We finally, and sadly closed the show on Monday (after a 9-day extension and 12 extra shows). Last through exhibition were a group of local chinese residents, complete with interpreter, despite language barriers, they had a great time.
The show has been a great success, not only with audiences (wonderfully diverse and enthusiastic), but in developing this and future projects. The after show talks have allowed hundreds of residents, artists and stakeholders to discuss their thoughts, memories, hopes and fears and to begin all kinds of dialogues. The Saturday dinners have been incredible, and we will be continuing these soon with regular opportunities for people to develop the conversations further – all with delicious ‘pot luck’ food.
Echoes From The Edge will continue, so keep checking back for how you can join in as we create dialogue through art.
photographs: Chris Keenan
We’re over half way through the exhibition now, the response has been amazing. Last week we had a group of women, many of them asian, performing an Irish jig in one of the installations. We’ve always enjoyed making art you can dance to, rather than treat reverentially. There are fewer chances every day to book yourself onto a tour, so don’t prevaricate, book today, before it is too late!
post show dialogue in action
The after show conversations have been omniportant in the show, the ‘alchemy’ of each group of visitors have meant we’ve been having extremely wide-ranging conversations. Topics have included: young people’s rites of passage, past and present, treatment of the Irish community after the pub bombings having similarities with Muslim communities post 11/9 and 7/7, pubs as social centres and their alternatives and, again and again, how to engender a sense of community and how to learn from the past, without forgetting it.
Some audience comments: ‘The show has expanded my view of what art can be’ – ‘I’ve never felt so comfortable at an art show’ – ‘amazingly well-presented and organised – and fun too!’. for an independent review of the show, see Nicky Getgood’s review here.
So don’t delay, book today, while you still can.
See you at the Edge.
After weeks of hard work (not to mention the 18 months of development), the Echoes From the Edge show is now open. Its been extremely rewarding to see everything come together and how audiences are reacting to what is a very different way of experiencing an exhibition. The show works as a tour through a series of rooms containing interactive artwork, with a continuous soundtrack using the voices of residents of Digbeth and Highgate. The group is led through the exhibition by these voices into a journey to discover the ‘hidden’ stories of the area, past, present and future. The show resembles a performance, yet there are no performers, a contemporary art exhibition, yet the work is very accessible, and a celebration of local history, yet there are layers of meaning to every exhibit. Last out of the first show was a seventy five year old woman!
Pub Installation detail
It has been great to see the show work so well for both arts audiences and people who wouldn’t normally go to a contemporary gallery, and engendering the discussions and storytelling we always wanted . If you would like to come to the show, please leave your details here or call us on 01217726160. Echoes from the Edge continues until 30th May, £4 entrance fee, free to community groups and residents of Highgate and Digbeth.
installation construction crew at work
Just over two weeks to go until the first ‘tour’ of the exhibition and things are looking increasingly surreal down at the Edge. The rooms for the show are coming together beautifully and there’s a great buzz in the studio as Shannon, the team and the splendid volunteers beaver away at making something really special. So we’ve got a real K6 phonebox (we’ll tell you the epic story of the ‘raising of the kiosk’ if you have an hour or two), a world war two bombsite and a pub all taking shape in the space, alongside a host of interactive gadgets and installations under construction. Echoes From The Edge promises to be something more than special, see here for more details and to book go here.
sneak preview of echoes from the edge
"@krishgm because he's morally bankrupt?"16 hours ago"@SarahABGee V.gd thanks stonkin' coupla years ahead, do u fancy a coffee and view from our wonderful roof top 'Edge'? great plans afoot..x"yesterday"@getgood @TalkAboutLocal @karenstrunks you've the same photo face I make when photo-ing people Karen! miss you Nicky. Sandra x"yesterday
