I’m getting very excited for the launch of The Festival of Imagination tomorrow at Selfridges, Birmingham.
A fantastic collaboration with BIAD and artist Beth Derbyshire, 5-23 February. 3 weeks of lightning talks, screenings and interactive projects to get your teeth in to, including music, food, technology, art, theatre, philosophy, alchemy, gardening and design.
I’ve been assisting Beth so come along and join in our adventures.
THE EVENTS
WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY, 12pm-1pm Lightning Talks
Creatives and academics talk about 20 slides for 20 seconds each. Inspirational, fast-paced and fun.
Talk 1: ‘The Supernatural Sex: Women, Magic & Mediumship’ by Artist, Grace Williams Talk 2: ‘Imagining Transformation: Traces We Leave Behind’ by Artist, Sophie Hedderwick Talk 3: ‘Life, Death and the Origin of Horology’ by Antiquarian Horologist, Rebecca Struthers Talk 4: ‘But When is Painting a Painting?’ by Artist JacquelineTaylor Talk 5: ‘Immersive Theatres’ by Director of The Dome Club, Mario Di Maggie
To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY, 3.30pm–4.30pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 1
Transforming the Imaginarium into a cinema, this playful selection of short films for all ages will take you on a magic carpet ride across the globe. Curated by Flatpack Festival, Fantastic Planet gathers gems from Russia, Taiwan, Ireland and the USA. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY, 6.30pm–7.30pm ‘Imagination: Extravagant Freaks and Great Cosmic Journeys’ – Lucy Hawking
Lucy Hawking (daughter of Stephen Hawking) takes us on an extraordinary journey across the universe, touching on the work of some of the greatest scientists and explorers of our time. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY, 12-1pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 2
Second in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY, 3.30pm–5.15pm Revolution 18 / David Bowie
Vivid Projects and VJ Chromatouch present a part-disco, part-documentary multi-screen installation hailing one of the most revolutionary artists of all time: David Bowie. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY, 5.30pm–6.30pm ‘Kraftwerk Uncovered: A Future Past – Icebreaker
Composer, producer and sound-escapist J.Peter Schwalm highlights Kraftwerk’s genius while visual artists Sophie Celements and Toby Cornish show their new video work. The event will be in conversation with Ed McKeon, curator of Frontiers Festival. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY, 12pm–2pm Bright Sparks: Drop-in Workshop
Get creative with your family and friends as we invite playful artists of all ages to work together on their own imaginative pieces, inspired by the city of Birmingham. Download our Bright Sparks resource here. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY, 12-2pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 3 (outside screens only)
Third in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema.
THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY, 12pm –8pm The Edible Garden by Edible Eastside
Explore the role of the garden as a space for deep-rooted innovation and investigation as well as sustenance and pleasure as nature enters the Imaginarium. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY, 12-1pm Lightning Talks
Creatives and academics talk about 20 slides for 20 seconds each. Inspirational, fast-paced and fun.
Talk 6 – ‘Random Access Memory Palace’ by Artist Andre De Jong Talk 7 – ‘Corporeal Connections in Contemporary Landscapes’ by Artist and Researcher Greg Dunn Talk 8 – ‘The Spaces Between Buildings: Sister Cities Birmingham & Milan’ by MA Architect Student Luke Nagle To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY, 3.30-4.30pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 4
Fourth in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY, 4.30pm–5.30pm ‘Urban Alchemy’ – Centre for Fine Art Research Seminar
In the 17th century, alchemy embodied the imaginative hinge between science, philosophy and architecture. Join Professor Johnny Golding and the CFAR Researchers on a magical experiment into contemporary urban space. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY, 6.15pm–7pm ‘A Love Letter From A Stray Moon’ – Jay Griffiths
Jay Griffiths will be talking about her short novel about revolutionary art, the view from the moon and losing and finding love. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 12pm–8pm The Edible Garden by Edible Eastside
Explore the role of the garden as a space for deep-rooted innovation and investigation as well as sustenance and pleasure as nature enters the Imaginarium. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 12-1pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 5
Fifth in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 3.30pm–5.00pm ‘Instruments of Perception’ – Birmingham School of Architecture
Interact with a range of extraordinary devices and structures created by students exploring the transformation of the Blythe Valley as the government deliberates the potential HS2 train line that will intersect the land.To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 6.30pm–7.30pm ‘Touching Taste’ interactive food lecture
Caroline Hobkinson challenges the way we perceive food by presenting it as art. In this interactive lecture you’ll discover ways in which the sense of touch can be used to enhance your eating experience. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 12-2pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 6 (outside screening)
Sixth in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema.
SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 12pm–2pm Bright Sparks: Drop-in Workshop
Get creative with your family and friends as we invite playful artists of all ages to work together on their own imaginative pieces inspired by the city of Birmingham. Download our Bright Sparks resource here. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY, 12pm-1pm Lightning Talks
Creatives and academics talk about 20 slides for 20 seconds each. Inspirational, fast-paced and fun.
Talk 9 – ‘Non linear Notions of Navigation’ by Artist Liam Worth Talk 10 – ‘A Potted History of the Poppet Simian’ by Vicky Roden, Artist Talk 11 – ‘Images of the Future in the Past’ by Luke Robert Mason, Researcher into Emerging Technologies & Human Enhancement Talk 12 – ‘What Is a Sample: Rhythm Science In Electronic Music’ by Mark Dawson, Sound Engineer and Comp To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY, 3.30-4.30pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 7
Seventh in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY, 4.30–5.30pm Making Magic Machines workshop
Artist and researcher Kristina Andersen shows you how to build hypothetical technological objects in accordance with your own desires and needs. Be inspired to treat technology as yet another material from which you can construct notions of the future. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY, 6.30pm–7.30pm ‘Hypothetical Technologies‘ – Kristina Andersen
In this talk, researcher and storyteller Kristina Andersen shares her passion for using reclaimed materials and DIY electronics to create unusual objects and experiences. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY, 12-1pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 8
Eighth in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY, 1pm–2pm ‘Theatre of The Future’ – James Yarker
James Yarker, Artistic Director of the highly influential theatre company Stan’s Cafe, will conduct an intimate talk/performance in which he speculates about what theatre could look like in the future. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY, 2pm–2.30pm ‘Who Can Define Creativity?’ – Lauren Williams
Young Poet Laureate Lauren Williams will read a specially commissioned poem for the Imaginarium. The title of the poem is ‘Who can Define Creativity?’. Lauren will also talk about her approach to poetry. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY, 3.30pm–5pm Makey Makey workshop
This workshop by Birmingham City University is designed for people of all ages to develop new ideas and have some fun. Individuals will unlock their imagination by turning everyday objects into innovative devices.To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY, 5.30–6.30pm Making Magic Machines workshop
Artist and researcher Kristina Andersen shows you how to build hypothetical technological objects in accordance with your own desires and needs. Be inspired to treat technology as yet another material from which you can construct notions of the future. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY, 6.30pm–7.30pm ‘Dreams come true’ – Ian Emes
BAFTA award-winning filmmaker and artist Ian Emes’ talk will reflect on the process of unlocking the imagination, and how through his work and career he has made these imaginings ‘real’ in different mediums. To book your place, please email FOIBirmingham@selfridges.co.uk. THE IMAGINARIUM ON 1
SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 12-2pm ‘The Harmonograph: A Victorian Drawing Machine’ with Jason Nicholson
Using a harmonograph (a traditional Victorian drawing machine) Birmingham City University Senior Lecturer, Jason Nicholson, will show you how to create complex images that can be developed through modern 2D and 3D processes.
SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 12-2pm Fantastic Planet Film Programme – Screening 9 & 10 (outside screens only)
Ninth and tenth in Flatpack Festival’s screenings of imaginative, family-friendly world cinema.
VIDEO SCREENINGS
Alongside our events, we have an ongoing screening of videos outside the Imaginarium featuring work by these artists:
Beth Derbyshire: The Keepers, 2013. The Keepers is a series of films that follow a group of people making a journey through different landscapes. Visually striking, The Keepers takes us on a journey through different regions, embracing themes of human, mineral and natural energy.
Antionio Roberts and Axel Debeul: Magnetophon, 2013. Magnetophon is a remake of the audiovisual performance by hellocatfood and Axel Debeul.
Antionio Roberts and Axel Juno: Dark, Eerie and Manic, 2013. Dark, Eerie and Manic is an audiovisual noise collaboration.
Sophie Hederwick: Vitruvian Woman, 2013. Vitruvian Woman explores the proportions of the female body, based on DaVinci’s Vitruvian Man. Using the fibonacci sequence to draw a spiralling movement in lights; that encircle the form and leave behind lingering traces of colour.
http://www.selfridges.com/en/StaticPage/FestivalOfImagination?llc=dn
Anneka French 