Baggage Handlers [in association with Rommi Smith and Helen Boutle]
Who are the Baggage Handlers?
The Baggage Handlers is a writers’ group for people with experience of mental health issues. We meet twice monthly at Trinity Church , for writing, talk, food and uplift. Sessions are jointly facilitated by Rommi Smith and group members.
How can I get involved in Like Walking In the Dark?
You’ll need to:
1. Come to the inner porch [just past the foyer], at Trinity Church, Boar Lane, Leeds LS1 6HW at either 5.45 p.m., 6.45 p.m., 7.45 p.m. or 8.45 p.m. You’ll be loaned an MP3 player in exchange for the deposit of a credit card. At 6.00 p.m., 7.00 p.m., 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. the sound walk will begin. The sound walk lasts 31 minutes. Up to 25 people can take part in each run of the sound walk, so come early, if you want to take part J
After the experience, pop back to Trinity Church for your hot soup and bread takeaway in return for writing a short postcard of feedback about the piece.
How long does the experience last?
Approximately 30 minutes.
When can I come along?
5.45 p.m. 6.45 p.m., 7.45 p.m., or 8.45 p.m.
What do I wear?:
Comfortable shoes. Please also bear in mind the weather. We will be outdoors for 30 minutes and it will be night time.
Credits
Writing facilitator, dramaturg and script: Rommi Smith
Original music, composition and sound design: Ed Heaton and Si McGrath
Recorded at the Soundmill by Ed Heaton
Violinist: Keiran O’Malley
Arts@Trinity Director, group coordinator and facilitator: Helen Boutle
In the research, writing and creation of the piece, the following soundwalks/subtlemobs were of particular inspiration to the creative team:
Duncan Speakman’s: As If It Were the Last Time
Hannah Nicklin’s: The Smell of Rain Reminds Me of You
We are totally excited to announce that, due to the support of Arts Council England & BAM Construction, Event 21 – Get Some Fresh Air will now feature a gargantuan projection of Donkey Kong against the construction site of Leeds Arena on claypit lane, which you get to play!
For more details, see Event 21 – Get Some Fresh Air
Tales of Hercules tells the stories of the Hercules’ life, from his earliest childhood to him becoming a god, offering you an opportunity to read, listen to and ask questions about this ancient – yet very modern – hero. Iphicles will recount his twin brother’s exploits – from Hercules’ very first heroic act (saving Iphicles’ life) to his last (walking the three-headed dog Cerberus). Hear little-known details of Hercules’ famous 12 Labours and get an insider’s view of what it’s like to grow up with a hero. Story-telling will respond to the audience’s interests and age-group. Particular stories by request.
Dr. Emma Stafford (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/people/20047/classics/person/768/emma_stafford), internationally renowned expert on the Greek hero Herakles, who was known to the Romans (and to us) as Hercules, will be on hand to answer any and all of your questions about the hero: from the size of his feet, to how many Labours he actually performed, to whether he performed them at all! Take the opportunity to discuss what it means to be a hero and discover some of the meanings attached to this hero through the ages.
Literary and artistic responses to individual tales of Hercules will be on display, with examples from a number of different media and time periods – from epic poetry to sculpture, from the ancient world to 21st century Yorkshire.
For more information, see the project website http://herculeeds.blogspot.com/
Bring The Happy
The art of being happy!
A Leeds project capturing thousands of memories becomes a live performance.
In autumn 2010, a stall at Leeds Kirkgate Market, three shops, a travelling phone box and 10 schools in Leeds became the collection points for Bring the Happy. The project by artists Invisible Flock recorded the happy memories of thousands of people from all over Leeds, to create a giant interactive map. This autumn, on Thursday 29 September, at Northern Ballet in Leeds, Bring the Happy will become a live performance, transformed by Invisible Flock, with musician Simon Wainwright, and a chorus of local school children.
Invisible Flock has worked with Simon Wainwright of local musical phenomenon Hope and Social and other special guests, to produce a portrait of happiness in contemporary Britain, warts and all! The cabaret-style show in which the audience are part of the action & guests at the celebration, will recreate moments of happiness based on real memories, told through live storytelling and music. 30 pupils from Carr Green Primary School in Brighouse will perform a special introduction at the start of the show.
The map, showing where citizens of Leeds were happiest, will be on public view in the foyer of Northern Ballet from 26-29 September. People can come and add their memory to the map from 2pm Monday 26, and from 8.30am-8.30pm Tues 27–Thurs 29 September.
Moira Innes, the Director of Leeds Met Gallery and Studio Theatre said: ‘In this austere period, the concept of Bring the Happy is refreshing and essential. The artists’ stated commitment to empower audiences as co-creators is not rhetoric and this genuine involvement gives the work its edge. The fact that so many people from all walks of life wanted to share their happy memories must be good and demonstrates the gentle power of art’.
Victoria Pratt of Invisible Flock said: ‘Bring the Happy – Live – is part celebration, part funeral for moments in life that were loved, lost and remembered, based on real stories, by real people we met at Leeds Kirkgate Market. The memories shared with us were funny, beautiful and life-affirming and we’re delighted to be able to relive many of these moments that took place right here in Leeds, in a production that puts the audience at the heart of the celebration.’
For more information, images or interviews please contact Fran Graham 07815 790189 or by email fran@spaceacademy.co.uk
- ENDS -
www.tpeleeds.blogspot.com
Your chance to be part of the exhibition in the City Museum Arena at Light Night this year!
The lovely new brochures are now available. We’ll be distributing them to different Light Night venues, but there will always be some at the Town Hall. Come & get one!
Light Night stalwart, Hexjibber, has created some lovely postcards for you to fill out in advance of the night, & with which to decorate the front of the Civic Hall. Pick them up from the Town Hall & get colouring!
We’re pleased to announce that our lovely new fold out brochure has gone to print today, with lots of help from our designer Fran and our marketing team – much earlier than in previous years! We’ll let you know as soon as they are available. They will be at the Town Hall and at other selected Light Night venues.
Light Night is over for another year. Thanks to all who came and we hope you had a fun, interesting and illuminating time! Pictures are being uploaded to our facebook page and please add your own. If you have any feedback on the event (or things you’d like to see for next year) email arts@leeds.gov.uk [...]
For further information click http://lightnightleeds.co.uk/events/leeds-steampunk-semaphore-office/ For Leeds Steampunk Semaphore Office’s website click http://lsso.wordpress.com
The Light Night team have been urb-exing, & got to realize a personal ambition today. Where are these windows? Do you recognise them?
Tomorrow we will be visiting a possible, late entry, exciting new venue which is so new that it hasn’t even been built yet! We will add some pictures tomorrow.
If you want some more fun at night, head over to York this weekend for @IlluminateYork we are heading over on Friday - 4 months ago
@IlluminateYork really looking forward to Friday night, it should be a great night & will be out & about with @umbrellaproject - 4 months ago
Just to let everyone know we've nearly finished the LN'11 clear up.If we are not tweeting its because we are hatching our 2012 plans - 4 months ago
