Screening 3 (11 Short Films)
I chose this event as one of the films made by ISSP was being shown in it and all of the other ones were made by young people under 21.
This event showed a number of films over two days made by young people under 21. We went on the first day as it was the day our film was being shown. All of the young people involved were awarded with certificates at the end of the screening.
There wasn’t anything I disliked about this event as it was good to see a range of different films by different groups. All of the films were very different and very interesting.
My favourite films were ‘The Day of the Stationery’ by Cleasewell Hill School and ‘The Day of the Night of the Next Day of the Dawn of the Living Ted’ by Emrys Peirson. They were both horror/comedies with a very low budget and were made by young people under 15. Both films looked like the young people had really enjoyed themselves when making them.
The only film that I didn’t like was ‘Canned Spirit’ by Borne Wings which seemed to promote illegal graffiti and commented that they liked the publicity their graffiti on the London tube got after the London bombings.
I would recommend this festival to others, especially young people or people that are working with young people. It is good to see what can be produced by young people, even with a low budget.
From going to this event I have learned that young people can create interesting, funny and high quality films. This has inspired me to do more arts and film –making work with the young people that I work with.
Fly Me to the Moon (IMAX Cinema)
I chose to see this film as I had never been into an IMAX Cinema before and it was starting as we arrived at the National Media Museum. This was a short cartoon film in 3D about three flies going to the moon for the first moon landing. I enjoyed the film and the experience of seeing a 3D film but I did have a headache when we left the cinema from the film being in 3D and having to wear the glasses. I would recommend this to others as it was a good experience but I wouldn’t want to see all films in 3D.
"I chose this event as some of the work that we had done in Choices was displayed there and some of the artist we’ve been working with, Tommy Anderson’s work was on display.
The gallery had six different parts with different types of work displayed. Our work was displayed in the ‘Solo Eye’ gallery.
Personal Reflection
Most Memorable & Favourite Exhibit
My most memorable and favourite piece was a picture of the Queen’s head made out of lots of different things including toys and beads. I thought this was really clever and you could still tell it was the Queen. I would like to try something like this myself.
Least Favourite Exhibit
My least favourite exhibit was the paintings in the ‘Matt Forster’ gallery. This was just because I thought they looked really simple and easy and was surprised they were being sold in an art gallery. Some of the work was quite expensive too.
What I learnt from going to the event?
I learnt that it is easier than I thought to do different types of art and have them displayed and for sale in a gallery. I have also learnt that you can get lots of ideas from going to an art gallery and trying out different types of art that you see.
Why the event inspired me?
The event inspired me as it gave me lots of ideas for different pieces of art that I could try to do. It was also good to see a piece of work that I had part in making displayed in a gallery. There was also a lot of pieces that I think I could do.
Would I recommend it to others?
I would recommend this event to others as some of our work was displayed in it and there was a lot of local artist’s work and pieces that were of different places in the North East. There was also some quite strange and interesting pieces.
Overall View
My overall view of the event was that I liked the majority of the work there, it was good to see our work displayed and it gave me lots of ideas for different things to try.
"I chose this event as we had been doing parkour on the Quayside and ended the day by visiting the Baltic.
The exhibitions that were on were ‘George Maciunas the Dream of Fluxus’, ‘Duncan Campbell Bernadette’ and ‘Yoko Ono Between the Sky and My Head’.
Personal Reflection
Most Memorable Exhibit
A large chess board that I think was part of Yoko Ono’s exhibit. I remember this because I thought you could play on it but was told that you couldn’t when I asked staff at the Baltic. Also an American flag made out of burnt matches that was part of a display about Vietnam, I didn’t know how they’d got the matches to stay standing up when they were burnt.
Favourite Exhibit
Part of Yoko Ono’s exhibit when you first went onto the third floor. There were old-looking musical instruments behind a wire. They all looked like they were connected to each other but weren’t plugged in. I leaned over and played the piano though and it did work. I liked this exhibit because I’m interested in music.
Least Favourite Exhibit
Some of the Fluxus exhibit was quite strange. There were suicide kits and empty boxes and bottles with things written on like ‘If God is everywhere, he is in this bottle’. There was also a big box with different types of excrement in it.
Overall View
Most of the stuff at the Baltic is not what I would think of as art. None of it was really my type of thing. The visit was interesting though and there were loads of different things to look at, especially in the Fluxus exhibit. I liked being on the library floor where they had different books and games. I also liked going on to the viewing box as you get a good view of Newcastle and we took some good photos.
Would I recommend this to others?
I wouldn’t really recommend this to my friends or people my age as some of it was quite strange and not my type of thing but there are some people that would enjoy it. The exhibitions at the Baltic change all of the time though so they might like a different one.
What have I learnt?
I have learnt that lots of different things can be classed as art and artists can make money through simple things like bottles and empty cans of food if they display them a certain way. I have also learnt that my MCing and DJing and a lot of the other activities that I do are art forms.
"I chose this event as we had been doing parkour on the Quayside and ended the day by visiting the Baltic.
Personal Reflection
Why I Chose This Event
I chose this event as there was a photography exhibition there at the time and I have been doing a lot of photography in Choices sessions. The main photographers were Mark Westerby and Steve Mayes.
Description of the Event
The Biscuit Factory has a range of different art including photography, sculpture, clay and wood work and paintings.
Most Memorable Exhibit
My most memorable part of the exhibition were the animal sculptures which I think were made out of ceramics. Most of these were different types of birds.
Favourite Exhibit
My favourite piece at the exhibition was ‘Millenium Bridge’ by James Aynsley. It was done in watercolours and for sale for £975.
Least Favourite Exhibit
My least favourite pieces were oil paintings by Frank Briffa. I didn’t like them because they didn’t really look like anything but are apparently inspired by music and literature.
Overall View
Overall I thought most of the work at The Biscuit Factory was quite good and it was interesting to see everything priced. Some of the photographs, paintings and sculptures were really good.
Why the event inspired me
The event inspired me as I’ve been doing a lot of photography that I’ve been told is very good by a few artists and by looking at the photography in the gallery I’ve seen that if I carried on I could possibly have work displayed or sold.
What have I learnt?
I have learned that you can make a career out of being an artist and that some of the pieces go for large amounts of money, even though I didn’t think some of them were very good or worth any money.
Would I recommend this to others?
I would recommend this to others as there is a range of different art and it is interesting to see how much pieces of work go for.
"Personal Reflection, Why I Chose this Event
I went to this event as part of the Choices programme.
Description of the Event
It was at the Baltic, Martin Parr was spread over 2 floors and his work included photographs being on the bottom floor and objects on the top floor. Damien Hirst's chemist was in a single room which was very boring.
Most Memorable Exhibit
The black & white photographs and the objects.
Favourite Exhibit
I liked the objects.
Least Favourite Exhibit
There was no element of this Martin Parr exhibition I didn't like. I did not like the Damien Hirst Pharmacy work.
Overall View
I didn't like Damien Hirst but Martin Parr's work is very fun to look at because his collection of objects are humorous.
Why the Event Inspired Me
I liked the pictures and I went out and took mine own in a similar sense.
There were pieces I had not seen before which made it more interesting.
As a collector of objects myself I had not seen some of the things he had collected before which is probably because they were before my time but each and everyone of them are interesting in there own little way.
What have I learnt?
I like photography more than installation work.
Would I Recommend this to Others?
Yes.
"I attended this event with Newcastle Youth Offending Team, we had helped to produce some leaflets, art and a banner for it to show what kind of things the YOT does now compared to 100 years ago.
Description of the Event
The play was in two parts, one was how court dealt with young people 100 years ago and how they do now. The ones from 100 years ago were whipped and given hard labour and the one from now was given a community order.
Most Memorable Part
My most memorable part of the play was the acting in the first part, it was funny and they had costumes on from 100 years ago.
Favourite Part
My favourite part was when they kept getting told off by the police for talking over the Judge in the play form 100 years ago.
Least Favourite Part
I didn't really have a least favourite part, I enjoyed the old court play better than the new one.
Overall View
My overall view is that I liked the play because it was funny and interesting.
What I learnt from going to the event?
I learned what court was like 100 years ago and that young people were treat very differently. We were also allowed to look around the Guild Hall at the old cells and docks which was good.
Would I recommend this to others?
I would recommend this to others, especially young people who've been in trouble.
"Why I Chose this Event
I chose this event as this gallery is in Gosforth, where I went to school and spend most of my time and I didn't know there was a gallery there.
Description of the Event
The Opus Gallery sells work by different artists but most of it seemed to be paintings. I did not see any sculpture work or anything that was not on a canvas.
Most Memorable Exhibit
My most memorable part of the exhibition was the work by Hush, an urban artist from Newcastle who is a graphic designer and illustrator in Hong Kong.
Favourite Piece
My favourite piece was called 'Passing Through' by Hush. I liked it because it had lots of bright colours and writing through it that you didn't notice unless you looked closely. This piece cost £7500. I also liked a piece by Alexandra McLain called 'D&G Parfum'.
Least Favourite Exhibit
My least favourite exhibit was the work by Hector De Gregorio, his work is described as dark but I thought it was quite creepy and it was all of naked people. The worst piece was called 'Portrait of Gary' and was a naked man injecting himself.
Overall View
I liked a few pieces at the gallery but the gallery was very small and not what I'd expected from looking at the website where you can see a lot more work available for sale. We did find some more work in trays but you had to look through it and it isn't the same as seeing it on the wall.
What I learnt from going to the event?
I have learned that most of the pieces I liked were bright and colourful and were pictures of people that were not life like. I was also surprised at the prices of the work
Would I Recommend this to Others?
I wouldn't recommend this to others as the gallery is very small and there wasn't much to look at. They'd be better off looking at the website.
What event would I like to go and see next?
The event I would like to see next would be a concert. I'd like to see Eminem or Ludacris.
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