August 2O13
New Free Magazine
Positive Leeds
Reviews On Corn Exchange 15Oth Anniversary Springsteen and I Indifferent Matter Plus Much More
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Information
Positive Leeds is a cultaral magazine based in the city of Leeds. Tired of seeing nothing but negative news broadcast to us all across the media, Positive Leeds aims to bring you fresh, exciting and most importantly positive news happening right here in the city. Design, Editing, Photography and Writing by Joseph Whitney.
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Contents Events Events In August - Page 4-5
Featured Event Corn Exchange - Page 6-9
Art C O L L I D E R - Page 1O-11 Indifferent Matter - Page 12-13
Film & Theatre Springsteen and I - Page 14-15
Food & Drink Food& Secret Gathering - Page 16-17
Other
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Leeds Sky Ride - Page 18-19 Kirkstall Festival - 2O-21
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Events In August Art
Through the Magic Mirror July 19th - 12th January Leeds Museum This exciting free exhibition, specially designed for children, brings Anthony Browne’s picture book world to life. Northern Sole August 1st - 26th October The Craft Centre and Design Gallery Northern ceramicist Hilary Simms showcases her raku fired forms in her first solo showcase here in the gallery.
Indiff,erent Matter: From Object to Sculpture July 25th - 2Oth October Henry Moore Institute The exhibition pairs four key twentieth-century sculptures by Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-96), Hans Haacke (b. 1936), Andy Warhol (1928-87) and Robert Smithson (1938-73) with a series of ancient objects. SAA-uk Summer School August 5th - 11th August Leeds College Of Music LAURA PANNACK Annual Summer School is seven days of activities July 17th - 24th September including music, visual art, in a safe and fun filled White Cloth Gallery New exhibition exposes the private world of young environment. british naturists. A Ground breaking photography Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure project by award-winning photographer, Laura August 8th, 7pm - 1Opm Pannack. Brudenell Socail Club Presented by RECON, Brudenell Social Club & Leeds It’s A Cut Up Film. July 23rd - 12th October With shorts programme and a live performance by The Gallery At Flannels Sense of Adventure Tape Deck Orchestra. The exhibition shows the art of photomontage and assemblage. To celebrate this glorious art, It’s Not Going To Gigs Is Killing Live Music! a Cut Up, has brought together the work of Peter August 8th, 7:OOpm - 1O:OOpm Kennard, Graham Rawle, Chila Kumari Burman, Stephen Golding, Ian Killen, Jon Langford and Mark The Packhorse A night of loud music where punk meets Lazenby. steampunk! A great night out with BBBlackDog with support Cartoons of Margaret Thatcher from Dirt Royal and Damaged. July 23rd July - 31st August Leeds Gallery Political Cartoons from the Thatcher years, covering Live At Ham - Fatal Bear Attack August 13th 7:3Opm - 9:3Opm a diverse range of subjects. Friends Of Ham Grooves and irreverent pop tunes from this Spring Rain: Becky Beasley sax/guitar/percussion trio. To avoid audience July 12th - 22nd September disappointment the group play under the name Leeds Art Gallery ‘Fatal Bear Attack’, in the hope that you’ll be In this exhibition, British artist Becky Beasley explores relationships between photography and pleasantly surprised when hearing the trio’s mellow tones. objects, the body and literature.
Music
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Film & Theatre
Food & Drink
Bugsy Malone - Film/Evening Performance Leeds Minster Tour And Tea August 11th -12:3Opm to 11:OOpm August 1Oth - 21st September Outlaws Yacht Club Leeds Minster Sneaky Experience’s sister company, Sneaky Cine, Leeds Minster stands where Christians have announces a one-off intimate special. For these worshipped for some 12OO years. Explore the sneaky shenanigans you’ll need to dress in your treasures of this magnificent church in the company finest prohibition-era garb to enter the world of Fat of a guide and then enjoy tea in the cafe. Sam’s Grand Slam, with dancing girls, boxing and a photo-booth; with flappers, gangsters and wise-guy IronCupcake:Leeds August - Disney actors drawing guests into the action. August 11th 2013 6:OOpm - 7:3Opm IronCupcake:Leeds is a friendly cupcake-baking Sneaky Cine Presents Catfish competition in Leeds city centre, open for everyone August 28th 2O13 6:OOpm - 9:OOpm to attend! Our next event is themed Disney and will White Cloth Gallery feature up to 20 different cupcake entries. Produced in 2O1O, this film has created a whole new meaning of the term «Catfish», and portrays an The Depressed Cake Shop unsettling side to online social networking. August 4th 1O:3Oam - 4:OOpm Leeds Corn Exchange Blancanieves It is part of a global network of shops selling only August 3rd -4th August grey coloured cakes or cakes which reflect mental Hyde Park Picture House illness in some form or another to raise awareness Of the recent plethora of Snow White movies, of mental health issues and provide a platform for Berger’s silent, black-and-white take on the Grimms’ discussion. tale is the perhaps grimmest, but also the most imaginative.
Other
First Floor - Summer In The City July 29th - 22nd August West Yorkshire Playhouse First Floor is West Yorkshire Playhouse’s venue for you if you are aged 11 to 19 (14 to 25 with a learning disability). Whether you want to try something new or develop your skills, there are lots of different music, drama and art activities on offer. Breeze On Tour - Roundhay Park August 7th - 8th August Roundhay Park There is something for all young people aged O to 19 years! The Art Zone, Challenge Zone, Performance Zone (hosting the heats of the Breeze Has Talent competition), Play Zone, Sport Zone. Leeds West Indian Carnival August 26th, 12:OOpm - 5:OOpm Potternewton Park Held every August Bank Holiday Monday this spectacular parade regularly attracts crowds in excess of 1OO,OOO to the city making it one of the
Leeds Pride August 4th Millennium Square The 8th annual Leeds Gay Pride event in the city with headline act Sophie Ellis Bextor! Starting in Millennium Square at midday, the parade stage officially kicks off Leeds Pride with speakers and a selection of performances. Citizen Bike August 1st - 11th Leeds Trinity Shopping Centre ‘Citizen Bike’ is set to be as theatrical as it is competitive. Adapted with a mile-o-meter, a webcam keeps watch and allows the rest of the world to see the progress online. How many miles can you cycle? City Beach August 1Oth - 1st September Millennium Square City Beach brings the excitement and fun of the seaside to Leeds city centre for three weeks during
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Featured
Leeds Corn Exchange 15Oth Aniversary
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Design by architect Cuthbert Brodrick, the same man who designed Leeds Town Hall, Leeds Corn Exchanged opened its doors in on the 28th July 1863. It only stopped serving as a Corn Exchange in the early 90’s and now is home to designers, beauty parlours, jewellers, boutiques, restaurants and cafes.To celebrate its 150th anniversary a two day event took place to pay homage to the centre’s Victorian heritage which included a Gin Palace and several pop-up shops including a Victorian museum. This amazing structure is tucked away and almost hidden in the city centre with all the surrounding buildings. It is only once you are inside that you appreciate the beauty of it, with its spectacular domed roof and wonderful upper balcony leading to the stores and giving you a remarkable view overlooking the entire centre. Key to making this space so magical, is that it has kept most of its original features and although it has been refurbished the interior is mostly the same as it was 150 years ago.
Inside the building over the weekend of the 27th & 28th there was a rather interesting looking Gin Palace created by artistic duo Lord Whitney and in association with Primo’s they were offering affordable Gin based drinks. On the menu you had A Spiffing G&T’,‘A Rather Naughty Pink G&T’,‘A Most Splendid Tom Collins’and ’A Quintessential Double Shot Pimms No. 1 Cup’along with soft drinks. Lord Whitney also created a old style peep thru for people to create their own fun Victorian photos. A few of the empty shops had been transformed for the weekend and one by photographer/film - maker Simon Warner. Named the“Emporium of optical novelty”visitors were allowed to come and play and examine old optical illusions and some of the very first examples of moving image such as a kaleidoscope, zoetrope, flick books and a camera obscura which was outside turning the street upside-down!
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Other shops featured a pop-up Victoria museum run by Artemis, the Leeds Artefact and Art Loan Service who provided its collection of rare Victorian taxidermy, which either seemed to fascinated or scare the public. Next door to this on the upper balcony was a exhibition“Translated State: The essence of an industry which was created by Fine Line Arts which was a collection of work which was all inspired by Leeds Corn Exchanges past and present. No event is complete with out a Victoria Sponge Cake competition and Clandestine Cake Club provided the basis for one spanning both days with the eventual winning being announced on the Sunday. The whole event showed what a wonderful place Leeds Corn Exchange can be. re had a hive of activity throughout both days which is something you can’t say very often about the structure, often forgotten about and out the way people don’t tend to want to make that extra bit of effort to get there. Hopefully with this grand display and a growing reputation that will all change and the Corn Exchange will once again be thriving and full of shoppers on a daily basis.
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Crowd At Everything Everything
Art
COLLIDER Mexico Project Space has recently been the home of Collision, an exhibition by Richard Taylor. During a residency that lasted a fortnight, Taylor produced several durational pieces forming together to create the installation. A soundtrack “Witch Mountain is just a lake”was also present on the opening night. As Taylor invited friends into the space, they made sound which they added to the work.
The exhibition spanned two rooms; with a temporary wall being erected the gallery space became separated thus enabling each piece to inhabit its own space without interference from others. The artworks featuring in the show were“Collider”; a series of installations including a 35mm slide projection, a digital photograph, wooden shelves and eight model sculptures which were produced using the hands of each committee member at Mexico. Also included were: “Brace Brace” A 10x8 Kodak Kiosk photograph of part of a hand and “Dog Bite Crotch” - text on A3 card with a mirror below it - the text recapturing memories of a party being raided and the attempted effort of trying to get away before the gruesome inevitability of the title sinks in. “Expander” is a pencil drawing by Taylor again, with a mirror below the piece. “Font” is a collection of pieces: Dressing table, turkish lantern, tagine, baoding balls, paper bags, air drying modelling clay, clove oil, spray paint and found materials. “King Pe” again included objects such as roof insulation material (which was suspended in the air), peking opera masks, acrylic and found materials. “Dogs or Kids” - this was a text written from two different landscapes in two different countries, which shared the same aspirational vantage through description. The text was performed during the Q&A session entitled “Give me your rhombus, I want to play without instructions.” Not knowing much about the artist Richard Taylor or the area of work he was into, I found it hard to understand all of the works displayed. It did however look visually interesting and I was glad that I attended “Give me your rhombus I want to play without instructions”on the 17th July. It took place at the Henry Moore Institute in their seminar room which was lovely and cool and a welcome change from the sticky weather outside. Here I was able to gain an insight into the methods and thinking behind Taylor’s work. He talked about how he uses writing as a form of art and came upon the title for the show from a piece of text he is in the process of completing which will go into an art journal by an art group called 20 artists to be published at Glasgow CTA. He also went on to talk about the themes of his work and how they influence both writing and drawing. The Collider show was another well executed show by Mexico Project Space and shows that they are growing and growing with this show concluding an exchange between themselves and Embassy Gallery in Edinburgh.
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Font By Richard Taylor
Art
Indifferent Matter Indifferent Matter pairs four sculptures by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Hans Hacke, Andy Warhol and Robert Smithson. Each of the American artists challenges our ideas and conceptions of what sculpture can be by rethinking ways of displaying the works and even using materials previously unthought of when it comes to sculpture.
As you walk into the space the first piece you see is that of Felix Gonzalez-Torres named “Untitled” (Placebo) - the gallery floor is a sea of silver wrapped sweets. Open for the public to consume as they wish, it is the Institute’s job to return the piece to its original size at the end of each day. This piece is paired with Neolithic jade bi discs and t’sung columns. These were found in burial sites of the Liangzhu between 3400-2250 BC in Northern-Eastern China with their original purpose still unknown. Hans Haacke’s “Grass Cube” accompanies the two previous works in the first room and is a perspex box containing a tray of grass that has sprouted and will continue to grow over the course of the exhibition. Similar to“Untitled Placebo” the sculpture is dependent on the staff with the Perspex box being placed in natural light and checked on a regular basis to ensure it is growing. The work is coupled with a mineral with no name; having been recently discovered the mineral will be classified by the International Mineralogical Association the during time of Indifferent Matter making the piece an exciting prospect as we wait to hear of its name. The next room is unlike anything I have seen when it comes to sculpture with Andy Warhol’s “Silver Clouds” floating around the room. Instantly you get a sense of surrealism and feel like you’ve just entered someone’s dream, the balloons half-filled with helium and blown around the room by fans in strategic places making sure they never seem to touch the ground. With all this going on you almost miss the work the balloons seem to be surrounding, two marble sculptures of a male pair of legs and a female bust by British artist Steven Claydon. In the last room we find the work of Robert Smithson. His piece,“Asphalt Lump”- a piece of refuse from the production of steel - had already served Smithson’s intentions so he left it how he found it and presented it as an sculpture. Along with “Asphalt Lump” is a collection of eoliths - natural rocks that were once thought to be early man made tools and are still in museums today as the debates continue. I have always been a huge fan of the Henry Moore Institute and this proves my reasoning behind that. Where we once thought of sculpture in a narrow minded way, these artists opened the world up to possibilities where sculpture can be anything from balloons floating and grass growing to a mineral waiting to be granted a name!
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Silver Clouds By Andy Warhol
Untitled (Placebo) By Felix Gonzalez Torres
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Film &
Springsteen & I
When you decide to make a film about Bruce Springsteen fans you really have to understand a Springsteen fan. They are unlike any other music fan as you cannot simply just like Bruce you have to love him and every fan knows when they fell for Springsteen be it when they first heard his unique sound way back in the 70s or can remember listening to him as a child on long car journeys as their parents obsession became they own. With fans from every generation and every walk of life, this documentary of adoring fans shows you how one man’s music can literally change the life of so many. The film opens up with the man himself“The Boss”singing“Spirit In The Night”- his own unique live version as all Bruce fans who have witnessed this will vouch for. The movie then goes on to show people describing Bruce in three words, my favourite being an elderly women’s“Happy, Handsome and Hot!”The film has this element of humour throughout, with dedicated fans telling you about their relationship with Bruce and how he has touched and changed their lives with some truly remarkable stories. With so many too choose from the ones that have stuck with me from the film would be the Elvis impersonator whose life long dream was to perform with Bruce. At one concert he managed to get himself pulled up onstage and performed All Shook Up with Springsteen. Another favourite would be the story of the busker who happened to see“The Boss”walking past. Being who he is, Springsteen decided to join him for fifteen minutes! There was the time also when a couple were taking their seats at the highest most far back seats at Madison Square Garden when a member of Bruce’s tour crew randomly exchanged their tickets for front row seats! To accompany these heart warming stories is footage from many a concert where the live energy that is produced show after show is captured for all to see. Ranging from black and white video of some of his very first performances right up to present day you get a feel of how long Springsteen’s been doing this and there are no signs of him giving up just yet. Each gig lasts well over three hours and more than a few go over four! The film is a great homage to a living legend, a man who has a wonderful story telling talent and whose lyrics so many can relate to. The man is simply inspirational - I have been lucky enough to see him on five different occasions and after each show you feel like you have just witnessed something incredible which is nearly always the case! The film is made by fans and is indeed for the fans, with such a loyal and dedicated fan base from all across the world Springsteen seems to be bigger than ever with plenty more glory days to be had.
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CHELSEA WARING PHOTOGRAPGHY 365 DAYS OF PEOPLE www.chelseawaringphotography.tumblr.com www.365daysofpeople.tumblr.com
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Food Food& Secret Gathering & Drink
Food& Secret Gathering was a celebration of fine food and drink put on by the wonderful people at Food& and hosted by Lord Whitney. Food& was set up earlier this year by Ross Featherstone, Katy Lanceley, Jonathan Finch, Rosalind Stoughton and Christopher Nunn and its aim is to allow talented individuals, creatives, cooks and makers to collaborate and share their skills and stories with the world.
The evening started with guests making their own pasta using old traditional methods. The participants then got to taste their delicious creations around a magnificently decorated table. This all taking part in CF Studio’s the home of Lord Whitney a creative partnership between Amy Lord and Rebekah Whitney. Chocolates were then served with a different wine to complement each distinctive taste. As more and more guests arrived the demand for food increased and with Leeds Bread CO-OP and Friends Of Ham putting on a huge spread of cold meats, sweet bread, tasty cheese wheels and the most amazing olives and chutneys I have ever tasted made sure no one was going home hungry. To accompany all this food& had provided drinks from Brooklyn Brewery and. As well as providing some amazing fruity cocktails with the guests being as to bring a certain fruit with them they themselves provided most the ingredients for the drinks created a sense of togetherness and ownership of the delightful drinks we were all consuming and are some rate they were that good. If Food& continues to grow at the rate it is then there is not doubt that soon everyone in Leeds will be talking about the fantastic things they are doing. Great food and drink events are where socialboundaries are broken down and people can relax and get to know one another better, meet new people and learn about other peoples worlds. Food& has a strong aim and already has growing following behind them who all look forward to more and more events like this.
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Other Leeds Sky Ride Leeds Sky Ride took place earlier in the month and it was great to see many people turn up for a truly brilliant day of cycling and fun activities for all the family. The cycle route started at Victoria Gardens with Girls Aloud’s Kimberly Walsh acting as an ambasserder for the day kicking off the event. The route looped around Leeds taking you right up to Hyde Park and through Leeds University campus and then back down into the city centre to the start. You were able to stop off along the cycle route and take part in activites such as static bike racing on watt bikes, watching the tour de france on huge screen and joining team Go-Ride in Hyde Park at the BMX/Skate Park. The three activity centres were situated at Victora Gardens, Leeds University and Hyde Park giving the cyclists a well deserved rest and a chance to enjoy the glorious sun that had greeted all the riders on the day. It was an odd day in Leeds not just because the sun was out but because the Sky Ride was taking place and so the roads were disserted and walking into town almost felt you had just walked onto the set of“28 Days Later”until you heard the sound of bicycle wheels in the distant getting closer and closer until a whole group of cyclist whizzed past you consisting of all age groups and whole families taking the oppourtunity to take to the roads. Of course this time next year the roads of Leeds will be home to the start of the Tour De France and this was an excellent example of how Leeds will not only cope with that demand but excel in putting on such an huge event. With the popularity and success of Leeds Sky Ride It was clear to see that cycling is massive not only in Leeds but in Yorkshire with the people coming from far and wide. The event has done wonders to advertise the launch of the Tour De France next year and the whole city now awaits with excitement.
German and Polish Sausage Stand
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Cezary Gruzewski
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Other
Kirkstall Festival With the sun beaming down upon Leeds people came out in force to soak up the rays and enjoy another fun pack day at Kirkstall Festival. Set in the picturesque grounds of the 12th Century Kirkstall Abbey the festival attracted crowds of around 16,OOO people and had events and entertainment for people of all ages.
Seeing as the weather had been kind to us and it being far too hot for public transport I decided to walk to the festival which took just under an hour from my house. This gave me chance to appreciate my surroundings and as I drew closer and closer until finally getting to the festival. The gentle sound of water running in the distance from the River Aire greets you as you walk into the grounds, trying to get a glimpse of the river itself impossible as you are surrounded by over hanging trees and the stunning ruins of the Abbey itself. Being set in such a place you almost forgot you are here for the festival until you reach the heart of the grounds where stalls and people go on for as far as the eye can see. With fairground rides, tea and dance areas, food & drink, eight performances arenas including comedy and live music there was definitely something for everyone to do. As I walked through the festival it was clear this was a great community event with everyone in good spirits and families enjoying both the weather and the festival. The festival was completely free to get into (you could give donations on your way in) and you could easily have a great day out without spending a penny which many people seemed to be doing by bringimg thier own food even having bbqs in some cases and enjoying the entertainment put on by the festival. Making the festival free and open to everyone is the key to having a successful event like this as although many people might not give donations on there way in when they’ve had such a great day out they feel obligated to on there way out. This is important for Kirkstall Festival as it only receives a very small amount of funding and to keep it events and days like this alive we must all do our bit to ensure these days keep happening.
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Digital Cure
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Next Issue! Leeds City Depressed Cake Shop Miller & Leeds West Indian Live At Cartoons Of
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