Culture on A

FREE | ISSUE 7

CULTURE ON A SHOESTRING

INTRODUCTION TO ART:ADDS // ARTIST FEATURE: ADAM FINDLAY // A VISIT TO THE ATKINSON //

BLAZE FESTIVAL DIARIES // SKEMCOMIX // HEBDEN BRIDGE HANDMADE PARADE // ARTIST FEATURE: BETHANY DAVIES // TECHNOLOGY AND MEMORIES // WHAT’S ON

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

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Hello, and welcome to issue seven of Culture On A Shoestring!

Inside this issue of COAS, there’s new features and familiar faces. We have compiled a list of

events we think will be of interest in our “What’s On” segment, the profiles of two incredible

photographers and a thought-provoking piece by our contributor Cameron Procter.

INTRODUCING ART:ADDS Art:ADDS is an Arts Council England funded project from the Contemporary Visual Arts Network North

West (CVAN). It has three priorities; Critical Writing, Artist Development and Young People.

In regards to technology and our memories,

We at Blaze are thrilled to have been commissioned to

record brilliant concerts that I have to rely on

contribute to the Critical Writing element of the project.

caught up in new technology to distract from

by the Arts:ADDS project and we would like to thank

issue, which I think we all can be guilty of,

North West through CVAN for helping us make the

We’ve also a feature on mental illness featuring

must go to Laura Robertson from The Double Negative

dangerous illnesses be condensed into

Reader for Issue 6 and providing some amazing and

mental health help to break down negative

Harding from Creative Tourist (www.creativetourist.

I know I often get so caught up in trying to

develop and deliver the Young People’s strand and also

my videos to remember the set list. Being

This edition of Culture on a Shoestring is brought to you

meaningful communication is an ever-growing

the brilliant connections we have made throughout the

at times.

magazine even bigger and better. In particular, thanks

so heavily in YA books. Should such important,

(www.thedoublenegative.co.uk) for being our Guest

entertainment books; or do YA books featuring

inspirational training for the team and Polly Checkland-

stigma and raise awareness of the illnesses?

com) for being our Guest Reader for Issue 7.

this issue, or any of the contributions within this magazine. You can find us on Twitter at

CONTENTS

page, facebook.com/blazeyoutharts. Let us

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION TO ART:ADDS // 03 //

could make us even better!

FEATURE: ADAM FINDLAY // 10 // A VISIT TO THE

Until next time,

SKEMCOMIX // 19 // HEBDEN BRIDGE HANDMADE

Please feel free to let us know your thoughts on

@CultureString, or through Blaze’s Facebook know what you loved this issue, or even what

Bethany Pearson

– IMAGE COURTESY OF BETHANY DAVIES –

MEET THE TEAM // 04// EDITORIAL // 06 // ARTIST

ATKINSON // 14 // BLAZE FESTIVAL DIARIES // 16 // PARADE // 26 // ARTIST FEATURE: BETHANY

DAVIES // 30 // TECHNOLOGY AND MEMORIES // 35 // WHAT’S ON // 36 // JOIN THE TEAM // 39 //

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ANTONIA HENNERLY is a painter, printmaker, blogger,

poet and mum to one boy named Noah who she encourages to

save the world. She is a Blackburn

graduate in fine art and is currently co-curating Blackburn Printfest for

the 16th May. She plans to study a

Masters to create art that tells truth with magic and propels you into ‘the now’.

SOPHIE SKELLERN is a Fine Art graduate who is

passionate about all things art. She launched the Visual Arts strand to Blaze at the 2014 Blaze festival, and has since been working on all sorts of weird and wonderful

things, including Lancashire’s first

Photography Open. She is hoping to someday work on big arts festivals (such as Liverpool Biennial and

Folkeston Trienneal), and wants do

a masters degree in Contemporary Curating.

CAMERON PROCTER Cameron Procter is a photography

student based in Blackburn. Raised in Reno, Nevada, he is interested in place and heavily influenced by northern England’s unique

urban landscapes. Along with

photography, Cameron currently

blogs for the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool and hopes to take his

writing further, possibly pursuing it as a career after his degree.

BETHANY PEARSON is a Sixth Form student, studying amongst other subjects English

Language. She enjoys reading YA

novels and writing short stories. She is a previous winner of the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, and

was an under 19s Runner Up in the

STEPH BROCKEN is the Project Manager for Blaze

on the Art:ADDS project. She also writes a lot but it generally tends

to be funding bids, reports and the occasional food review. Oh, and a

PhD…she always forgets that part!

award-winning ‘The Book Of Plans, Hopes and Dreams’ competition.

She hopes to continue her English

studies to a degree level, and since becoming an editor has begun

finding more typos than usual in the world around her.

Meet the team

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

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Should Mental Illness Feature So Heavily In Teen and Young Adult Fiction?

Awareness of mental illnesses has risen significantly

illness. One example is how Donnie feels the need to

relieve symptoms of depression, schizophrenia, OCD

on allowing his sister the best chance at recovery, whilst

in the past few decades, and medicines intended to

and eating disorders being developed and researched

into more than ever before. However, the mental health of teens has been under the spotlight especially,

and is feeling the heat. On Wednesday August 15th 2015, The Guardian released an article describing

“English children among the unhappiest in the world”

due to school bullying. (According to the study by The

disappear, so all of his family’s efforts can be focussed similarly she tries disappearing into a world she has

complete control over. Writing from their perspective

demonstrates the large support system needed, not just for those ill, but also for those supporting the sufferer, whose life is also impacted by the illness too. The

intensity of care, consideration and sometimes plain

self-restraint needed to support someone with a mental

Children’s Society, an estimated 500,000 [Half a million!] illness can have negative repercussions of all involved.

10 and 12 year olds are being physically bullied.)

Awareness on mental health will not harm anyone, to

mental illnesses may occur completely detached from

with a mental illness also as healthy and happy as they

Bullying isn’t the trigger of all mental illnesses, just like any bullying, but it is one example that could suggest

hundreds of thousands of pre-teen children may face

expand on keeping those who care and love someone can be also.

further vulnerability to mental illnesses. On top of these

“Monkey Taming” by Judith Fathallah is one of my all-

illness, as well as the undiagnosed cases, those with

with anorexia nervosa (or “anorexia”) at age 13, and

children alone, there are the diagnosed cases of mental perfect mental health and everyone in-between. In

a nutshell, all the teens and young adults (YAs). So with so many YAs at risk and at an age to be easily

influenced, should mental illnesses feature so heavily in teen and YA books?

“Skin” by Adrienne Maria Vrettos, introduces Donnie

LePlant finding his sister, collapsed on the floor of their family home, unable to be resuscitated. The story then truly begins, following Donnie as his parent’s marriage disintegrates, his sister’s diet becomes a battle with

anorexia, and friends quietly become enemies. Skin’s unique characteristic is that it’s from the first person

perspective of a bystander, watching a terrible illness

overwhelm someone else, whilst still personally feeling

each of the themes of the novel. It serves as a reminder to the less obvious knock-on effects of a mental

time favourite novels. Fathallah herself was diagnosed spent time in a psychiatric ward. According to her

Random House Group profile, the fully recovered Fathallah “tells her story through the persona of

Jessica”, the teen narrator of Monkey Taming. Whilst

Jessica says nothing too controversial, you would allow her to say it anyway, because she is a child formed from first-hand experience with the disease- whilst

it undoubtedly bias and retold for a fiction novel, it is an accurate account of being in a unit, with implicit suggestions of the negative effects of NHS mental health cuts and the pain of losing the “privilege” of

having visitors when you don’t follow the rules. Monkey Taming to me, though, is such a wonderful book

because it truly shows the strengths of the female

protagonist and her fellow patients, especially when they think they are at their weakest. All struggling

through normal teenage worries, but also happening

– IMAGE COURTESY OF BETHANY DAVIES –

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

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to be fighting an extreme battle. For the vulnerable

anniversary and the opening date of the final letter, she

we have no survivors to comfort. Taking pot shots

at it. It should be noted, though, that at the end of the

there is a recovery, and what you suffer from doesn’t

who filmed and distributed Kai’s indecent video. She

disrespectful.

resources at the end of the book; and where she gives

YA readers, it demonstrates to them that there is help, define you. For other readers, however, who may think such things don’t affect ‘anyone they know’, it shows

personality and humility to illnesses that might only to them be statistics, something that happens ‘to other

people’, or more recently something to be used as a

political power play. Monkey Taming may on one hand

be a bleak reminder of some less talked-of symptoms of anorexia, amongst other mental illnesses- no periods,

thicker hair growing on the body, always feeling colderbut on the other, it serves as a beacon of teenage joy, too; whether your Valentine’s Day ball is held at in a

psychiatric unit or the local youth club, you still want a date and maybe even a new outfit. Reading Monkey

Taming for the first time as a YA myself, I look back and consider it a wonderful book for banishing stereotypes and making a more accepting, understanding reader.

One cover of “undone” by Cat Clarke asks “How far would you fall for the truth?”. This could simply be

referring to falling into a web of lies; or into ‘love’, for whatever reason deemed necessary. However, the

cover image adds unsettling ambiguity- a slim, white, blonde girl, barefoot and in a lovely dress, leaning

forwards on tiptoe off a bridge. Suicide, but a glamorous one. Jem Halliday, the emo goth who loves death, and who hates labelling people just as much as she hates the slaggy popular plastic girls of her school- oh, the

irony. When her best friend Kai is outed online, within

one weekend he’s written her a dozen suicide letters,

persuaded her he’s fine then killed himself. Jem then,

on the month anniversary of Kai’s death, decides also to commit suicide. But alas, with impeccable timing, the letters arrive- dated, so she knows what to read and when- persuading her not to die but to dye her

hair blonde. (NB- It’s nice being blonde, but I wouldn’t say it’s that important.) So, whilst her ultimate focus is still on dying, with the target date moved to Kai’s year

decides to pass time by wreaking revenge on those

becomes one of the popular girls in school with help

at what we think it is like, can come across as a little

from her new hair, I assume; gets the hottest boy in

I started to read “My Heart & Other Black Holes” by

exactly his ex-girlfriend (see popular slaggy plastic girl

as a disclaimer. The mood of the novel I’m sure will

sixth form as her boyfriend; and learns all about what

reference) taught him. She seems perfectly happy. Of course, sufferers of depression can be popular, have

an otherwise picture-perfect life and have great sex if

they so want. It is the all-encompassing battle behind

the scenes that counts, the pain of feeling nothing and

everything, and the tiring ache of simply breathing. But inside Jem’s head, I didn’t sense this. I read of anger over Kai’s death and the inevitable heartache that

comes with losing a best friend, along with a growing

guilt about lying to dear hot boyfriend Lucas and popular co., but nothing sincere or lasting, that resembled

her in a depressive state. Furthermore, whilst suicide

can occur without depression, I didn’t understand the principle of waiting for a year to commit suicide when you were about to one month in. All for the sake of a

letter. I felt it was overly dramatic, and romanticised. Cat Clarke is a best selling author and has created some beautiful characters in undone, but I felt that Jem’s

actions weren’t always justified, and that as a character she was cleverer then how she acted. For the sake

of an edgy YA book, I felt some of the content within

the book was romanticised, and various scenes were rather like a movie blockbuster- expected high sales

being rather an important aspect of production. Notably, whilst the story contains a suicide rather early on, I felt it wasn’t the most important theme of the novel, with

revenge rearing its ugly head frequently, too. Whilst I

would read another Cat Clarke book, I would probably avoid any that once again feature suicide as a plot

device. Whilst I’m by no means a rigid advocate of the ‘only write about what you know’ rule, I feel suicide in

a first-person fiction is off limits. None of us will know

what thoughts it took someone to commit suicide, and

Jasmine Warga, but I never managed to complete it, vary from the introductory paragraph, but it is a dark

paragraph to read. It ponders on what dying feels like,

but also introduces the suicidal Aysel browsing at work on a site that offers to help you find a suicide partner, which her careless colleagues mistake for a dating

site. Reading through the clinical suicide plans made

book there is an author’s note, where Warga lists lifeline advice for those who feel as Aysel did, or how others can support their friends who may be struggling with depression. She also asks that you hold on to those

people in your life who truly matter, as well as writing

about the personal inspiration for the novel. So, whilst

the content of the novel may have been difficult to read, Warga has recognised her position as someone who

is of influence, and has gladly used it to also promote recovery and healthy living.

me feel uncomfortable in a negative manner. I wasn’t

In conclusion, I agree that mental illness can and should

truth about myself, or about humanity in general- I was

a positive influence in supporting people who YAs

uncomfortable because I was facing a revolutionary

uncomfortable at the casual dismissal of death, even in someone who doesn’t want to live. “The Lovely Bones” was a book that made me feel uncomfortable at times, but again, everything within the book felt justified, and

not simply to shock or to be a ‘taboo buster’. However, in My Heart & Other Black Holes, I realised that if we

want to talk more openly about sensitive topics such as suicide in entertainment fiction books, a first step might be trigger warnings, for those who have unexpectedly stumbled across such content. Whilst joint suicide is

mentioned in the blurb of this book, it can still be difficult to judge the nature of the material, whether it is explicit or implicit, or if it could be a said trigger warning. I for

one, potentially naïvely, wasn’t particularly aware of the idea of private joint suicides, or forums where it is all

organised. Which in itself leads on to another idea, that whilst we must still educate people on the importance of mental health and the problems with not having

ideal mental health, we must also find the balance

of not giving people ideas, either. As ever, there is a

responsibility with the role. Yes, teach how to be alert for signs of mental illness, and teach people how to

maintain mental wellbeing, but perhaps let’s not remind them they can have a suicide soulmate whilst we are

feature in YA books, as these such books can be such who feel alone and isolated. Furthermore, they help to spread awareness of mental illnesses, thus helping to

destroy the negative stigma associated at a young age.

However, it is important for highly charged materials and texts to contain warnings on the cover, to avoid triggers for those who may be vulnerable; or, much

like Warga chose to do, compile resources that offer

support to those who may need it, keeping the balance of awareness of mental health and the safety of those reading the content. We as a society are bombarded

with romanticised ideals of relationships, friendships, careers and family life- let’s not romanticise suicide

too. Continuing to destigmatise mental illness, promote

mental wellbeing and observing the beauty of everyday life, until cures can be found and hope can be seen by all, is one of the best ways we can spend our time.

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

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COAS ARTIST: ADAM FINDLAY

Adam Findlay, 22, is a Fine Art graduate who creates work based on the concept of identity, beauty and

gender boundaries. He questions gender performance; gender confusion; and gender distinction. In his own work, artists such as Orlan, Cindy Sherman, Bruce

Nauman, Grayson Perry and Bill Viola form a part of his inspiration.

He explores the theme of identity within his art practice, to give himself a better understanding of who he is. He is interested in seeing whether people’s perceptions

have helped formed the way he presents himself within

society- with his gender constantly being questioned, he intends to unravel the mystery of his identity crisis.

Adam uses photography, performance, film, costume

and installation within his practice, and is also interested in drag queens, performing arts, club kids, body

manipulation and avant-garde fashion. He aims to

create art which has visual beauty, yet may be slightly unsettling or confusing to the viewer’s eye.

By Sophie Skellern

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

findlay93@hotmail.co.uk

www.adamfindlay.wix.com/fineart www.instagram.com/afindlay93

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cultureonashoestring.co.uk

A visit to The Atkinson MODERN HISTORY VOL. ll WITH GHOSTS OF A RESTLESS SHORE MODERN HISTORY VOL. II IS THE SECOND OF THREE EXHIBITIONS THAT PROMOTE THE WORK OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, LIVING AND WORKING IN THE NORTH WEST. THE ARTWORK REFLECTS ON SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGE, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE 1960S. INITIATED BY THE CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS NETWORK NORTH WEST AND GUEST CURATED BY LYNDA MORRIS, THE THREE EXHIBITIONS AIM TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF ARTISTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE REGION.

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I grabbed the chance to review this exhibition through

Everywhere I looked within the Restless Shore room, I

sat there in the dark. (I was secretly trying to keep the

Morris and the exhibition. Not only was it about a

of circles in my own art. I find it materially symbolically

the growing rotating images on screen was the moon

been to before. (Plus, I could also go to Southport

circle on to the viewer. It is boundless and never ending- dark caves we want to hide in, or the dens we build as

a huge bonus!) I went with high expectations to be

physically pulls you into the centre of its being. The feel

slightly different. I initially thought the exhibition would

well displayed and, well- really quite inspiring. I found

quite some time to then realise I wasn’t even in the

because his work caught my eye the most. Collier is

Blaze- I had been told great things about both Linda

saw circles. This really pulled me in because I use a lot

subject I find interesting, it was at a gallery I’d never

pleasing, spiritually. Some invisible force radiates from a and universal matter. Video pieces for galleries are like

beach at the end of the day- for shells- which was

seeing the shape of a circle in an exhibition space

children. They connect us all to our inner child.

inspired by this, but what I found when I arrived was

of the exhibition was very Zen. It was inviting, intriguing,

thought of it in that way before. Is it something that a

be a bit bigger than it was… I admired one room for

a new artist I hadn’t heard of before, called Tim Collier,

Modern History section of the gallery yet. However, I

now one of my favourite artists.

looking at or reading about- called Ghosts of a Restless

Ghosts of a Restless Shore is pleasing to the eye and

on a series of walks made along the Sefton Coast.

of attention spans. I took three children to view the

Modern History Vol. II is on display from Tuesday 18

Collier (Photographer); Mike Collier (Visual Artist); Rob

all below the age of 7. Although there was a child’s

to hear what you think about this exhibition, and if you

This exhibition is on from 22nd August 2015- 15th

entertaining to run free in the corridors of the gallery,

and bring to bring the whole family.

art in the coastal walk exhibition kept us all quiet for

was inspired by another exhibition- which I couldn’t stop Shore, an exhibition of new mixed media work, based

the range of media helped occupy even the smallest

The artwork is produced by Jake Campbell (Poet); Tim

exhibition: my son, my brother and my sister, who are

Strachan (Sound Artist); and Sam Wiehl (Visual Artist).

room to colour and collage in, they found it much more

November 2015. I’d really recommend a trip to see this,

with the watchful eye of the gallery staff. The video

a while, because it was slowly mesmerising to watch.

Futuristic spherical shapes rolled before our eyes as we

children at bay.) After much deliberation, we all decided

Curiously, without taking the children I would never had curator should consider, how to best present a body of work to its audience? Doesn’t a varied range of work

connects to a varied range of audience? Maybe this is

why we connected best to viewing ‘Ghosts of a Restless Shore’, compared to walking through ‘Modern History Vol. ll’.

August 2015 – Sunday 8 November 2015. I’d really love have any views/ discoveries/ interesting facts about it, then please email me at:

antoniahennerleyert@hotmail.co.uk.

By Antonia Hennerley

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

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BLAZE FESTIVAL DIARIES DROP’IN

SKELMERSDALE ZOMBIES

PREVIEW Friday 23rd October_ 7-9pm

studying Level 3 Media Makeup at West Lancashire

Curated by Amy Lawrence

Open until Friday 30th October 5pm

A week long repossession of Accrington Library with artworks, interventions, talks, happenings

and workshops. You will see the space become

a temporary arts platform in which interventions

and ephemeral art works may be formed, noticed, ACCRINGTON

HUE, a stop-motion programme, was used to record

group decided they wanted to learn how to animate a

basics of timing and spacing (amongst other animation

For this year’s Blaze festival, Accrington’s Teen X-Treme stop motion film. So, Blaze contacted Ryan Hammond...

“On the first of three sessions, I brought in Wallace and Gromit books, emphasising how concept and design are important to animation- along with storyboard

the cardboard dinosaur pieces. Taught as a team the

principles), together they established the scenes. Our

last insight into a role within animation production was

using a USB microphone to record, in Imovie, voices for their characters.

development- to plan out scenes, a skill applicable to

Working as a teacher and group leader has been a

After character design exercises, we decided upon

repeat again. I’d like to think I gave the group enough

any narrative based project.

a dinosaur theme, beginning our story. We arrived

at a narrative that allowed everyone to try character

design, animation, directing, working the camera and storyboarding.

The result- a bird challenged hungry dinosaurs to

break her egg, citing that whoever succeeds can eat the yummy contents. Everyone tried, but eventually

the dinosaurs realise they’ve been tricked- the egg is a rock. The story gave the film a sketch-like pace- a new dinosaur for nearly every scene, each featuring one

unique way to crack the egg and progress the story.

very fun, interesting learning experience that I hope to knowledge and ideas to spark their imagination, ready to work on any animation projects in the future.

unnoticed and interacted with. The group of emerging artists challenge the perception of the public space and the societal boundaries associated with the quiet but abundant library, creating a series of

situations within the space over the course of the

week Blaze Artists have been working with Curator Amy Lawrence (and various visiting artists) over 10

weekly sessions, exploring various themes such as

chance, the workshop as an artwork its-self, surfaces

and textures found within the library, invisible artworks and observing it’s inhabitants. The exhibition is a

culmination of the ideas and themes generated from the sessions ARTISTS

Alex Ware

Antonia Hennerley Fern Nicholas

Hannah G Stringer Katie Suthers Oli Blight

Sophie Skellern

See Facebook page ‘Drop’in @ Blaze Festival 2015’

for information on workshops and the programme for the week.

My name is Chloe Wilson, I’m 17 and I’m currently

College. For the past four weeks, I have been lead makeup artist on a short Zombie film (Zombie

Anonymous) for Blaze Festival 2015. The comedy is about a gang of Zombie’s who attend a focus group.

Wendy is the group councillor and she basically bullies the Zombies. Tired of Wendy’s constant bullying, the group decide to take action! But you’d have to come along and watch the film to know more!

I’M REALLY ENJOYING THE PROCESS AND

I HAVE BEEN GIVEN CONSIDERABLY MORE

RESPONSIBILITY THAN PREVIOUS PROJECTS,

FROM SOURCING PROSTHETICS AND MAKEUP TO FACILITATING GROUP WORKSHOPS. I’M ALWAYS

PRACTICING AND EXPERIMENTING AT HOME, SO IT’S GOOD TO HAVE OTHERS TO TEST OUT MY IDEAS AND DESIGNS.

The end result will look great! Working with Director James Shaw and meeting new people has been an

amazing experience. The group is very fun and really

want to do something different than your typical Zombie film. I just hope people enjoy the film and that I can

continue to develop my skills. The future is bright and hopefully full of many more Zombies.

Zombie Anonymous will premiere at Skelmersdale Library on Monday 26th Oct at 5pm.

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

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BLAZE FESTIVAL DIARIES

BURNLEY

PRESTON

around the corner! This year part of the event will

We’ve been really busy working with Blaze in Preston

Its time to get your gear on, the Blaze festival is right be held at The Crib at Burnley Library and we are

working hard to make the event amazing for you. I am part of the crib committee and I will be helping out in any and every way possible.

There will be workshops by Kelly Loughlin and Cherry

Grimm Tales in Preston

to develop a promenade performance inspired by the Grimm Brother’s Fairytales. We’ve been working with Bethan Mascarenhas (artist) and Shona Thompson (Blaze) and they’ve been wonderful and inspiring!

Styles for you to be part of, performances from J-short

We meet every Monday and now we’re meeting on

for you to take part in. Don’t worry, you do not have to

been developing characters, writing scripts, making

and other artists, Video Jams and other interactive fun wait long and there will be gigs and activities Burnley,

leading up to the big festival (so you can enjoy the fun earlier!).

This will hopefully open up your minds about the

Arts and how creative and educating it can be and

something that you can have a career in too. Not only

can you get involved with all the workshops and events and see the performances, but there are numerous

opportunities for you to be part of it. Whether that is as an artist, teaching a workshop, helping to organise the event and bringing your ideas to life.

I didn’t think there would be room for me to do anything or my skills were valuable- but I was wrong. Do not

hesitate to get in contact and do attend the festival- it’s not one to be missed!!

Tabassum Ali

Saturdays too because there’s so much to do. We’ve props and doing loads of research!

I’m really looking forward to performing for Blaze

Festival at The Harris – it’s such a grand building! Our

shows are on 28th and 29th October from 6pm. It’s half term so I hope it will be really busy!

SKEM COMIX Skem Comix was a graphic novel comic workshop project run over the summer in Skelmersdale library. Sixteen young people worked with comic artist Ben Hunt creating comic strips and stories using the comic medium. At the same time as this, Blaze was working with young people and award winning director James on a zombie

film (to be premiered at Blaze Festival 2015). This theme seeped into the comic and six of the young people got involved in both projects so were able to create back stories for their film characters. Four others worked on a

photo story creating life sized comic cut out characters, while others contributed some individual ideas loosely connected. The full 28 page version will be online from mid October and limited printed versions will also be available.

In the meantime, sit back and enjoy this offering...

this sample of the horror and the grisly grimness of a Zombie Take Over in Skelmersdale…

cultureonashoestring.co.uk cultureonashoestring.co.uk

27 ////27

HEBDEN BRIDGE is a bold and bright little town, with gorgeous views and a vast array of shops to spend time in. However, there’s one big day that especially draws in the crowds. It’s fun, it’s friendly, and it’s mostly on a field.

Here’s a whistle-stop tour of what I love about Hebden Bridge’s Handmade Parade…

THE ATMOSPHERE

Hebden Bridge still has the community feel that is all but legend now. When you’re lined up on the streets,

watching the parade pass by, there’s always someone waving hello to a supporter, or vice versa. Prams and wheelchairs are seen amongst the parade and live band, with all dressed in imagination, and everyone is positive and inclusive.

THE WEATHER

Rain can’t dampen the spirits of the Handmade Parade. If it is sunny, fantastic- if not, you can still get pictures of the puppets later. They are left in the park under a thin sheet of plastic, but your pictures of them still look awesome.

THE FOOD

There’s excellent cafés and restaurants dotted all over Hebden Bridge- it’s the town where one of the best brownies I have ever tasted can be bought. However, for the Handmade Parade, food stalls appear in the

park in their masses. With a large variation of food, also including gluten free, vegetarian and vegan, there’s

something for everyone. Personally, I love to try all kinds of new foods there; the vegetarian meals I have never even heard of before, or tasty homemade soups in a variety of unusual flavours.

THE HANDMADE PARADE

The Parade itself is a wonderful sight to behold. Giant puppet characters are created, some so large they are attached to bikes to mobilise them; great, sweeping birds, controlled by three or four people, with beautiful

ruffle effects and wisdom skilfully painted into their eyes; comic characters with entertaining acts- my personal favourite being birds that juggle their suitcases for a weekend break away- and the classic stilt-walkers; and finally, a brass band and drum band, spaced throughout the parade and getting the crowds dancing. Short

plays are held in the park after the parade, and the bands return for dancing and short gigs. Each Parade has a particular theme, often with an important note from the need to protect our environment and those who live within it, to the glory of Mother Nature and her subjects.

There are so many wonderful things I could praise Hebden Bridge’s Handmade Parade for, but I couldn’t do them justice. To understand, it’s really something you would have to see yourself.

By Bethany Pearson

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CARAVAN GALLERY

cultureonashoestring.co.uk cultureonashoestring.co.uk

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CARAVAN GALLERY

29 ////29

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COAS ARTIST: BETHANY DAVIES

Bethany Davies, 21, is a Photography graduate

from Blackburn. Interested in photography since

her school-days, she wandered around at first with

disposable cameras, until she gained her first digital

camera. Promptly, she found herself developing ‘the

photographer’s eye’- seeing patterns and compositionand framing objects, settings and scenarios.

She has always been drawn to photographing the smaller aspects and the little quirks of daily life,

considering herself to be more of a people watcher. She notes the fleeting, minor details.

The playfully titled body of work ‘it ain’t so grim up

north’ is a project Bethany started whilst in her final

year at university. It aims to challenge the ‘it’s grim up north’ misconception. She wanted to present a visual

exploration of the positivity that can be found up here in the North, much the same as anywhere else in the world. To see and/or contribute to Bethany’s project, visit her blog using the address below.

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…

I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”

- Elliott Erwitt

By Sophie Skellern

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Bethany.jane.davies@outlook.com

www.itaintsogrimupnorth.wordpress.com www.bethanyjane.moonfruit.com

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Technology and memories...

It’s a sweltering summer evening and my little cousin

posts really hold any substance? Am I more likely to

younger sister with a water pistol. His mother stands

because I posted a picture of it on the Internet?

charges around the playground, taking aim at his

attentively to the side, watching the sweet innocence of childhood through the screen of her smartphone,

recording every inch of their movement in machine-gun fashion: repeatedly jabbing away at the touch-screen shutter release in sheer fear of missing something.

Undoubtedly, all of these photos will end up on

Facebook within the hour; in a couple of days, they will have been replaced by another batch.

IRONICALLY ENOUGH, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN RECENT YEARS

ABOUT THE IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE SO-CALLED REAL WORLD. ON ONE HAND, PEOPLE CITE STATISTICS ON INCREASED ANXIETY, DECREASED SELF-

WORTH AND A LACK OF SOCIAL COMPETENCE; ON THE OTHER, PROPONENTS OF SOCIAL

More often than not, when I take a trip up to see my

parents, I end up rooting through the cupboards and

dragging out the photo boxes. I lift the lids and immerse myself in the wealth of faded photographs of my

seven year-old self, interspersed with photographs of

people that I’ve never met. In the digital age, nostalgia

dictates that there is something special about a physical

artefact – in this instance, a printed picture – but the true enchantment lies within the inky memories: the single

photograph of my father at a house party in the 70s, or

the family trip to Disneyworld when I was four, recorded entirely on a 24-exposure disposable camera. In a time when there was no such thing as an infinite number of photographs, moments were captured sparingly, and

consequently, they were lived fully and experienced with our undivided attention.

MEDIA ASSERT THAT IT IS, AT ITS HEART, A

In fifteen years, when my cousins reach their 20s, I fear

EXTEND OUR SOCIABILITY AROUND THE GLOBE.

magic of their intricately documented youths lost to the

COMMUNICATIVE TOOL, ALLOWING US TO

But less discussed is the impact of social media on our memories. As we lay awake at night, scrolling through

our Instagram and Facebook feeds until our eyes grow

that such sweet reminiscence will be impossible, the

accessibility and over-abundance of their photographs.

And as for their mother, will she have diluted that

memory by experiencing it through a 4-inch screen?

heavy under the LED lights and we finally drift away

Perhaps worst of all, if those photographs exist solely on

the information that we’ve looked at? Do the photos

still be out there.

into sleep, do we really retain anything of value, in

– IMAGE COURTESY OF BETHANY DAVIES –

remember the great pizza I ate five months ago just

and witty one-liner status updates really make lasting imprints in the mind? And on the flip side, do our own

Facebook, there really is no guarantee that they’ll even

By Cameron Procter

cultureonashoestring.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON art, theatre, music...

COAS // ART

COAS // THEATRE

COAS // MUSIC

25TH SEPTEMBER 2015– 10TH JANUARY 2016-

21ST AND 22ND OCTOBER 2015-

25TH SEPTEMBER 2015-

Manchester Art Gallery - An exhibition examining the

Fuel present a new piece of theatre, telling a story

emerging R&B, Pop, Soul musicians - Raising money

extraordinary circumstances, or the story of an

to people fleeing Syria’s brutal conflict. Revolution,

Matthew Darbyshire: An Exhibition for Modern Living: nature of how and why individuals collect. FREE 22ND OCTOBER 2015-

Drink & Draw– Alternative Life Drawing Class:

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery– 6:30pm. £5 31ST OCTOBER 2015-

The Dance of the Dead: Gypsy Carrot Productions

present an all-night indoor festival in an abandoned church– The Bureau, Blackburn. Tickets £12 UNTIL 7TH NOVEMBER 2015-

The Grundy, Blackpool: For 2015, the Grundy presents ‘Sensory Systems’, a substantial

new exhibition which brings together works by

internationally acclaimed artists, who are interested in both the technology and science of light and

how this can be deployed and shaped to affect our

experience of space. FREE until 8th November 2015Blackpool Illuminations. FREE

Fuel presents: The Preston Bill: Andy Smith & from The North- the story of an ordinary life in

extraordinary life in ordinary circumstances. You can decide. 8:00pm. DONATIONS 20TH NOVEMBER 2015-

The Whispering Road: Darwen Library TheatreIncorporating the rich Swedish folk tradition and

instruments, spoken word, song and music, ‘The Whispering Road” tells the story of hope in the

darkness, of two strangers bound by a ring and of the one who could not love. 7:30pm. Tickets £8 22ND NOVEMBER 2015-

The Circus of Horrors - WELCOME TO THE

CARNEVIL: Civic Arts Centre, Oswaldtwistle7:30pm. Tickets from £18

28TH NOVEMBER 2015- An evening with Noel Fielding: King Georges Hall- 8:00pm. £28.50

12TH NOVEMBER 2015-

5TH DECEMBER 2015- 6th December 2015-

Blackburn is Open – 6:30pm. £5

Convention: With stars from the movies, props

Drink & Draw – Alternative Life Drawing Class: UNTIL 14TH NOVEMBER 2015-

Cotton to Gold: Extraordinary Collections of the

Industrial North West: Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. FREE

UNTIL 6TH DECEMBER 2015- Both Sides Now:

Centre for Contemporary Chinese Arts, ManchesterBoth Sides Now: It was the Best of Times, it was the

Worst of Times? Is part of a six-month programme of screenings, exhibitions and residencies involving 15

arts organisations in the UK, China and Hong Kong.

FREE

For the Love of the Force - A Star Wars Fan

exhibitions, live music and more- Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester. Tickets £8 13TH DECEMBER 2015-

Manford’s Comedy Club: Civic Art Centre,

Oswaldtwistle- Every month Jason Manford selects four fantastic comedians from the comic circuit and brings them to The Civic! Line up TBC– (age 16+) 8:00pm. Tickets £12.50

Oxjam party at revolution: With Live Music by

for Oxfam emergency appeal to get life-saving aid Oxford Road, Manchester- Tickets £6 28TH OCTOBER 2015-

The Hoosiers: King George’s Hall, Blackburn– 7:00pm. Tickets £15.50

4TH NOVEMBER 2015-

Good Foxy: Rockin Rollin Psychedelic Music - Live at the Oaks, Lancaster

10TH NOVEMBER 2015-

Lord Huron: Gorilla, Manchester Tickets- 7:00pm. £14

13TH NOVEMBER 2015-

Ska Face: Ska Face keep it real and enjoy every minute with an infectious stage show of power,

energy and damn good tunes that you just have to dance to. There is no better remedy to a stressful week than a few cheeky drinks and dancing like

a loon... and that’s just the band! The Continental, Preston- 8:00pm

23RD NOVEMBER 2015-

The Album Leaf: The Deaf Institute, Manchester -

Tickets £16.50.

12TH DECEMBER 2015-

Sky Valley Mistress: Rock band– “The best thing

you’ve never heard”- The Park, Darwen

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– IMAGE COURTESY OF ADAM FINDLAY –

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