tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84670474103604359782023-11-16T08:55:44.124-08:00Outside Turner ContemporaryAn outsiders view from inside MargateTony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-75537435381300601112013-01-31T11:15:00.000-08:002013-01-31T11:15:24.128-08:00URGENTLY REQUIRED - LOCAL ARTISTS'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExit0MSuoCUFasUAWsNaP7vCuV4WD_rWaBuAE2JS0pLKgpvxyWKIl1uMyxZbQgArgZTeN5wNstfc_syiXCWDBvzcjjZZ-ZdNGVevo8V3qsDVGLP2e0IdxAgLqrkoUMa1zGjIyo0ocl4I/s1600/it+could+be+you.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExit0MSuoCUFasUAWsNaP7vCuV4WD_rWaBuAE2JS0pLKgpvxyWKIl1uMyxZbQgArgZTeN5wNstfc_syiXCWDBvzcjjZZ-ZdNGVevo8V3qsDVGLP2e0IdxAgLqrkoUMa1zGjIyo0ocl4I/s400/it+could+be+you.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Received this email post earlier today, a TV production company is looking for artworks from local artists, details below.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">-----Original Message-----</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">From: </span><a href="mailto:jumpingastronaut@yahoo.com" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">jumpingastronaut@yahoo.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> [mailto:</span><a href="mailto:jumpingastronaut@yahoo.com" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">jumpingastronaut@<wbr></wbr>yahoo.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">]</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Sent: 28 January 2013 18:07</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Dear Sophie</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">I'm working with the Kudos Art Department for a new high end drama</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">being shot in Kent for Sky Atlantic - The Tunnel. An outline of the</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">series is provided below. I have an opportunity to include local</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">artwork in the set of one of the lead character's home. This is a</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">smart, designer home with large wall space.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The links below are for your ref:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><a href="http://www.kudosproductions.co.uk/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">http://www.kudosproductions.<wbr></wbr>co.uk/</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><a href="http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/international/sky-atlantic-and-canal-on-board-bridge-remake/5041543.article" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/<wbr></wbr>news/international/sky-<wbr></wbr>atlantic-and-canal-on-board-<wbr></wbr>bridge-remake/5041543.article</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The art may reflect the area or coastal interest, and I hope it will</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">also provide some exposure and PR for local artists who would be</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">willing for us to use their work as props. Filming starts Feb 4th so</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">we would need to source quickly to include this aspect. Filming goes</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">on until Aug but all props are safely and securely held.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Perhaps this could be circulated and artists contact me asap? I'd</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">appreciate your suggestions. Photos of proposed work could be emailed</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">to me for the Art Director to select from as this is for a key set.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">I hope this may be a useful connection prior to filming, and we will</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">discuss any further details of course.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Many thanks in advance,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Kind Regards,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Paula Moore</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">07711593923</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><a href="mailto:Jumpingastronaut@yahoo.com" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Jumpingastronaut@yahoo.com</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Paula Moore, Director, Jumping Astronaut Limited</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">THE TUNNEL (working title)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">A 10 x 60' production from Kudos Film and TV, in association with</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Shine France and Filmlance. For Sky Atlantic HD and Canal Plus.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The Tunnel is loosely based on the format of hit Scandinavian drama</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The Bridge, but set against the backdrop of Europe in crisis. It will</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">be adapted by an Anglo-French writing team led by Ben Richards</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">(Spooks, Outcasts, Party Animals).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">When a prominent French politician is found dead inside the Channel</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">tunnel, her body placed exactly on the borderline between the UK and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">France, detectives Karl Roebuck and Elise Haupmann are sent to</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">investigate on behalf of their respective countries. However, the case</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">takes a shocking turn when they discover the corpse is in two parts;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">the lower half of the body is that of a missing British prostitute.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">This forces the French and British police into an uneasy partnership.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">We become instantly immersed in an intricate, compelling and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">suspenseful drama following a serial killer's actions and the ensuing</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">investigation into his crimes. The murderer initially portrays himself</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">as a 'truth terrorist' - using ever more elaborate and ingenious</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">methods to highlight the moral bankruptcy of modern society in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">contemporary Europe. As the case progresses though, the wonderfully</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">drawn Karl and Elise are drawn deeper into the killer's increasingly</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">personal agenda.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">As well as thrilling the audience with its ingeniously plotted story</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">and rich characters, the drama will explore the political partnership</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">between the UK, France and Europe which is constantly moving and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">shifting. A timely backdrop which enables us to put a magnifying glass</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">up to our relationship with our closest neighbour, ally and historic</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">enemy. And there'll be plenty of room for comedy to be found in this</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">well-worn relationship between our two nations.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The story is set across Britain and France, Kent and the Nord Pas de Calais.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Both locations are coastal areas, on the edge of Europe. Isolated and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">peripheral, they will provide us with haunting landscapes and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">evocative tones. The series will be bilingual - a first in both</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">British and French broadcasting.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">-</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">This electronic message transmission contains information from this</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">firm which may be confidential or privileged. It is intended solely</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">for the addressee. Access to this message by any other person is not</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">permitted. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">reliance on it, is prohibited.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">----------</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">This email and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged or</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">confidential information. It is intended solely for the person to whom</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient please destroy</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">or delete the content of this message immediately and notify the</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">sender by reply email. Opinions, conclusions and other information in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">this message that does not relate to the official business of Thanet</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">District Council shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">the council.</span></div>
Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-10522074800906859992011-11-10T09:38:00.001-08:002011-11-10T09:54:51.978-08:00John Kampfner's message to Turner colleagues<br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don't generally reprint stuff sent out by PR departments but Turner Contemporary has done a first class job, in bringing culture, hope and people to Margate and the Isle of Thanet. Well done! to Victoria Pomery and her team!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A message from Chair John Kampfner </span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00a8ff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #cea7ce;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Her MajestyThe Queen visits Turner Contemporary</span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00a8ff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #cea7ce;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Friday 11 November 2011</span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Dear colleagues,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">I’m delighted to say that Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh will be coming to Margate tomorrow (Friday) to visit Turner Contemporary.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">This will be a great honour and endorsement for the gallery which, since its opening in April, has received wide international acclaim.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">In our opening seven months we have welcomed more than 300,000 people (against a forecast of 156,000 for a whole year) from around the UK and the world.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Turner Contemporary has already played a significant role in the regeneration of the town and the wider area.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">On Sunday, Turner Contemporary won two prestigious British Guild of Travel Writers' awards, the <b>Globe Award</b> for an outstanding tourism project and the <b>Best UK Tourism Project</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">This follows the award of <b>The Best use of Arts and Culture in Regeneration</b> at The Regeneration & Renewal Awards 2011 and the Condé Nast <b>Readers Choice Award</b> for Innovation and Design.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">In the summer, the Times named Margate and Turner Contemporary as the top UK destination for “Cool Culture”.</span></div>
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</div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-90165688237951460182011-11-03T04:41:00.001-07:002011-11-03T14:24:43.814-07:00Autumn Sunday Afternoon in Margate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ54IhI-wiLdXD2urCbwRosf_BZ3oUf2C7ryNxkVBxiHabNT84h51glc6u5_py6HS2asaQrwA9wLI9rf_PpvvL9riFIoGhiQVw41ATrl2TqQXkxcw1c5TYakHjRiT_8N2jzxg6R-U8V4/s1600/weekend+stay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ54IhI-wiLdXD2urCbwRosf_BZ3oUf2C7ryNxkVBxiHabNT84h51glc6u5_py6HS2asaQrwA9wLI9rf_PpvvL9riFIoGhiQVw41ATrl2TqQXkxcw1c5TYakHjRiT_8N2jzxg6R-U8V4/s320/weekend+stay.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am sure many of us would if asked to spend a couple hours, in Margate on an autumn Sunday afternoon, would be a tad reticent about the prospect, still last weekend, not having yet seen the Rodin sculpture I dragged myself along to the Turner Contemporary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was surprised at the number of people in the old town, a place that certainly would have been empty on similar day a year earlier. However now it seems to me that most weeks there is something fresh to see, last weekend being no exception.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSR1uR1bM0BJukmKV0d9Vsek6J9Bn8s49Ydeo5dVF7hWfK1AmMhGnrRhf1YUymTh3h-lHR0NB0DVA3BxdJ4c42CDDf_v129vuRWSVxMvuN6lks28oqL19mRvRo1FRSDOuoKMF9Fk-Iis/s1600/simpler+days.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSR1uR1bM0BJukmKV0d9Vsek6J9Bn8s49Ydeo5dVF7hWfK1AmMhGnrRhf1YUymTh3h-lHR0NB0DVA3BxdJ4c42CDDf_v129vuRWSVxMvuN6lks28oqL19mRvRo1FRSDOuoKMF9Fk-Iis/s320/simpler+days.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After taking a gander at the Rodin sculpture " Kiss", had another look at the currnet exhibition " Nothing in the world but Youth" taking in stuff that I missed earlier like a poster from the punk era promoting the Sex Pistols (see above, or better still go and have a look yourself) by Jamie Reid, with the advice at the bottom of the poster " Keep warm this winter make trouble". Incidentally this is one of those exhibits which would be best viewed by a giraffe given the extreme altitude of its location.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI20SL1z_512eNUENJX2Zjebq_GCk1miIHCTvQnwigxY-0Eu4gUW4t3tcoHF3TNPCS9d28hEWnZHDxNAMh5HEMnYQdNJKBQhbO-CuRqkiZ-zh1F2yGxFLUKYcZ-8KbMpmb6m0rN3X3_Q/s1600/popupshop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI20SL1z_512eNUENJX2Zjebq_GCk1miIHCTvQnwigxY-0Eu4gUW4t3tcoHF3TNPCS9d28hEWnZHDxNAMh5HEMnYQdNJKBQhbO-CuRqkiZ-zh1F2yGxFLUKYcZ-8KbMpmb6m0rN3X3_Q/s400/popupshop.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The gallery is as busy on the weekends, as is the exhibition crowded, so at some point, I will return on a week day. Admittedly the poster I referred, is not necessarily great art but it would have been nice to have had a better view.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Coming out of the Turner, walking back to the car park through the old town, there are other attractions to keep you in town, a couple, being an exhibition at the weekend of sculpture by artist <a href="http://billiebondart.com/billie_bond_sculpture/Welcome.html">Billie Bond</a> in the pop up shop, part of the <a href="http://piefactorymargate.co.uk/">Pie Factory</a>, as good as much in the TC (I'm no expert).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAmeOLEBgTL37APzxiUagmMnj8YCh38-oKfMRK5uBK4ZHX6KazxFBybFQ6QCBNkpJnbsVJNUHx2B-jWm8W3NN7oYACPFqqf-EAY-R4Zj4uMi3hcEuVGdd7Oe2xjmAYi7Tntv-2MZ33ng/s1600/Shock+horror+in+Margate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAmeOLEBgTL37APzxiUagmMnj8YCh38-oKfMRK5uBK4ZHX6KazxFBybFQ6QCBNkpJnbsVJNUHx2B-jWm8W3NN7oYACPFqqf-EAY-R4Zj4uMi3hcEuVGdd7Oe2xjmAYi7Tntv-2MZ33ng/s200/Shock+horror+in+Margate.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkEF10KvcUH4B9t6RxVo1xq-QDjKQcUQdoREgWxMuqxh_0IlZEHP2TyFRhCFBXsqPPZliDVrGamJGc6oejR0MvUS8ofNchkUtBjNgo4EeblCnmrqPdFZdUcQwQdYYbKgMdTw8mFvp8GM/s1600/mods+and+rockers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkEF10KvcUH4B9t6RxVo1xq-QDjKQcUQdoREgWxMuqxh_0IlZEHP2TyFRhCFBXsqPPZliDVrGamJGc6oejR0MvUS8ofNchkUtBjNgo4EeblCnmrqPdFZdUcQwQdYYbKgMdTw8mFvp8GM/s200/mods+and+rockers.JPG" width="123" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Margate muesum currently has a display/exhibition of youth history focused on the Mods and Rockers, well worth a visit and something that compliments the contemporary's exhibit.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">No doubt there is more to do in Margate, its certainly the case that things have vastly improved in the last few months, hopefully this is a trend that will continue.</div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-21049568073910568932011-10-02T05:06:00.003-07:002011-10-02T05:06:53.684-07:00Turner Contemporary No room for Protest Art<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGCtf4qZRaw6hO_mrd6ZZczaPJPRWfVW1YEnpyAFhRvIKXxM2_POO7U9-Rj5ysVmKroHMahg32M3haE7_28gLEZhECVeHARklkEBYHP1P7peeoTYvB0b-Kx-rNse008da4FWfEPfqqs4/s1600-h/cutting-art4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="cutting art" border="0" alt="cutting art" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_J0xmOVjPEPb_28VvYWYcgFNGjQ-SvMQpcGl0Z4jltwiZiPWBsYUTDLq7otDe2zcyFfLVPSo-GtpUg7QnZ3f4Xbi7Gyt-m3DdoObW4aGKcyQwfneOD2NnFZeQhaZ5byQdcRp1shk3vB0//?imgmax=800" width="443" height="249"></a>This might well be a what is art? type posting, a pointless discussion of personal preference. Anyhow readers of the Guardian’s Culture Cuts blog by Mark Brown, might have been mildly disappointed, to find that a selection of placards, used recently during a TUC “cuts” protest were not on display at the Turner Contemporary’s latest show.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyR4Ns4u8WHujVgzruOhJPgqA6APMOrECn6T3GW8jJ_wyMR8BvklKvMlpG9kBNQHOtk8yJI7t65SWaEmWlOJpn2fwYaug_t0bPDaWu-N4RcvLUt5xu1_z55X0yLE1NYisehGc64S2vYk/s1600-h/culture-cuts-blog3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="culture cuts blog" border="0" alt="culture cuts blog" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L7gNBPuhb10YhTv0VFJ1XI-uwPrrnDhXO-IrhaMETIM_plQpvK8Ch3fWizRqmnB_mbHrI6WbYXJpCTIuyKNpeTH_mZ-Ctsu0BRD1Eou9JmsMMX7gA6XU8K3asbF3fHnY2Hu7e1EmPvw//?imgmax=800" width="240" height="148"></a>According to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/culture-cuts-blog/2011/sep/15/anti-cuts-placards-turner-contemporary">a posting in “Culture Cuts” blog</a> (only the Guardian could have one), posters were to have gone on display from the London anti-cuts demo back in March. This apparently all changed when the gallery ran out of space <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/culture-cuts-blog/2011/sep/21/arts-funding-arts-policy">as detailed in the latest entry</a> of Culture Cuts blog.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sT3SlopTqCtkknPI3_gzu-3hhfPHdY-tWFTd7pVHQNF9gYuEI0ewFFUJQx_XgYORNbzH8joMWfUiP0bnuQUN2Xol0APMJEAWVPCy33ffZcbj2uwVitoTLNXzMUZNme6mhcXEGbr9u84/s1600-h/saveourplacards2.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="saveourplacards" border="0" alt="saveourplacards" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtm8XVehTLs8LGmSXYFQUPeQr7wxi7XyCl1cqJV4mlRbvVpCJCeXA4isJ52tH2mZYGjgVzMYyVayivFcdOi88fDqgtFH-pejJ4lV2f9ypfySnZ2IvRxrM0qcnoZ6cBrGZ-alOnMTv7B0//?imgmax=800" width="244" height="186"></a>A group from Goldsmiths college who have organised <a href="http://saveourplacards.blogspot.com/">a “Save our Placards” project</a>, are understandably let down, in fact Mark Brown’s blog posting reports Guy Atkins one of the students involved in the project referring to "a massive disappointment".</p> <p align="justify">For myself, I’m also a bit miffed, I can’t do a blog posting on whether there is room to reflect politics in art galleries, but as a liberal myself, I suppose its a passion and that motivates art.</p> <p align="justify">Still as I mentioned earlier, the “Nothing in the world but YOUTH” show does reflect a fair bit of angst and there is a reflection of protest in the exhibition.</p> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-81260807813029163922011-10-02T05:06:00.001-07:002011-10-02T05:06:05.704-07:00Youth comes to Margate, Turner Contemporary and I go to Vue<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lGsWjVcOzAWrS3-greVf5TZg-zLVGje0NR5NvximSmSEQdpFRJq3RlLg121u6if1ziNCHfwAlKmDsWccamVw6frfK-LKaeaRlRSy9oE20dp6XruVDoyW-tuBXxtoOqur31CU9hyphenhyphenG4uI/s1600-h/new-turner15.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="new turner" border="0" alt="new turner" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ttZbt-L05tKaXi6UBI9Oi75sGNcQdSdFAVMiQc69nw8gHL_ToWHTvle-hQKcgdceyzZ9kPjvibi3Sqp_lQ80VJPkFfj7xMYUIjvYZ4uh7F-nRqjvLsuYqhnl6XR7kFAbI1oi1MggyS8//?imgmax=800" width="399" height="186"></a>Marvellous, joyous and er … well no doubt a few more superlatives could be thrown in the direction of Turner Contemporary with their second Exhibition “Nothing in the World But YOUTH”</p> <p align="justify">Unlike the “Revealed” show this one has more than one contribution from an artist, I, in my somewhat sheltered life have heard of. Turner again was represented, with some oil painting, and 4 watercolours/sketches anyway being the latest Thanet blogger to comment I’d go to Michael Child for an expert opinion, Luke Edwards mentions one of his faves (Dexter Dalwood) being exhibited on his Thanet Waves blog well I mentioned Banksy and will probably remain disappointed for the foreseeable future. </p> <p align="justify">Well for myself I was pleased to see a youthful contribution from Andy Warhol, I’m guessing before he got the job designing soup cans, anyhow it was pleasing to see how busy the place was, even more so now that much of the moaning has ceased, in the local press. The TC has had over 230,000 visitors since opening and more than 3,500 this weekend, well done.</p> <p align="justify">Still I suppose we will see a spike in “Turner what a load of rubbish, blah, blah,” type letters in the local press, from middle aged gits like me. My favourite was a few weeks ago from some senior Bat residing in Birchington, “ I live in Birchington, all my friends had told me how dreadful Turner Contemporary was, I always suspected it would be rubbish, last week I visited, it was as I believed rubbish” , I felt like writing to the Gazette or whatever paper and giving a youthful reply along the lines “why the F*** did you bother going or indeed compounding your misery by writing to the local paper?”</p> <p align="justify">I have to say that maybe YOUTH as depicted, did lean a bit on the angst side of things so maybe the old Bat from Birchington, will be more comfortable with this show.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzQ4tkRrlRB7TKg3V5IMB-oO8W8NywKE_9yu7Dhh-TJyszxXhKrrR3ab18j2bsC4yWW0bHTKSoALe-l9ubcudSxO17GIsitxuYINBWEC4HgtaR5pIGakyJ7DujdweOjeUEM45oJD6v5Y/s1600-h/inbetweeners9.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="inbetweeners" border="0" alt="inbetweeners" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV1XvuG_OeHe5vYoCEP7NIs2OOwX_rQaTaFMaLq6GRxjH34cbHTLSdcjO7-gpAzOP1bT6i8DO3zdXarF-PNh2Hcb8d5Ek6Ap8vJtCQDxFxvcnpZsP26DZd2ufBVFtmSivdADSqSmvqko//?imgmax=800" width="350" height="236"></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1TTu5qtGEgl1CRv32A0-HS1I2wBBfhsiDGBKjdZ8ga3f584-geesGTBBj_tNwVvSyeuaDQyfegKGlNSIVex9Pvhgp-g2T6ecTuoBYv6s6Hpos5Opd-s6XHXWsGCL7RVJ9JZIAc-LD8o/s1600-h/amelee5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="amelee" border="0" alt="amelee" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtWFAWXZRjTIuU_2u9EKHaNzLdwBjm32ffzp6oiA9xx9nS4wjMhfBnFI8Qys9EVQgf9lYeN_LjalOJlNJZuIvt0iRNp23Y1-JKOsAM56KSY75tDL2AyGLE8YB4f4Nvy9CxOl1ju-_IM8//?imgmax=800" width="65" height="99"></a>Still I felt it lacked a bit of the uplifting innocence of youth or rawer yoof type preoccupations, which fortunately were more than represented in my choice of viewing this weekend (no work) Friday I dug out a DVD <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/">“Amelie”</a> and on Saturday went to Vue at Westwood to catch the ” <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1716772/">Inbetweeners</a>” movie,coarse, bad taste, brilliant a laugh from start to finish.</p> <p align="justify">PS Why did Vue, make me sit through 25 minutes of adverts for condoms, beer and more booze, next time the yoof at the counter says “senior” I shall say yes please, and save myself some money. I recon pro rata Vue had about £4 out of me to watch bloody adverts, if only I was younger</p> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-4080702458645348762011-08-11T03:20:00.001-07:002011-08-12T04:26:27.659-07:00Off Margate Authenticated<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZYHHR6qTC2MldKYNBbN9pFhQr_8sWGD5LTvoGIMUEcP_lfzK_9qMPA3DJsGD1VQ1RRmllk2GVo0ST1TCh-671BCOm7jEM7dUxgg8RlaIQEmZI3uYiFrTQ2_Dz2X3IxT1dB4s2vBNJl8/s1600-h/off%252520Margate%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="off Margate" border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeaB1Sqxcqr0fUiKLS09Gki2q9IcUyc7D8yY_v_M5lgCSpoPIrVl1EYaHbF5IG2vfWJO9opEgXJeKn4yJIDBiQaKceZvINqagdN0uH1XjGrdoSyR8-Krtc0jRmHBVVgNkw1r_h8IwBN0//?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="off Margate" width="474" /></a></div><div align="justify">Spotted <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/08/01/doubts-held-over-turner-painting-vanish-in-the-mist-91466-29154179/">this story from WalesOnline.co.uk,</a> concerning the authentication of a painting "Off Margate" owned by Museum of Wales, for some time apparently its authenticity has been disputed as perhaps being in the style of Turner however its now considered "almost certainly genuine" which is good enough for me.</div><div align="justify">I wont bore you with my "I'm not expert" line but I will say it looks a very pleasant picture and preferable to the Vesuvius. Perhaps Victoria Pomery could borrow this for the TC.</div><div align="justify">A reminder of a time before towns were planned, would J M W Turner, have chosen Margate as a subject, if alive to day, imagine what he could make of the towns current backdrop, the Dreamland Facade covered in scaffolding and perhaps enhanced soon by the stark lines of the new Tesco's with it's distinctive red & blue logo on a white thermoplastic acrylic resin base and of course a line of queuing traffic. Marvellous! </div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-30008925436181772792011-08-05T09:11:00.001-07:002011-08-05T09:11:52.335-07:00Hard Choices - Broadstairs Folk Festival or Margate's Soul Weekend and Carnival<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GQlKQazBTYAUbPxNFwtGfTtS5slTGBP-W35wadzPy7W0vShuHNRKUysEvXhXAFUfFrOQGbbpXjAYaJZFkkhAapkOwqQYtMk5RnhLfx9kKE0hmjgRAi8dPL4vdIaVlqOuXzMuKUAQluM/s1600-h/margate%252520soul%252520weekend%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="margate soul weekend" border="0" alt="margate soul weekend" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBklj4fQ08ytvfrx2g-lQczIzcJdbTsnfRNu2w4CDCUR6KEEZYguvg_eDc4UVQk6Ws5n355__2yaW2Qt21wi1y7Nez9zKIL8QEHv7fngH1qNaLddH8wTNRCWMLD3JUTV3ZFPxUDAanANw//?imgmax=800" width="240" height="164"></a>Not something that normally bothers me, what to do for the weekend, the choice is usually stark, my destination a railway worksite, which recently has been, a dank murky dust filled tunnel, in which men heroically toil for hours on end, to build a better railway, my only choice, the contents of my "pack up", rolls or doorstop sarnies, cheese or ham, mini pork pies or mini eggs, the later I compromise and take both, eleven hours in a tunnel is a long time.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1VZrCsbWS4lWQR9MjUAyyJavyuYuTx95mDrquJBDrnV5UeJpGjA2yTKsSw1qQPbYW3rClVe8qAJUFggLDYSlhZTSddWvtiAxn1whLuIOUwLu6tMiz0EQEiskwUoO3QW003PQ98aEVec/s1600-h/broadstairs%252520folk%252520week%2525202011%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="broadstairs folk week 2011" border="0" alt="broadstairs folk week 2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcFDeoM92dPQgA_Ipk0Ssd3-J5DA3yaiGgIqVuA-t5i1JXoqgUaWMHRbr8dPbGY3Hz8dZe8OOeGWFgLTAhV1v51G7ACkpOhr5HBZoip-391GetZZfcS5QhH2zCDnVP5dua7f13OV09HM//?imgmax=800" width="240" height="132"></a>Hopefully like me, this weekend you are free of work worries, so my biggest choice is whether to soak up the entertainment offered by <a href="http://www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/home.htm">Broadstairs Folk Festival</a> or <a href="http://www.margatesoulweekend.moonfruit.com/">Margate's Soul Weekend and excellent Carnival.</a></p> <p align="justify">Well I suppose like my packed lunch you could have a bit of both, Broadstairs Folk Fest goes on all week starts today 5th August through to next Friday, Margate Soul Weekend starts tomorrow @ 2PM in the Piazza with live music from 4pm and continues on Sunday which is also the day Margate Carnival</p> <p align="justify">I'm not sure that I have any preference for specific genres of music, like a lot people I can enjoy most music, even country and western, as a kid the albums I played to death would have been Rod Stewarts "<a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/tonyflaig/playlist/2LGrys4C216xr6CERhpROf">Every Picture tells a story</a>", Lindisfarne's "<a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/tonyflaig/playlist/2LGrys4C216xr6CERhpROf">Fog on the Tyne</a>" and compilations of the <a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/tonyflaig/playlist/5iMaX9KXdMkNZIoodceiGv">Four Tops</a>, the <a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/tonyflaig/playlist/2kDDr6F8VvegmreOH2KVqL">Supremes & Diana Ross</a>.</p> <p align="justify">The music links are to "spotify" which allows you to access to millions of tracks and create playlists like this, <a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/tonyflaig/playlist/1ISM3nEvZeVCJsyVFlL13R">one from my era</a> back in the day, when nightclubs like Hades, Crackers, Starlight, Nero's, Ace of Clubs existed and others any how to listen to those items you will have to register which <a href="http://www.spotify.com/uk/get-spotify/open/">will cost from nothing</a> to a tenner a month.</p> <p align="justify">Well to whet you appetite for the Soul Weekend</p> <p align="justify"><iframe height="229" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZLDnSsMxvqQ" frameborder="0" width="350" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> </p> <p align="justify">or Folk Week</p><iframe height="197" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14435048?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" frameborder="0" width="350"></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14435048">Broadstairs Festival 2010 (Short Version)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4406135">spiralearth films</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a></p> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-71363758169106742202011-07-26T09:05:00.001-07:002011-07-26T09:05:15.325-07:00Marvellous - Even building sites are now Iconic<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zbHXfetfi0JME2UuS_b1G-5mf13XKnfoiI68XBRkfX5x41lwkyIvGmRaXoVX5Otyr4AysHsqr3f_K_vhpCTBqu-cq_VDpPU3e0HM1sLQ5y-vDgyaydZCYsbKTA0DZAStLfJw2huvFxM/s1600-h/iconic-Site3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: ; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: ; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-color: ; border-left-color: ; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="iconic Site" border="0" alt="iconic Site" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbGLfE-_vAskalDas9GndkvWJv7t-eGvjp77dYV7zPbKoXo8uDF3JzPuBgS0oEeRilpoL4Mqybb69gSeFTJDLAJqROQqx7RzX_ixvQ2Dxn5KVpGY5jL8RQqMOAhlq6MSDhp-tndIY9Lg//?imgmax=800" width="400" height="288"></a></div> <div align="justify">I've been meaning to comment on this, since last week, when on my way home from a long shift, this site/sight hove into view, as I drove up Fort Hill, heading for Flaig Mansions, it made me smile.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">At the time although much impressed by the huge neon sign with the legend "Iconic Site"*, on the old Fort Road Hotel, I didn't have the energy to stop, to add yet another image to my growing collection of Iphone classic photo's, last night I had spare 30 seconds, click job done.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">I don't know whether this is art as in arts council walloping a pile of wonger to some artist or art as in someone having a laugh and maybe taking the p.ss out the much esteemed Tracy Emin's neon work ( I never forgot Margate blah blah blah).</div> <div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcBdrw6f8fgEvrJvb3RD2OTCsZMrw5jWCGHKDHamfSBvJTiH11IbxvLC5fBzq6RKiC97-GlxthPvcuizoOxi2pIWMj9bGaEfciKPu4ywAFPlDtgjbbmEPX2L99G0FWvrgTf6AVIz49kM/s1600-h/neither-did-I3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="neither did I" border="0" alt="neither did I" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC1VzqEuOl_LFviLzVUu8McVtyXUseU7f6_zq1fwLjdqeDgcF1-0om-eOLGDSxfvoKrxVPsOzQc6kiAwW_QGwjx02tsU0Hbk7rx_OP5rF5nIu5cpnVqtwhc2bbc8wgcOnyt4AbM0yELc//?imgmax=800" width="424" height="81"></a></div> <div align="justify">Perhaps it's just a factual statement, the Arcadian and Fort Road Hotels, have been an eyesore for many years, and are a true icon of seaside decay and now renaissance with the coming of Turner Contemporary. </div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">* Unfortunately part of the sign appears to have fused, anyhoo thanks to whoever is responsible.</div> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-78451691445699007632011-07-26T08:27:00.001-07:002011-07-26T08:27:30.043-07:00Marvellous - Even building sites are now Iconic<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2HbvBCPlw0jzqL-ttL9TDJflGIxdNdBjRJgfgiYh8g_4oQxGVdgquUP_WkIZVdvB0D-6f4jjSoOsKfaEhGaKFPBbDMEJpfOphKJllcA1MdfRNQ30OtOY-tmTBDXyUv7XC_PS_UdkTSc/s1600-h/iconic%252520Site%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="iconic Site" border="0" alt="iconic Site" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4SyHjoyhZgiZNjYo_WHTj8jpJbbxbmSIPb2vCVEyd-lC7cktttCKzvFNbfm_yMoRv-eIEB6K42YrBAe73p-hDAJ36yHFxixOjKJSi4DJvb9qymUskh7vcIAuQ3_3j2Wd5douyqvAmtI//?imgmax=800" width="240" height="173"></a></p> <p align="justify">I've been meaning to comment on this, since last week, when on my way home from a long shift, this site/sight hove into view, as I drove up Fort Hill, heading for Flaig Mansions, it made me smile.</p> <p align="justify">At the time I although much impressed by the huge neon sign with the legend "Iconic Site"*, on the old Fort Road Hotel, I didn't have the energy to stop, to add yet another image to my growing collection of Iphone classic photo's, last night I had spare 30 seconds, click job done.</p> <p align="justify">I don't know whether this is art as in arts council walloping a pile of wonger to some artist or art as in someone having a laugh and maybe taking the p.ss out the much esteemed Tracy Emin's neon work ( I never forgot Margate blah blah blah).</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclT73Deg6RUKpFdjrBVnFRbN2f19gtwLjYsF4izmXMjNmPgMZZ4B0pulG0J7eUAuyiXTA3X42LNsa01pZEXfnl0RnTuTEr8LkL7CbiMe57BbzfjjYdJ_XK7dkdGjYcrPqvahr61DNadM/s1600-h/neither%252520did%252520I%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="neither did I" border="0" alt="neither did I" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTYr47JSNTmhyphenhyphenDaYBIiUldx6GJNVUP6i9mg1lBFzGJhAFw38rYhNWIuon87JDDlThgGyKZ6m9HWeit2ge_D6py1hm8na0wPUDpcjXAtBBhmTrgI282_lGPsMPosRSbtJIfH0QPRYz96A//?imgmax=800" width="424" height="81"></a></p> <p align="justify">Perhaps it's just a factual statement, the Arcadian and Fort Road Hotels, have been an eyesore for many years, and are a true icon of seaside decay and now renaissance with the coming of Turner Contemporary. </p> <p align="justify">* Unfortunately part of the sign appears to have fused, anyhoo thanks to whoever is responsible.</p> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-11035359903192221022011-05-26T14:46:00.001-07:002011-05-27T04:20:24.257-07:00Steve Wright is this anyway to treat music?<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUxPGff7sqIRpGSqWaTVFpwF8bOX4eipWvZFxCP5sk67cSXAJl1T3m3feZlbMfKtSIhUlqmMxazC_X9ie2_gCCdiL-PZRGmG4J1BSSWAu3Cic3EjcZB55Fk7Tp9exTVR4EMJRukv7AcU/s1600-h/Swright%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Swright" border="0" alt="Swright" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X3mIbZk524q1RdbJFrgVTa63CWXc28DamO6DazQfWMYnPeq96v7z7kZb0kgsLILNBETkDaK2a5n8z2wYaOb1ddGINwRPF4ZXqmFGIOSXDC-_OWvDFIpk1TB54TFHcHD3tyOr6H5QClE//?imgmax=800" width="240" height="234"></a>On my way home yesterday, I did something I hadn't done in ages, listen to the Steve Wright show on radio two.<br /> <p align="justify">It was familiar and as fresh as it had been last time I listened, which I suppose is why I prefer Magic FM or even Heart, one speciality I had forgotten with this presenter, was his ability to ruin the music.<br /> <p align="justify">I can take his singing along and talking over the beginning and end of a track but he has a rare talent interrupting a song halfway through as was the case with this classic, Department S, Is Vic there?<br /> <p align="justify"><iframe height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yCOp0yCszg0?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="425" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /> <br />Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-53397332622023776162011-05-17T14:17:00.001-07:002011-05-17T14:33:03.072-07:00Wow 80,000 Visitors in first month<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZr72WjNLXO3JZP8x4C1ntKCc7bVWhuTHtdkPT3Gl-T-M5uFaOzwXI3_i1Y25IhpKxiaMpVuq2orr9ToEMYuRyH32_w6N46I3HUcZUy4rmct6TpiARbMDB9Wgj2pyFL7DL3LZ1aYZUjI/s1600-h/turneropenin%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="turneropenin" border="0" alt="turneropenin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0iL6E20EpA3oSw15l58cX-oeulIOALtaL7cX3FUa7QCvcKrVDpt27nj4P31kDpi2aGjl0l0atYUdSDTOsXF8xeeAo4Heg1ZDpeFhCVlafkyCB6xLoBDhUHL324it8iLj2_n_T_4GGIQ//?imgmax=800" width="463" height="280"></a>Something for the critics to digest, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-13423288">this report from the BBC</a>, a bit of a surprise, 80,000 visitors to Turner Contemporary in the first month and something I'm afraid not everyone is willing to accept in a positive way.</p> <p>As a sceptic and critic not necessarily of the project as whole but certainly the manner in which the prospect of the gallery was placed in jeopardy by poor design and selection, I think it's time people embraced the benefits already accrued.</p> <p>Much activity has taken place, T C being the catalyst and several galleries, shops and even eateries are benefiting from visitors. </p> <p>As an idea of what's going on to compliment TC here are a couple of links first <a href="http://www.margategallery.co.uk/">Margate Gallery</a> which has several exhibitions throughout the year and <a href="http://piefactorymargate.co.uk/">Pie Factory</a> another gallery which involves itself in the community, and finally hopefully other business will benefit like one of my favourite establishments Pete Fish Factory ( I don't think they have a website, but they do have good food)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisie_2-pa3Z7fnQ7fO03-rQhjwiukUKiKHxmTg43vh4eszrNq105NtF7XBHWoNZjtld7Qwt28wtHrUb22zdVnalaW-qkr3H5uTJfb52ICW9YbGQVtP8KFC4DQ704TVoBkXqJPITcR1k-I/s1600-h/petes%20fish%20factory%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="petes fish factory" border="0" alt="petes fish factory" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn9GHjqd__OYgJrYV67o2ayYBlw1ALr_NLT5RIha_LydYNvp1Z1osfWOmX0Jv1qDtpfzJ2zl6ZUPejS0awCOYqXmhh1csPFdY8WKoYSDy1ZhffN7ko9j9Aj4q90tDLXcFfSns04r7cSE//?imgmax=800" width="353" height="269"></a></p> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-52150522050161317502011-04-26T13:52:00.001-07:002011-04-26T13:54:02.801-07:00Who's Bambi? and should we care?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1S9sMmixMhjsq6SAxG-SIpyhNPecJ5qeagxDxvmy7_7ow4zZBmMYFf7EwcAt5MJ_XPwAwx1udHxyrjLn6eMRWBI-lhTWEcH8N90olcqy2gCxbpbfChwWJGn_CY8-0yGyyqPgFDmLASo/s1600/who%2527s+bambi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1S9sMmixMhjsq6SAxG-SIpyhNPecJ5qeagxDxvmy7_7ow4zZBmMYFf7EwcAt5MJ_XPwAwx1udHxyrjLn6eMRWBI-lhTWEcH8N90olcqy2gCxbpbfChwWJGn_CY8-0yGyyqPgFDmLASo/s400/who%2527s+bambi.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted this bit of street art, on way home, tonight, in Islington, thought this might be a banksy, but a close look it didn't have the same humour, and was tagged with the name bambi.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The illustration is of Wills & Kate Whatsit, such is my interest in royalty and accompanying companions I had to ask Mrs Me, who the bride was, at first she said Sharon, this sounded wonderfully ordinary, I googled it, anyhow<em> </em>have since found <a href="http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2011/apr/graffiti-artist-bambi-leaves-her-mark-across-islington-original-works-going-value">this from the Islington Tribune</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The graffiti in question, has the legend, "A bit like Marmite", thought provoking it might be, but not a lot of humour, still for the record I don't like Marmite or ...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My view the wedding is neutral, I suppose if I had permanent job, and was getting a day off with pay, I might just be a tad warmer, still whether it is good taste or fair to be critical of royalty is one of those emotive subjects like Marmite , this song "God Save the Queen" as performed by the sex pistols, <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n1IReGYKsyM?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess still evokes as much controversy as it ever did. Still that is art I suppose.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope that Kate and William, have a great day a normal life and buck the trend of all those other royal marriages which have be ended up as complete disasters.</span></div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-78429079740772583932011-04-05T13:39:00.001-07:002011-04-05T13:39:27.843-07:00Years ago this was contemporary<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXespUCph4QQkzp3Ef57B2BhHA-Q0Wvpn0DvAUQ-qMOgtoJVSq_74wd6F2OqwqR258AJ-UOaJdoXhgnHHUo7BrNEdw33tPHQQLCE_Uml5zr1Had1nrBkQMn4pe56t7G8kdSLXmj1wcSc/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVMnlkoN5OiuKgtPljDmlqE-Ca5ePsjHWtoOOYb5S0xOjBPTyv03NwVmzP2tqTXvspceR15DJdr5or1HQLKNjMILun1I_vQo5N_CaA84Iv5edlAFusOjM16t8kEnVlxxaunsh04vhp0Q//?imgmax=800" width="367" height="462"></a>You know my views are simple, 350 years ago <a href="http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/online_az/4:322/result/0/8677?initial=R&artistId=4413&artistName=Rembrandt%20(Rembrandt%20van%20Rijn)&submit=1">this self portrait</a> was contemporary, now its history, but standing in front of this work a couple of weeks ago, it was as fresh as any painting.</p> <p align="justify">There is an attitude, a whiff of resignation about the picture, maybe, the artist is thinking times are tough, but lets see future generations top this if you can. Still even if try hard I cannot imagine a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Hirst">Damien Hirst</a> shark or half cow staring back with the same authority and or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracey_Emin">Emin's</a> neon work still flickering in 350 months, let alone years.</p> <p align="justify">Still I'm open to persuasion and look forward to being educated at the Turner Contemporary. </p> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-7074427169764764852011-03-09T13:01:00.001-08:002011-03-09T21:03:00.357-08:00Recommends–Soul Music "Simple Gifts"<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopODxhcBTv30AoIuRZMygz7C-0evbTFaPvBzHV11eMG2mUbANDIzQgQQ0Hx8UTAgEGGBI-YdqAwnqd1pjL7VrN4wnaj9-XTY_HDs00ISSX43iZZS709ul7pRjCW8NbcqQCCkkoYG1BQ8/s1600-h/sunnydayy%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="sunnydayy" border="0" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGGqCRZHxISqUFaF_ixmpMpS3ZOozfBQaO0mcs3e_N0OVn_nWaoYWNUXhno1npxpPCl8I41y8cOR1DQLkWBfGA7ZSWF2XY5Bl2wjWVQ7k7iGR4zcQkPhVUXq_CC-OSU5mBzK7BhIdXAE//?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="sunnydayy" width="476" /></a>Just happened to catch <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yyh1n">BBC Radio Four's programme, Soul Music</a> this discusses emotive music in this case a hymn Simple Gifts from the American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakers">Shaker</a> community, a religious sect, which through abstinence in the old bedroom department shrank to little more than a memory, also noted for simple furniture.<br />
<br />
</div><div align="justify">Anyhow, I'm not actually too familiar with the piece, however it forms the basis of another hymn "Lord of the Dance", admittedly this also does not feature much on my personal radar, however <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Copland">Aaron Copeland</a>, used this to create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Spring">Appalachian Spring</a>, something I listen to often, usually when blogging, although the sex pistols, Sinatra, Who, the Stones also hit the spot <br />
<br />
</div><div align="justify">I have many favourite tunes however I always fancy Appalachian Spring as the ideal piece of music to be played at my funeral, uplifting but dignified, as the curtain closes and the coffin hurtles toward the abyss, always an awkward moment, probably not the best choice since it goes on for 20 plus minutes, still I'm in no hurry.<br />
<br />
</div><div align="justify">Coming back form that tangent, suggest if you're interested you click on the first link pronto, since the programme is available on BBC's listen again for a limited period.<br />
<br />
programme link <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yyh1n">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yyh1n</a></div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-5943251386629632332011-03-07T13:36:00.001-08:002011-03-07T13:40:29.310-08:00What a wonderful day for a fifty year old<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAvb1-1b1Chulz6NBqS-oxseNZtgYvPpFAhrP4Lavmi3JOS5y9kw4CorZ3XNYO4FuRurGFeF-a60ajOz9WBYO-eKOLWVPZDi98kNBD_xwGlXSRq7uwcShZvNFkCubJ1-wdINQ6kfpGps/s1600/turnsooonest.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAvb1-1b1Chulz6NBqS-oxseNZtgYvPpFAhrP4Lavmi3JOS5y9kw4CorZ3XNYO4FuRurGFeF-a60ajOz9WBYO-eKOLWVPZDi98kNBD_xwGlXSRq7uwcShZvNFkCubJ1-wdINQ6kfpGps/s320/turnsooonest.JPG" width="487" height="321"></a></div> <div align="justify">Had the chance recently to absorb a bit of winter sun, first time out on my bicycle since last year and a chance to see the progress on Turner Contemporary, it seems that a phenomenal amount of work has been ploughed on through since I was last in the vicinity.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">As a sceptic of sorts, (the sort who would have preferred money to have been squandered on Dreamland), I accept that I might have been wrong in the past on Turner Contemporary, although, it is fair to say, my concern has always been cost and connectivity with Margate.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF68c0Sus5cwqcX4KnSHhvRsIS3f_kG9-moVo-VTpHKwx1-bvxis7bbEoKfIKKgVRplWhXw-rJ6EfI18Em-FDl5LI1M8SKO8GrRYvBtV9uIDgbZq3QNafhfBciLkxHZDgsdA5ia7UkJQ/s1600-h/image%5B9%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4gksOSy9OSq8QXubt4ei8EPDxiZuDI5ZcQVzwnTt2Qn3vjOc2sBVYpds4jOYFH11p9rb4DLls_HdLPBSgysHvXRgipeQFj1vlBd6GQQipo-jH9CFEbh9CZWo3G_TbVNxLVeBc1ne9xk//?imgmax=800" width="489" height="157"></a></div> <div align="justify">Its now clearly emerging that if nothing else the retail economy of the area is reflecting the coming gallery and the gallery itself is looking good in the sunshine with much of the surrounding groundwork, pavements, piazza and that sort of malarkey nearing completion was looking good.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">For me this is a pleasing addition, to the town, however as I was taking photos in the sunshine a group of lads, walked past, unimpressed, can't think why, then a couple came over, once I discounted aggression, as a by-product of youth, we got talking, jobs or lack of them, one had been doing scaffolding work on the Olympic site, myself working on the railway around the site.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">I know the world changed, but thinking back, thirty years, its not difficult to see, why young kids, are cynical, I see a new gallery has opened at the old Imperial, in my youth, this was a pub with a nightclub, not a favourite of mine but not bad.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">I can understand the difficulty anyone has with understanding the sort of creative economy that Turner will have been a catalyst.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU28UKkRhEVXolb2zK-ntTGOKKWzqkxoH35JeeNwxJsA2iKu0I4crX0nuz7Jno0-ta7Wr4huOQqugE51gRyJKZFn0JSwEc-EHkjcZpqAJTNNjrXPYh6cdaVWrbPZcy7NZ8PGZg5A0NKmc/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SAzaGm5-GS_-bHJ3uhogAlXARCHIjNRbXnP2M39sKp_EsMoQ1ybxLxo_9gzGYsX_ZxqjN057vFtn7tmNI7L67QFHbrqY7zFf_d_yApyhLxYYti3LaEksc0zvO_h8JQ9JInJ6xCpfSMw//?imgmax=800" width="360" height="267"></a></div> <div align="justify">Still I remember three or four years ago working up around Stratford in East London protecting High Voltage cables from adjacent demolition work, in which factories and offices were being flattened for the Olympics, at the time I couldn't see the benefit, and for the last three or four years I've worked on projects connected with 2012.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">We need more projects like Turner and Olympics so that those lads I met can have work and maybe see the bigger picture.</div> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-63015750816187971142011-03-02T13:58:00.001-08:002011-03-02T13:58:44.468-08:00Turner Contemporary and localism<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-UA8011_v-VwFfGvwBuBrEF7YcMszsmdlNixnCq7mjvjed0UXjLOhMsLZAGYcGLyIvRo57ghVt0ZLgEiuP5LFdje-Xpe40KEFPYxE2Lg99Hs-PnaqD2lunrB-GrvrpYZGwWAXmSvgnE/s1600/Turner+soon.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-UA8011_v-VwFfGvwBuBrEF7YcMszsmdlNixnCq7mjvjed0UXjLOhMsLZAGYcGLyIvRo57ghVt0ZLgEiuP5LFdje-Xpe40KEFPYxE2Lg99Hs-PnaqD2lunrB-GrvrpYZGwWAXmSvgnE/s400/Turner+soon.JPG" width="400" height="256"></a></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">This will be a brief post, I'm intrigued by reports of The Turner Contemporary launch meeting. </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As you might expect, with the TC project so firmly rooted in Margate's heart, the "Launch Meeting" was held just around the corner from Margate's artistic and bohemian centre, in Westminster, a mere two hour drive away (start as you mean to go on).</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">"VIP's" including Roger Gale, Laura Sandys, token Margate representative Tracy Emin, and I guess a rag bag of Arts council wallahs, devotees, perhaps even the odd non-dom tax avoiding patron of the arts.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">According to <a href="http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2011/march/1/turner_contemporary.aspx">Peter Burnett of Thanet Extra</a> report on the House of Commons bash, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey spoke at the meeting expressing high hopes and "believes Margate's Turner Contemporary could become a world-renowned gallery" recalling happy memories of childhood visits to er ....<strong>Ramsgate!</strong></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><br></strong></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">I'm actually in favour of Turner Contemporary, but just wonder at the manner of its delivery, I'm sure it will succeed and look forward to its opening, but continue to be amused by the disconnect between local grass roots and its delivery from on high. If nothing else we should be grateful, this project is a great model of the British way of doing stuff.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-size: x-small"><br></span></div> <div align="center"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/TCMargate">SNIPPETS FROM TC TWITTERING CLASSES</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR33zvuPrQnphwfDY_QZzon7PNQ_paP3x6VjGOJrFYvNvo9f5OI3t5Jdg2Erj75PITCRllzHFT0AYZQFVdT62NG82e5uHw9_TNmJh2yTXj5k1abuNV-2eAemV1k7EhZrDce6AptC7Dni4/s1600-h/image3.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNHUV6BuMOIh1AK9HnV0XlwKdy6Un9RP63PRI42JYat_naJ9n_2LNiz3c10MadXCCEviPmPOG6tIHSDAIRiAGXmHOGmshk3zL-PudrC2c207i7xTZ95nAAc7FFBZpOFfbJVbf_wkv-XE//?imgmax=800" width="243" height="382"></a></div> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-63366144413061198162011-02-10T13:19:00.001-08:002011-02-10T13:58:16.206-08:00What do I know -<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekya0NZCatOJSrZiwGWrU4YF_IIncpWjMjAw-e_y_oT089UlUbGK6wTCM7XDRUSTzYOULFQ0lb34kK5Ann_fByW6vw9H6aZU3V_p7Qd4nmNSXf45qUdJTFopLcXnCA0hQH-tKHjjo0OM/s1600/wright+brilliant.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekya0NZCatOJSrZiwGWrU4YF_IIncpWjMjAw-e_y_oT089UlUbGK6wTCM7XDRUSTzYOULFQ0lb34kK5Ann_fByW6vw9H6aZU3V_p7Qd4nmNSXf45qUdJTFopLcXnCA0hQH-tKHjjo0OM/s320/wright+brilliant.JPG" width="320" height="240"></a></div> <div align="justify"><font size="3">A couple of things to say, this blog is to some extent about my reaction to the contemporary art establishment and as an example of those vulgar and inconvenient persons that inhabit Margate, ostensibly hostile to the Turner Contemporary and art.</font></div> <div align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </div> <div align="justify"><font size="3">I have as much invested in this project as anyone, anyhow crass as my taste is, apart from commenting on the Turner, I have the notion to suggest art type things, that were I omnipotent, would inflict on the public, any way I shall include such things that interest or entertain me, a sort of virtual gallery.</font></div> <div align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </div> <div align="justify"><font size="3">The </font><a href="http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/joseph-wright-of-derby-an-experiment-on-a-bird-in-the-air-pump"><font size="3">painting above is one</font></a><font size="3">, that when I first saw, impressed me for days after, the item An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump by Joseph Wright of Derby, I saw it again maybe six months ago and was not surprised that it attracted more attention than some well known work of J W M Turner on the opposite wall.</font></div> <div align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </div> <div align="justify"><font size="3">To me the picture personifies what art should be about, giving you something to think about, making you feel better, and leaving you wanting more.</font></div> <div align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </div> <div align="justify"><font size="3">Anyhow assuming I follow my virtual gallery idea it will be stuffed full of rather vulgar but hopefully popular exhibits. </font></div> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-15355501734204349542011-01-25T12:43:00.001-08:002011-01-25T13:14:52.189-08:00Yoof! and the art of revival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsL4SLeOvvwO5sRJ63eJJqTb7Dso8Ug-xeMnbdqP01vi9-2zX_v5Ay4AQfXF1Z1nMrGKln6A_xt3hKwe5rF3COWJgfEYu7ASdNOZD_iqsmGPJ7JnD2qzswvhK486XZ3x2cjmobIrbOiY/s1600/yoof+in+margate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsL4SLeOvvwO5sRJ63eJJqTb7Dso8Ug-xeMnbdqP01vi9-2zX_v5Ay4AQfXF1Z1nMrGKln6A_xt3hKwe5rF3COWJgfEYu7ASdNOZD_iqsmGPJ7JnD2qzswvhK486XZ3x2cjmobIrbOiY/s400/yoof+in+margate.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">I mentioned <a href="http://bignewsmargate.blogspot.com/2011/01/quick-mentionmargate-other-greatest.html">elsewhere</a> last week the Margate conversation thing with Iain Aitch, and last night I sauntered along, to the talk given on the subject of youth and Margate's music culture.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those who know me will, be aware of the sceptical nature of my observations however the event organised by Cultural Margate which is composed of the "usual suspects", in the world of err worthies and quangocrats ,surprised me, in being a very positive, enjoyable and encouraging event.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">Derrick Harding of Margate Renewal Partnership introduced the evening, and Iain talked of the evolution of youth culture, enlivened with personal references and experience and atmosphere of music culture as it impacted on his perception of youth.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">In all, it was a relaxed atmosphere, at the half time stage, those present were split into groups, each with a different spin, and a free choice on which subject chat about, notes were taken on a flip chart, no doubt to be dissected by greater minds and leading culture boffins.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still a few thoughts prompted by this, firstly if you think about Margate, of more prosperous times, youth has always been the driving force, the true icons Dreamland, Beach, Music, Pubs and Amusement Arcades have been those sort out by younger people.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thirty maybe, thirty five years ago, when I was a yoof, it was Dreamland at the centre either the Amusement park or music in either the ballroom, live bands like, Slade, Sweet, 10cc, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Hawkwind, Status Quo, I could go on but those are the ones I remember appearing although it was a long time ago, also the Bali Hai I missed out on and the legendary DJ Mick T since the place was stuffed with skins, and never went to the Rendezvous Club either although Mrs Me did.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">Music in the seventies, my sort of time, also helped rammed the local pubs and discotheques, my favourites being Hades, The West Coast ( not the current one), Imperial, Ace of Clubs, The Starlight, and Crackers opposite the Lido, brilliant midweek, perhaps my earliest haunt being the High cliff Bars where they had heavy-ish metal bands most weekends.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think in the seventies there was a greater bio-diversity in drinking establishments, and entertainment to be had but being honest what would I know. I haven't been out in thirty years. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">It seems that public ownership is a likely outcome for the Dreamland entertainment complex beyond the duffers in the park, creating a museum for fairground attractions. The cinema, ballroom and other areas could with imagination pump out live music and celebrate youth culture, sex, drugs, rock and roll, baby! revitalising the town and making it a bit edgy once again. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyhow it's 8:30 I'm 50+ and it's getting toward my bed time I'm afraid. Still at five in the morning I'll be driving toward London, Ipod blasting out, anything from the specials, sex pistols, killers, AC DC, bob Marley, thin lizzy, Jackson.</span></div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-56917954310018686022011-01-22T12:19:00.001-08:002011-01-22T12:27:01.623-08:00Bleeping Bush Blighted<p>Part of the deal with Turner Contemporary as sold to us locals are the possibilities to revitalise Margate through art, community projects have been started, local artist and galleries encouraged and then along comes planning. </p> <p>Anyhow received an email from Bill Furness local Liberal Democrat, that highlights another lack of judgement by Thanet council, which will be self explanatory from reading bills correspondence empathising with Mick Etherton of Beeping Bush passionate condemnation of TDC decision also attached</p> <h3>Dear Mick</h3> <h3>Having just read your letter, I am disappointed in the failings of our local leaders. The Old Town plays an important part in the regeneration of Margate, if we lose this art gallery it will be a sad loss for the community, the lack of forward planning by our elected leaders is beyond believe.</h3> <h3></h3> <h3>Bill Furness</h3> <h3></h3> <h3>Soulless gutless hypocrites, says Gallery Owner</h3> <p>Making a decision with the same lack of joined-up thinking that passed Westwood Cross, TDC are once again lacking in vision and passion and completely ignorant of the damage that they have done to Margate’s future <p>On the eve of the opening of the Turner Contemporary, the 10-year life of the Community Pharmacy Gallery is about to end - because Thanet District Council’s (TDC) Planning Department have just granted permission for 3-storey housing units to be built adjacent and due south of the art gallery. This spells the end for the community-focused art gallery and exhibition space. TDC’s planning process makes a mockery of all the good work that Margate Renewal Partnership (MRP) have done in the Old Town for arts regeneration. <p>MRP commissioned the document <strong><b>‘<i>A Cultural Vision for Margate -Creative Margate 10 Year Delivery Plan’, (at great expense) in 2008.</i></b></strong> The Key Objectives were supposed to be ways to help the Old Town to flourish as an arts area, artists’ quarter and cultural centre, something like The Lanes in Brighton, with art galleries, community spaces, artists’ studios, cafes and workshops. <p>With evidence that The Community Pharmacy Gallery has drawn in over 50,000 visitors, attracting tourists from all over the UK, and in spite of the fact the vast majority of the objections were lodged from outside Thanet, the TDC planning authorities have now sacrificed the oldest and most prominent gallery space in the Old Town - to allow a single speculative developer to profit from all the benefits that arts regeneration is bringing to Margate. <p>The biggest elephant in the room at last night’s committee meeting was ‘the cultural regeneration of Margate Old Town’, the councillors preferring to spend their time discussing the aesthetics of a new conservatory in Broadstairs. There was no mention of the MRP <i>Creative Margate 10 Year Delivery Plan</i>, and an observer would have had no idea whatsoever that Margate has (or aspires to) a cultural quarter. Whichever councillors that have been championing Margate’s rebirth through creative regeneration were obviously not there last night to fight the cause. <p>One councillor incorrectly quoted me as stating that I (the objector) didn’t want a house built there, when in fact I have always offered a compromise solution which has never been discussed or even acknowledged. <p>Since the first planning application in 2004, I have been objecting <b><i>only</i></b> to the excessive height of this proposal. TDC Councillors have had 7 years to address my concerns, but I have never been consulted about my offer of a compromise solution of a hipped pitched roof design to lessen the effects on our venue. As stated in the BRE Guidelines <i>– </i><i>Site Layout Planning for Daylight & Sunlight - A guide for good Practice</i><b> </b>- that TDC have used to determine this planning decision<b> </b>local planning authorities do have the power to consider <p>‘special circumstances’ in cases of historic city centres, and the key objectives of the MRP<strong><b>‘<i>A Cultural Vision for Margate -Creative Margate 10 Year Delivery Plan’, </i></b></strong>supports this point. <p>Despite me alerting <b><i>all</i></b> TDC & KCC Thanet Councillors and Roger Gale MP about this argument, not one person at has bothered to explore this for debate at committee. <p>Why? The real answer is that these councillors and Planning Department functionaries have no vision and no passion for the regeneration themselves. They are ‘just doing their jobs’, (as their predecessors were when they butchered the High Street and granted planning permission to bulldoze the Georgian architecture and replace it with grim 60’s and 70’s buildings, like the courts and library and the ‘shopping centre’). <p>For us to quote the document ‘<strong><b>‘<i>A Cultural Vision for Margate -Creative Margate 10 Year Delivery Plan’</i></b></strong> is pointless, because these people only think in the short-term, and because, actually, the true purpose of these reports is to simply to create a ‘buzz’, to entice private investors into the area. The council couldn’t give a toss whether it is going to be an Arts Quarter or a Sport Quarter or Real Ale Quarter, as long as private money is involved. And to prove that TDC don’t really believe that this ’Artistic Quarter’ is going to put Margate back on the map, they now grant permission for a private investor to build two poky private houses (overlooking a car park), which will close one community gallery, with no more than a shrug. <p>The Community Pharmacy Gallery was the first arts exhibition venue in Margate, and has played a key role in arts regeneration in the old town, exhibiting over 100 events since opening in 2001. All of our members are volunteers and we have spent over 10 years building up the gallery’s reputation as beautiful quality exhibition venue, only for its unique attraction to be cut short with this retrograde decision. <p>The Government Ombudsman forced TDC to commission an independent lighting survey in 2008, which stated that the gallery will lose between 48-78% of its annual sunlight, so over £100,000 of TDC administered public funds used to create this community arts space has been wasted. We will now be forced to cancel our scheduled 2-year programme of local and international arts exhibitions, intended to coincide with Turner Contemporary’s opening. When at any moment, the venue will be in cast in complete shadow from midday. Our members no longer have the passion to spend our own valuable volunteering time developing the gallery’s future, when TDC have clearly shown themselves not to be supporters of the arts in Margate. <p>Mick Etherton 20/01/2010 <p>Director, Beeping Bush Ltd <p>The Community Pharmacy Gallery <p>16 Market Place <p>Margate CT9 1ES <p><a href="http://www.bepingbush.co.uk/">www.bepingbush.co.uk</a> <p><a href="mailto:info@beepingbush.co.uk">info@beepingbush.co.uk</a></p> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-26034323572119714702011-01-19T13:09:00.001-08:002011-01-19T13:15:46.778-08:00Not long now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGtSvLIWum_qtLwMgsdIejERbLWiYQ1G7n5s4dkJtD0EQx-RL_GL6OgKSyni8QNhGe3bWoov94Yy8_L3-D5_5cKi_rUWTc55j2p1ErcL8KbYwnqgRWNkXHyyzW-Toy1GCLHeC0aMUPjk/s1600/whenareweopening.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGtSvLIWum_qtLwMgsdIejERbLWiYQ1G7n5s4dkJtD0EQx-RL_GL6OgKSyni8QNhGe3bWoov94Yy8_L3-D5_5cKi_rUWTc55j2p1ErcL8KbYwnqgRWNkXHyyzW-Toy1GCLHeC0aMUPjk/s320/whenareweopening.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been blogging for the best part of five years, almost driven to distraction by the seemingly remote machinations involved in delivering the Turner Contemporary, arts council, Kent council various quangos and concomitant consultants, architects politicians and quangocrats.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyhow driving along Margate's front, I was surprised at the condition of the town, scaffolding has sprouted in front of the iconic Dreamland building, the Arcadia and Fort hotel's shroud of scaffolding etc has done little to improve the appearance of things.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even a gander over the cliff showed, a large stock of what I assume was paving, and with the little experience I have of civil engineering, it looks like things will be finished either just in time or oops, comeback next week, the opening date is April 16th, still, this project has astonished me before so, fingers crossed. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway as part of the growing excitement I thought I'd recycle some of my earlier posts so that those who are unfamiliar with the project could get a view of the backstory. </div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-33163483236298275252010-12-11T06:53:00.001-08:002011-01-19T12:39:54.739-08:00Turner + Reminder- Tudor House– this weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4892/2717/320/atudor.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4892/2717/320/atudor.1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Until such time as Thanet Council work out a way to make a quick buck from Margate's Tudor House, by selling it, once in a while this remarkable house will be open to the public for the the odd day or so, </span><a href="http://www.visitthanet.co.uk/thedms.asp?dms=13&p1=gb&p2=margate&feature=1001&GroupId=2&venue=3200538"><span style="font-size: medium;">as is the case this weekend</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have made reference to the Tudor house on numerous postings, and if there is theme in all this ,it is of wasted opportunity. Those involved specifically with Margate renascence, frequently use the this phrase "The Margate offer" which is almost as meaningless as it is irritating.</span><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Currently if such a thing exists, the Margate offer, consists of one as yet to be opened but impressive gallery several years late, and a burgeoning art economy which has grown in expectation, however a lot of potential is still tied up in and held up in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll believe in "the Margate offer" when Dreamland is revived in some way ( what's going on with that?), Margate has its museum back and those buildings like Arcadia Hotel and Fort Hotels are sorted not hidden ( are these really going to be tarted up by the Turner opening in April?). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My view is that much of Margate regeneration has simply been mishandled, too little to late, as with Arcadia, even the Milestone hand over ceremony of Turner Contemporary from KCC to the gallery trust was a private affair with a handful of the great and good on hand and apparently none of the public, who as taxpayers are paying for this, were on hand to witness the event.</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtc7tMwQ74hHjW-Bk6aBWmaZ3TBg_wb_RCPVNL0d64STGn45uWgJ2voG_9ol-kfgcV9X5F8xXrHvwsEl31WIwZPQR4GsFnygxRoyOZ83DNJLicNtNvFR-pWswQRkh0-zIk5s1gZGuk8o/s1600-h/claddingwhathappened%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="claddingwhathappened" border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfB0EvVZfCN112zYPL6q7DiblemT3ULZyfSNeDLtMmY-ty4edIpk4BNY43D3_6k337T9_M0qInxaxpw6wBQPYZQfo-0BHpfWsO3-5HGkIGeCk_MnX5o4-_DzMU42ggXtrMwvMbANjefI//?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="claddingwhathappened" width="406" /></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;">One thing that has troubled me, and I note others is the finish of the Turner building, this comment from Michael Child made on Thanet Life "...I thought it was supposed to be coated with glass and glow" </span><a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/chipperfield%E2%80%99s-turner-contemporary-is-no-oil-painting/5009066.blog"><span style="font-size: medium;">or this from Amanda Baillieu of BDonline (Builiding Design)</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"> " And while the CGIs show the light bouncing off the building’s pearly cladding to evoke the spirit of JW Turner, in the flesh it looks flat and charmless and cheap.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since its out there, I'd like to know what happened to the outside of the building, </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7048323.stm"><span style="font-size: medium;">this quote from the architect "....capture the same unique light that inspired Turner."</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"> at the time I understood that the building would be clad in some sort of glass with perhaps iridescent properties which would indeed reflect and enhance the buildings look, however the outside although white, looks dull and uninspiring and I'm sure I've seen a similar finish on some supermarkets and train stations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway if you haven't taken the opportunity go see the Tudor House, this is a beautiful building not built by committee the arts council or flippin KCC enjoy it while you can. Sorry for the late mention.</span><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">* CGI Computer Generated Image</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-3497983095955971962010-12-08T14:23:00.001-08:002011-01-19T12:24:08.887-08:00Turner Contemporary how KCC manage things?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZm5iKLuvLNphu2jUpW_mx2hPOrS6_iqcJGEPoZuWiM4KvVpWTcENyd89AVsmG_DHvs9Rxr6Cf-i_GP6Yp-iZy3OBZEVx2D33kcsXle9S0ZUl4LhEURXlgJ1ED4v4lUH46c1zfuRcyHSs/s1600/nearly+there.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZm5iKLuvLNphu2jUpW_mx2hPOrS6_iqcJGEPoZuWiM4KvVpWTcENyd89AVsmG_DHvs9Rxr6Cf-i_GP6Yp-iZy3OBZEVx2D33kcsXle9S0ZUl4LhEURXlgJ1ED4v4lUH46c1zfuRcyHSs/s400/nearly+there.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">As I have mentioned before KCC, spends an awful lot of your money on PR and press. A typical example of this concerns the Turner Contemporary gallery, in what looks to have been a carefully controlled media event, KCC handed over the gallery to the Turner Contemporary Trust.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">As someone who has taken an interest, I am surprised that todays event or milestone has no mention on Turner Contemporary website and wonder is this a result of KCC's obsession with the media.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">John Kampfner the chair of the Turner Contemporary Trust, is a media bod himself, also Chief Executive of the index on censorship, an organisation dealing with freedom of expression, I just wonder if he could disabuse me of the suspicion that KCC invited along the usual complacent press poodles, who report on local events and issues. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">I realise this is a time for celebration but one question that could have been asked, in <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-11945672">tonight's BBC report </a> is how back in 2006, the gallery was I think going to cost around 12 mill, not the 17million price tag of today.</span></div>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-46504910121700485332010-12-04T07:43:00.001-08:002011-01-19T12:24:08.890-08:00Margate are we there yet?<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E6gbWTWKoPASIgxumGY2jYKBUHbobxBFZ0JSsfnq26vG1BofSVaEFzf2lNGd9a4jXn4lYfK_3xLWkKoGOnOfiua7RVXAXBvvYjWpMbsvJZWLIen5C-gOVPNPdF_By6JpCbR3pOByyxk/s1600/not+long+now+for+T.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E6gbWTWKoPASIgxumGY2jYKBUHbobxBFZ0JSsfnq26vG1BofSVaEFzf2lNGd9a4jXn4lYfK_3xLWkKoGOnOfiua7RVXAXBvvYjWpMbsvJZWLIen5C-gOVPNPdF_By6JpCbR3pOByyxk/s400/not+long+now+for+T.JPG" width="400" height="371" /></a></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Driving along the front, Friday afternoon I paused for a moment to look see the nearly done, Turner Contemporary gallery and thought that this time next year, the harbour area would be awash with art connoisseurs  and wondered if,  the Kent highways/agency and southeastern railways will have the developed not just the technology but the blimin willpower to deliver travellers from London and elsewhere during modest snow falls such as those we have just experienced, like any other civilised society.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BTiFI8CL_2v0I7_PbfyA5UWqruWJuoiGBIzcLcIGezglGr7NDLEazdwiEbrr5pWTgyJScH7j-VOE94RKCutd2W9E92b8whwrXXzruM4DIepjWchzUytwKUbFSDE0GQGZrjzzBpBVaY4/s1600-h/nearly%20there%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="nearly there" border="0" alt="nearly there" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPYz0H7J8sfH9aUnlG2mjzctB1w9UjUvBVM5NKCWNj5lmf_8cR0CEUovscTHxilK1YL06yaEzHSxbkMu_-94U1OCAEmR8MRdit-YH-10r0iOVyM9pMNjRjjBj1emHqUkdLgla0n-Jmzg//?imgmax=800" width="386" height="249" /></span></a></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Will the TC gallery result in the renascence of Margate? Not alone, I think, it will take more, than the gallery, still efforts are being made, even small things like painting the light house on the Harbour Arm, with hoops which if nothing else will brighten the seascape even if it offends, Local Labour who recently appear to have a nutty nimby tendency. Local business cafes and gallery's are improving and particular mention ought to be given to those involved with the </span><a href="http://www.margateharbourarm.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Harbour Arm</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"> I see this weekend, there is as is often the an exhibition, in this case by </span><a href="http://martinmeyrick.co.uk/index.html"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Martin Meyrick</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"> also worth a mention are </span><a href="http://caitlinsbeachcruisers.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Caitlin's Beach Cruisers (Bike Hire),</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">  not sure if they were open for business but spotted one of their bikes tethered to the bike stands at the entrance to the Harbour Arm.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdy2g8bun2XRZw4sH-Atv32XfwMFCKMSCDPeCHiWcNladI_Al8RQAIJEE1WsqAcuj9-zR_fd2iccViqfSRoIOdFTWr6hAtYxQm6zV5-WIm95yicDEr-NYmmxwWL4Ny5c2Y39saeau4qA/s1600-h/martin%20meyrick%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="martin meyrick" border="0" alt="martin meyrick" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrzE4swuvWGRzw-zr4iGHTX9Ug-4iyqYe7u6rfk8fYg4pf-F-YGvrtDK4d7UY9OAdB1QRp6a5WWJXa4248wic-OkGpCGWwcQHvaC9WKHil_TjAd4hEbjpM-ykN794FTFQnKfwICI86SI//?imgmax=800" width="240" height="197" /></span></a></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Any how, although not necessarily your typical gallery visitor, I can do the Tate Britain in a couple of hours including a cup of coffee and a muffin, Tate Modern in 45 minutes possibly less if I don't stop to mumble about most of it not looking out of place in landfill, so it lets hope local business and other organisations can rustle up other distractions to keep visitors amused.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">One particular omission that ought to be rectified is the abysmal decision by local conservatives for whatever reason to close the local museums particularly Margate's, I can only imagine  of what pettiness or spite bought on that decision, perhaps Cllr. Bob Bayford leader of the council could redeem his apparent </span><a href="http://thanetpress.blogspot.com/2010/11/tory-tdc-leaders-public-comments-say-it.html"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">contempt for the Isle's citizens</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"> and do something positive.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Whatever rose tinted glasses, those involved in local regeneration might be wearing, the fact is for a whole new, type and generation of visitors, there wont be any second chance to give a first impression, Kent highways recent fanciful plans, wont matter a flying toss if we cock up the next 12 months.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">Eric Pickles the governments communities secretary has suggested local councils dip into their reserves, and what better that dig up a few miserly thousand, for the museum, when there is always loads of money for nonsense like Thanet's CCTV cameras £1.4 million in three years, which allow council staff to snoop and spy on you and I as well as check, that their car is still safely parked for free in Mill Lane car park.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium">This time next year we will know whether the regeneration game has worked, Kent 's Conservative council is sitting on £100 million+ reserves, most of Kent's spending is carried out in the Maidstone and West Kent, they currently waste more than £5million pounds a year on self congratulatory advertising which I would argue is not in the public interest.  </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium"></span></div> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-41356292991658555652010-11-15T13:32:00.001-08:002011-01-19T12:24:08.893-08:00Hurrah! Art supremo finally gets gallery to go with job.<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqf5LYskioXym2xZou5itY-uI04PldSHyPv3NNU7FPUo3vhw8dikBO-E3pWNzPcfDpZNu9QCKA5HJALDfyf6OnNCY3kCC_fDm8ZI4gtVisFeh2cSLweOGwCR-t88x0sVazR_6dfGbimzk/s1600-h/turneropens%5B60%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><img alt="turneropens" border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuylUUfIyrN2nWnRk0Nwp5eM7asSl6xrPBtw7Ne1_jJItcdzx1ra6ay094LfNAoFebohkxWnJu_-Un9Ldbat5tNjYQ85lF_3dKW7y7S5JV05AdoQ4t_e2fgGsoTIBlKl6C5iwyeCBN-Q//?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="turneropens" width="450" /></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">Phew what a relief! after all the years of broken dreams, the blood, sweat, toil and tears an opening date has been announced and Gallery Director Victoria Pomery gets to open the doors of Margate's Turner Contemporary on the 16th April 2011.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">The process so far has had its ups and downs not least the original questionable choice of an ocean going gallery, which wasted several years and millions, due I think to incompetence, costing many millions to the local economy. during the last few years, when Margate should have been reaping the benefit.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">Despite KCC trousering some several millions in compensation, from architects, this money apparently itself got lost in county hall because there is no evidence of Margate and Thanet being compensated for the lost years. Unless any of our local tory County Councillors know otherwise, which I think is unlikely, since I've yet to hear any of them speak up for Thanet.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">Still at least my neighbour had the dubious pleasure of seeing a test structure for the original design, float off into the sea with in minutes of being positioned never to be seen again.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">Anyhow I suppose that next April is a time to look forward to a new dawn. As thousands of suitably <strike>brainwashed</strike> educated art buffs, embark on a pilgrimage to Margate with great expectations and hopefully fat wallets.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">Whatever your views Turner Contemporary is the best show, if not the only show in town for Margate, unfortunately as part of the build up to Margate and Thanet becoming a global destination, Thanet 's Conservative council took the bold but stupid decision to close the nearby Museums which would have been complimentary.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;">I had a quick gander, at the programme of exhibitions, the highlight for me will be the exhibition scheduled for 28th January 2012 till May 13th "Turner and the Elements" a major show of Turners works, Brilliant! and since I'm not to familiar, or er educated I'll keep the rest of my opinions to myself, although I have to say I'd like to see banksy but that would be unlikely for this reason he's not only talented, instantly recognisable but popular.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.turnercontemporary.org/whatson/?p=222">Turner Contemporary announce</a></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: medium;"></span>Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467047410360435978.post-43632919240320267752010-10-12T06:15:00.001-07:002011-01-19T12:24:08.924-08:00Grim picture as Margate's dependency is highlighted<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu5w3X7yxIGeSAjIKg_75YZ8JqZMnD54snb_S-mCfveRQmCISsXX7UsvRiXM1fynMChIrojt8dO4WhP0JU-YfdFod03YnSNajDgXDI4Jx7RvVUu_-Qh6QN11II0uWCn7eKAGt1ifTDhg/s1600/rose+tint+Margate.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu5w3X7yxIGeSAjIKg_75YZ8JqZMnD54snb_S-mCfveRQmCISsXX7UsvRiXM1fynMChIrojt8dO4WhP0JU-YfdFod03YnSNajDgXDI4Jx7RvVUu_-Qh6QN11II0uWCn7eKAGt1ifTDhg/s320/rose+tint+Margate.JPG" width="480" height="353" /></a></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">Yesterday </span><a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3173732/Worst-welfare-blackspots-revealed.html#mySunComments" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">The Sun made a big issue of the countries hotspots of welfare dependency</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">, a grim league table with Margate rolling in at Number 7, obviously I'm not placed to comment with any authority as my Labour buddies will be only to happy to remind you.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">With no wish to be kind to either Labour or Tories I'll give you my highly inaccurate thoughts and background, firstly the "welfare state" as a concept first explained to me, when I was a kid,  was set up as a safety net for those who through no fault lost their jobs or were incapable and in need of help along with a health service, social services and education for all.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">That was the ideal sold in the 60's and 70's, since then both the Tories and Labour have succeeded in twisting purpose, for their own ideological reasons, Mrs Thatcher's regime succeeded, when it set out to destroy manufacturing, along with mining industry and with no regard to society, happy to discard whole communities.  Part of the price for destroying industry, was feeding just enough money, to those set aside to keep them inline, so the welfare system was re-engineered so that money was diverted to sick benefits rather than unemployment benefits, the safety net idea started to disappeared whereby benefits had been a temporary measure for those in need between jobs for example. The damage done by Thatcher was of such scale that many communities have never recovered.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">Labour came back to power in 1997, they had a mandate, they had good will, they seemed to have, a commonsense approach, they would reform, well bollix!  One of the first measures was to take the brakes off the banks and with in the first two weeks Labour took away perhaps the most important of universal benefits that of a right to a free education,  David Blunkett couldn't sign up to quick enough to the abolition of free university education, which is why kids with talent could well face milestones around their necks of a hundred grand, well done Labour!. In fact Labours recent time in office was characterised by MP's filling their boots at your expense, reforms were the last thing on their minds and that of their leaders, remember they're still doing alright and for some with speaking engagements and book deals, happy days!.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">Apologies for the last couple of paragraphs not really relevant, but a general background, right how did Margate get in such a state, well no doubt a change in social habits and peoples expectations, tourism certainly is big factor in Margate's decline but so possibly is the lack of manufacturing a significant amount being transferred to china, as even the miserly minimum wage is too much for some business.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">Still the biggest blows to Margate economy have been the creation of the Westwood retail parks and the uncontested destruction of Dreamland Amusement park of which Labour and Conservative council administrations are to blame. </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">Now the present, in a few months the Turner Contemporary is due to open, whether this is a success, depends much on what is shown there and in all honesty what we've seen so far at the M&S building has been dire, so fingers crossed they don't choose a load of old **** , still this time next year, we will know if comparisons with Bilbao, and St. Ives stand up. Dreamland Museum Theme park ( a world first) might just open in two years time. Whether this will result in jobs and money sloshing around town is debatable.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">So what of Margate's dependency culture, what realistic chances, are there of people moving from dependency, just where are jobs to come from short term, last year looking to work closer to home, I found that unlike ten years ago, you cannot just ring up an agency and find yourself working the next day.  Labour having expanded the workforce, rather than tackle welfare dependency, which has created local circumstances, where the working population has increased dragging down wages and excluding local people at the same time.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">I am sure that the legacy of both Labour and the Conservatives will haunt Margate and Thanet for many a year, and while the conservatives are right to tackle those who've bludged off taxpayers for years, I wonder what can be achieved and at what cost to those, who are now trapped in the dependency culture, still the worst aspect of this is the immoral bleatings of the Labour party who have a "nothing to do with us" attitude. Still no surprise for a party lead by a man who can't commit to marry his partner or having his name on his sons birth certificate.</span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small"> <br /></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: small">Its my belief that local politicians are both weak and negligent in representing this area, this area contributes millions to Kent County Council and yet only the minimum spend is made back here in Margate and Thanet its about time money spent in the West of the county Maidstone, West Malling etc got spread over to these parts, it is our money.</span></div> <div align="justify"> <br /></div> Tony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.com11