// an alternative view into birminghams art culture.
STRAY / ISSUE 001
WE HEAR.. Bon Iver playing at the Birmingham O2 Academy - Interview and photography.
WE look... At the history of the Custard Factory and Digbeth through the eyes of ‘Stray Cat’.
WE WATCH.. The style choices of two local cretaives and ‘Block’ - a pilot episode for a potential television series produced and filmed in Birmingham.
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stray/ Noun: A stray person or thing, esp. a domestic animal. Verb: Move without a specific purpose or by mistake, esp. so as to get lost or arrive somewhere where one should not be: “I strayed a few blocks”. Adjective: Not in the right place; not where it should be or where other items of the same kind are: “he pushed a few stray hairs from her face”. Synonyms: verb. wander - rove - get lost - roam adjective. lost - errant
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AT ‘STRAY’ WE DEDICATE OUR PAGES TO CAPTURING AND DOCUMENTING THE WORK AND LIVES OF THE VARIOUS STRAYS ROAMING THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM. WHETHER IT BE A PERSON, SITUATION, ANIMAL, IDEA OR CONCEPT - WE LOVE ANYTHING THAT DARES TO PULL AWAY FROM THE ‘NORMAL’ REALMS OF SOCIETY, WHILST TAKING A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE CREATIVE ARTS. HERE WE HONOUR THE OUT-CAST AND EMBRACE INDIVIDUALITY. IN THE FAMOUS WORDS OF MALCOLM MUGGERIDGE “NEVER FORGET THAT ONLY DEAD FISH FOLLOW THE STREAM”
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Fashion determins who i am - Ella Foulger What is the importance of fashion to you as an individual? Fashion is a main factor of my life, I enjoy choosing what I’m going to wear that day especially if I’m going to a certain occasion. Would you say that fashion determines who you are as an individual? To an extent yes..but often I can change my styles so I can go from being one style of person to a completely different one. Being original with my style of fashion really allows me to be experimental and creative with what I choose to wear and how I choose to wear it.
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What are your two favourite fashion garments or accessories? 1. My bodycon black skirt, it goes with everything and is a great outfit extra! 2. My gold necklace adds great detail to an understated outfit and creates quite a statement.
Does anybody inspire you on what you wear on a daily basis? Many aspects of my life can inspire me on what I choose to wear every day this could include the seasons and occasion.
06 Fashion top tips. 4. Remember Simplicity can often be best.
1.Never be afraid to mix and match.
2. Always wear that one statement piece.
3. Feel great in what you wear.
Often mixing and matching can leave you with a great eyecatching outfit. Items in your wardrobe can often be very different and yet go together great.
Wearing that one statement piece can really turn outfit from being something which was very plain to something very original and bold.
Whatever you choose to wear on When it comes to choosing your a daily outfit you can basis should often want to be as make you feel eye-catching as great and possible, but confident no remember it’s matter what often the simple occasion. designs that can be most effective.
5.Be the one who stands out from the crowd.
6.Experiment with colours and Patterns.
When buying those pieces of clothes make sure that they’re going to make you look different from the rest. Be the one with the latest trend and interpret it to be something of your own. When choosing what your going to wear it can often be exciting and fulfiling to produce you own styles and originalty.
when it comes to experimenting with colour and patterns, it can be very easy to over detail an outfit or even complicate it more than needs be. You should always look at the pieces of clothing that you putting together and look at the main 3 colours in them, if the colours match then the outfit can be perfect.
Stray / style
pERCEPTION OF FASHION
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Ella fOULGER fASHION SHOOT
Ella fOULGER fASHION SHOOT
Clothes show live What is the clothes show about? The clothes show is a fashion based event which brings together mainly fashion designers and stylists, it is an organised event showcasing all kinds of designers. The event consists of a fashion catwalk show a dance show and also several named celebrity appearances including Alexander Burke and George Lamb.
When and where does the clothes show live take place? The clothes show live takes place from the 2nd until the 7th December consisting of 6 days in total. Each day has different celebrities featured and different live performers. The clothes show is at the NEC Birmingham. The NEC is a large venue centre in Birmingham, and is often the destination for many large scale events like this one. these, it is influenced by the Birmingham city council.
nec birmingham 2-7th of december Tickets and prices.
There are two types of tickets that you can purchase for the clothes show, they are either the standard ticket - which costs £27.50 and then the preminum ticket which costs £39.00. The standard ticket includes entrance to clothes show live and dance show as well as a seat in the Suzuki theatre. The premium ticket includes all of the above as well as a free goody bag and welcome guide. Whose featured? There are many different celebrity faces that will be making an appearance at the clothes show live including Alexander Burke, George Lamb, The Risk and members of the ‘TOWIE’ cast, including Lauren. Goodger and Kirk Norcross Hollyoaks cast, jeff braiser, parade and many more.
Gok wans fashion fix bullring birmingham
How has the show inspired you?
‘Gok Wan’s Fashion Fix’ is a television series in which Gok Wan transforms members of the public using his fashion style tips and knowledge. It includes styling them in a carefully selected range of clothes and making the person feel self-confident and proud of their appearance. Below I have interviewed a student from Birmingham City University called ‘ Autumn Townsend’ who recently attended ‘Gok Wan’s Fashion Fix’ in the Bullring, Birmingham. Here are her views on it:
It definitely changed my perception of high street fashion, I now believe that high street clothes can quite easily look very high end with the right type of directed styling. I particularly liked the outfit featuring the gold dress which came to under £50 from River Island, which is affordable for myself as a student.
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“Gok wans fashion fix was a great experience” Did you enjoy the show?
Did you enjoy the audience experience?
Did you enjoy the bullring?
Yes it was very inspiring and exciting, I particularly enjoyed the fashion show which featured highstreet vs high end fashion, I personally voted for highstreet which I thought was very surprising because the styling was so spot on. I would definitely attend again as it was very worthwhile
Yes definatly, it had a great fun atmosphere, I was fortunate enough to be chosen to sit on the front row which really allowed me to feel part of the fashion show. When the fashion show was over I was asked on interview which styles were my favorite which I very much enjoyed because it made me feel as though my opinion mattered.
Yes the Bullring is a great shopping centre, ‘Gok Wan’s Fashion Fix’ was right in the middle so there were many people stood around giving it a great vibe throughout the show. There were many shops in the bullring that I often shop at, and with it being situated in the highstreet it is all affordable for students.
Custard factory
Not far from one of Birmingham’s biggest attractions, The Custard factory is a building built 100 years ago, & is now home to restaurant’s, shops, and full of creative young people showing off their talents, also with galleries and exhibitions. It is also home to one of Birmingham’s biggest nightclubs. All part of a working community who know how to party too. The factory was built years ago by Sir Alfred Bird, the inventor of custard, he had a lot of workers at one point but then the factory fell apart and became derelict. It got taken over in the 1990s they restored it and announced it the ‘Open House’ to all Birmingham’s people. There were many people interested and since then a community of 500 artist and creative enterprises. It has pretty much everything in there - meeting rooms, art galleries, cafes, bars, clothing shops, art shops, antique shops and even a night club. A hive of activity in the city centre the custard factory is well known as the place to be with its creative and relaxed atmosphere. Its positive vibe is what it is widely known for with
visitors and business owners personalities shining through giving the custard factory its strong feeling of a family community while still being at the centre on the countries second city. Everything from its quirky boutiques run with passion and love to its intriguing architecture are exactly what makes it popular with people of all ages keen to express their creative eye. Its featured art gallery is currently its main attraction with young design students seeking
inspiration and success within their field. The Selection of shops is sure to impress anyone, with handcrafted furniture and vintage clothes shops there really is nothing missing from this inner city neighbourhood. Its strong support network is truly remarkable! Its nightclub is always featuring the best of Birmingham’s new talent from dance crews and young mc’s to expectant DJ’s hoping to gain popularity within the media world. It’s recent refurbishment have really given this urban village the final push it needs to cater for it’s already broad group of businesses and investor’s. Walking through the modern gallery and outside courtyard you truly feel like you have walked into two
very different worlds. It’s all glass fronted offices and shops just add to the uniqueness of this stunning vintage building. It may once have been the birthplace of one the nations favourite pudding sauces, but it is how it is now that makes it prosper into what it was always meant to be a inner city neighbourhood creating friendships and livings to the people who really make Birmingham what it is today. The home of young talent and creative design it is as if this factory was always built for people to find solace within its innovative walls. A hidden gem that is more than deserving of the time and passion that so many clearly invest into it.
STYLE
STALKER.
Tracing the tracks of those in Birmingham who aren’t afraid to Stray from main-stream trends.
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I SEE... The streets of Birmingham. Doctor Who. Fine Liners. Cooking programmes. Lucky trolls. Classic horror films. Glue guns. Humans. My mac. Dinosaurs. Sci-Fi. Comedies. Rats and cats. Derelict buildings.
i’ve been on earth ... Nineteen years. I recently moved from Chelmsford in Essex to Birmingham in order to study ‘Visual Communication’ at Birmingham City University (Institute of Art and Design).
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i hope to spend the rest of my days... Dedicated to creating my illustrations in a studio crammed with cats and tea. I prefer to use a proper strainer and tea pot, bags are for fools.
i wear... Clothes made from scrap pieces of material that I find in discount fabric shops and Doc. Martin’s. Me and my friend hang around outside adult cinema club’s taking unauthorised photograhps.
i listen to... Nirvana, Gaga, Abba and Bon Iver. To me England sounds like a heard of crumpets marching to the beat of the Queens drum, falling snow, smokey cottages, crunchy toast and knitting Grandmothers.
S t r ay m u s i c / / Bon Iver birmingham 02 academy 9 / 11 / 11 As I stand crushed up against a crowd, clearly brimming with anticipation of whats to come, I begin to get the sense that I am in for an incredibly special night. A strong buzz of excitement is hanging in the midst of the dedicated fans that have packed tightly into O2 Academy, Birmingham. As the lighting dims, the crammed mass of people draw to a hush and the shadowy silhouettes of band members entering the stage begin to
flicker into view. Moments later the incredibly distinctive sound of Justin Vernon’s voice begins to echo the opening line of ‘Perth’ with the faultless cocktail of instruments, that make Bon Iver so incredibly profound, following closely behind. The audience is noticeably enraptured and at that point it is as though the band have instantly got each and every individual in the room nestled in the palms of their hands, lulling them into a surreal world
of beautifully crafted lyrics and vocals that somehow manage to capture both fragility and strength at the same time. The name ‘Bon Iver’ is derived from the french phrase ‘bon hiver’ meaning “have a good winter”. Founded in 2007 by American Indie/Folk singersong writer Justin Vernon the band consists of three other core members: Michael Noyce (vocals, baritone, piano), Sean Carey (drums, vocals, piano) and Matthew McCaughan (bass, drums, vocals). Vernon independently released Bon Iver’s debut album ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ in July 2007. The majority of the album was recorded when Vernon spent three months in a remote cabin in Northern West Wisconsin after battling a series of challenging life events including the break-up of a relationship and his previous band, DeYarmond Edison. The album went on to be officially released
in February 2008 by Jagjaguwa, at which point it began to get recognised and receive critical acclaim. This led to a rush of reviews giving ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ a rating of 5/5 and both Mojo and Uncut magazine naming it ‘Album of the Month’. In March 2011, Vernon told Rolling Stone that a follow up to Bon Iver’s debut album would be released during the following June.
“Only love is all maroon Gluey feathers on a flume Sky is womb and she’s the moon” - ‘Flume’
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Understandably, many members amongst the large yet cult-like fan group of ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ approached the second self-titled album with caution, in the fear that the raw, yet perfectly formed and unadulterated song writing talent and heartfelt emotion in the first album may have been lost during the bands rise to success over the last 4 years. As expected, the second offering from Bon Iver did show a significant step away from the debut album, replacing the rough, brutally honest, log cabin inspired roots with a more polished and refined version. Yet the fragile vocals and beautiful lyrics remained engrained in each and every track, reassuring fans that Vernon and the rest of the band were not ones to be swayed by fame and success, and were more than prepared to remain true to themselves and their fol-
“I’m tearing up Across your face Move dust through the light To find your name” - ‘Perth’ lowers. The album consists of 10 tracks and takes a notable new direction in style, introducing the use of other musicians/vocalists to change the scene. It is an ambitious musical departure from ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’, yet it carries the same breath taking, stripped back purity that makes Bon Iver so captivating. The band also announced the dates for their international tour on the release of the second album, committing to play in over 10 countries
including: America, Germany, Canada, Sweden, England and Australia. It is as a result of this announcement that I find myself in Birmingham, crammed up against a mass of people that are so vidently soaking up the wonderful atmosphere that is created as Bon Iver play through their new material - proving it to be just as good as their original work. Despite the heavy orchestration, Vernon’s voice remains remarkably distinguishable, with every note completely filling the room. During the second half of the show the band begin to play their older material, including classic favourites such as ‘Skinny Love’, ‘Blood Bank’ and ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’. There is no denying that these songs raise excitement in the audience, as Vernon encourages everybody to sing along with the band. As I stand amongst the mis-mash of peo-
ple chanting the chorus of ‘Skinny Love’ I realise what it is that make Bon Iver so special - their ability to bring people together and create the a true sense of community through the power of music alone. In a society that seems to be becoming increasingly judgemental and bitter towards those who choose to stray away from a typical and conventional way of life, this is sweet reassurance. Bon Iver channel their own resentment towards this ignorant, small-minded attitude by producing beautifully crafted music that ignores this way of thinking, providing a soundtrack to be proud of for the ‘outcasts’ of society. I highly recommend seeing Bon Iver, not only to the Indie/Folk followers out there, but to anybody who is a fan of live music, as this band have the ability to provide a performance that echoes perfection in every way. text & photography: jesska jones
A collaboration between two local art students Photographer: Jesska Jones and Illustrator: Alonzo Fontaine. By mixing lomography and illustration together, Fontaine and Jones give an insight into how Digbeth, Birmingham may appear through the eyes of this months ‘stray’ of focus, - the cat.
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credit & contributions Graphic Design: Aymi Duignan. Illustration: Alonzo Fontaine. Photography: Jessica Jones. Fashion Photography: Emily Davies. ‘Stray Cat’ Photography & Text: Jessica Jones . Illustration: Alonzo Fontaine. ‘Stray Style’ Photography & Text: Emily Davies. ‘Custard Factory’ Text: Aymi Duignan. Photography: Jessica Jones. ‘Stray Music’ Text & Photography: Jessica Jones. ‘Block Review’ Text: Alonzo Fontaine. ‘Style Stalker’ Text & Photography: Jessica Jones. Illustration: Model’s own. Typography/Illustration Spreads Aymi Duignan. Front & Back Cover Design Alonzo Fontaine. Contents & Layouts Aymi Duignan. Ident (Link on following page) Alonzo Fontaine.
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