Jamaica Live was an Open Weekend event to celebrate the London 2012 Games and Birmingham’s selection as host for the Jamaican Olympic team, including the fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt. The event took place in Victoria Square in Birmingham on Saturday July 23^rd 2011. Over this 8 hour event there was 32,000 people in attendance and 3,000 people in the square at any given moment.

Jamaica Live! Activities Included:

• Our main star of the day was Reggae Reggae sauce icon Levi Roots who performed and did a live jerk chicken cooking demonstration on the main stage.
• Performances included Steel Pulse tribute Pulse Beat, The Reaggae Philomonic Orchestra, gospel singer Monique and included a surprise performance from the legendary Dawn Penn!
• Family-friendly comedy from TV’s Annette Fagon, Toju and Tony Hendricks, as well as spoken word artists in our story tent.
• Drumming workshops; Jamaican style. Visitors joined in with our collective drumming groups.
• Freshly-cooked Islands-style food available from local Caribbean chefs and vendors on site.

This celebration of Jamaican culture, food, and arts, was a great warm-up for events happening this year in honour of the teams’ presence in the city.

Punch Records welcome Usain Bolt and the Jamaican Olympics Team to Birmingham!

Respek Vanley

Saturday 7th July 2012 3pm

The Midland Arts Center (MAC)

FREE

Day 2 release of the official line up for BASS Festival 2012! Yesterday we highlighted one of our amazing music artists, and today we feature another artist… VANLEY BURKE.  Musician Bobbie Gardner is creating as unique concert, featuring a reggae band, classical musicians and school children, inspired by this UK  black documentary photographer. Vanley Burke is regard as the UK’s most important documentary photographer and this event will commence a year long celebration of his work.

He was there at African Liberation Day in 1977, Handsworth park, where the biggest all-black crowd gathered in Britian.

He was also there in 1981 and 1985 when Birmingham’s streets erupted in violent riots.

Vanley’s amazing work has been exhibited extensively across the UK and abroad. With solo exhibitions in New York, Mall and closer to home at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Black Arts Gallery in London Cornerhouse in Manchester, amongst others. The photographs have also been displayed in locations more easily accessed by black audiences including pubs, clubs, community centres, churches and schools.*

*Provided by http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/your_community/bhm/vanley_burke.shtml

NOW EXTENDED UNTIL THE 25th June 2011!!

Illustrate- Create

Mon 13th- Sunday 19th June (10-5pm) FREE

Sat 18th June- Children’s workshop 3-5pm

The mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

Multimedia artist Leon Sparkes and illustrator Deborah Brogden will be resident at mac for a week  devising an installation combining sound, video, illustration and comic book imagery: the piece provides a narrative and emphasises the theme of change, in the hope of promoting creativity and creative solutions to current issues. Leon’s work has been shown in diverse locations from galleries to bus shelters. There will be a workshop for children on Saturday 18 June where participents can create new work and meet the artists

keep up to date with news from illustrate-create with twitter and facebook

Words from the artists……From sketches to real life.

“Our project is an experimental installation, using interior design, digital media and music to transform an empty space.

It is a platform for us to use our skills in painting, illustration and textiles and apply them in a 3D context.

The project will be organic and will constantly change within the week that we are residents.  We will highlight themes of games, technology, music and Art, fuse these ideas and explore them to build new ideas for creative spaces.

We want to challenge our work and push the boundaries of visual communication.  The journey we are going to undertake will challenge our comfort zones and allow us to work on new surfaces and with new mediums.  We will therefore have to adapt ourselves to new ways of working in new frameworks.  Our spatial awareness will also be challenged and our notions on spatial design will be explored.

The project will be interactive and allow viewers to engage in the work, adding to and shaping it.  This will allow people to explore their own visions and ideas.

The project is open-ended and similar to a jigsaw puzzle which needs piecing together”

Punch presents the provocotive exhibition, which has been specially adapted for Bradford, showcasing collection of hundreds of posters, photographs, images, manifestos, downloads, quotations and ideas.

Initially launched in Birmingham 2010 as part of our annual festival, BASS, the exhibition draws from a unique archive held by the British Council. In 2002 Liz McQuiston, a curator and authority on protest and propaganda art, toured a show of British political images through South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. ‘Up Front and Personal’ was then expanded as local African posters were collected during the tour and added to the show.

highlights from the launch at BASS 2010

For more information please contact Punch:
T: 0121 224 7444
E: info@punch-records.co.uk

The show uncovered the worldwide Bhangra phenomenon, showcasing individuals who have championed the UK and USA Bhangra scene with colourful album sleeves, personal photos and rare print for a visual musical journey.

A unique series of events at the popular venue 92YTribeca ensured that New York City experienced the international culture of Bhangra like never before. Brooklyn-based DJ Rekha, a musician and entrepreneur, was the catalyst behind this specially adapted exhibition.

Check out DJ Rekha on NYC’s 24 hour newschannel on the web, NY1 who have captured the exhibition and highlights from the night. Please click here to see.

The launch was celebrated by an interesting panel discussion led by Dr Rajinder Dudrah, University of Manchester with panelists; Shin from DCS, co-presenter and key partner DJ Rekha, UK DJ and journalist Boy Chana, New York based educator Nina Chanpreet and producer Erica Rubin.

Have a look at the pictures from the launch and show below:

The night ended with DJ’s Rekha & Boy Chana and a ground breaking performance by lead vocalist Shin helped by an audience raising the roof; Balle Balle! Check out the clip of Shin’s performance filmed by Desi Hits! an entertainment & lifestyle hub for Desi culture who were present at the exhibit and afterparty.

Following the overwhelming response from the launch in NYC, Punch now hope to tour this exhibition further in the states. For more information contact Ammo on 0121 224 7444 and click here to read about the exhibition. Also keep up to date with news or get involved by joining the Facebook page: Soho Road – Five Rivers to Five Boroughs.

On Sunday March 6th, the Punch team was in Bradford helping to bring the 2011 Peace Jam to life. A full programme of live art, performance and hands-on workshops was delivered to a young and enthusiastic audience from around the world. Everyone joined in exciting activities based around Punch’s popular “Fight the Power” exhibition, which is showing at the venue until the end of April 2011. Artists helped visitors make and display their own protest placards, print ransom notes and T-shirt slogans. Participants curated their own show of famously censored art, including photos of the Sistine chapel, Oscar Wilde’s grave and Buddhas defaced by the Taliban. Live performers LCB and Soul Hesson were on hand to deliver thought- provoking performance pieces.

The curators of “Fight the Power”, Scholars and Warriors, said –“ We don’t call this an exhibition, we call it a re-mixhibition, and the audience plays a part in shaping it every day. A few people have tried their best to censor certain images and exhibits. Hundreds more have added to it by uploading found images to the facebook group, joining in the discussions and sending in and pasting up their own slogans and art. It’s all part of the show, and it reveals how few cranks and bullies there really are in society, compared to the overwhelmingly sensible, playful and creative general public.”

Graphic designers  MMSIX and urban art agency Redhawk Logistica were involved in both the workshop and the show, which also features work by internationally renowned graffiti artists Mohammed Ali and Nigerian sleeve artist Lemi Ghariokwu. Lemi said about the show: “I am very proud to be a part of the show. Punch has helped bring my work to a whole new generation, and help make people aware of the plight of all who suffer injustice.”  Mohammed Ali said “This is an exhibition that shows people, especially young people, how graphic design and art can be used to champion the vulnerable and to fight injustice.”

Commissioned and published by Punch, Birmingham-based photographer Pogus Caesar launches his new highly collectable and anticipated book celebrating iconic black musicians.

Muzik Kinda Sweet was released in October 2010 and is available to buy online in our shop section.

The remarkable photographs selected from OOM Gallery Archive features evocative, nostalgic and largely unpublished images of musical legends like Stevie Wonder, Grace Jones and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

Read The Independent’s Arts Review, please click here.

Shot entirely in black and white on a Canon Sure Shot autofocus camera purchased in the 1980′s, the photographs offer a stark alternative to the digital performance photography of today. Most of Caesar’s photography is based around his home city of Birmingham, documenting a spectrum of well-known personalities and recording significant events including the; Handsworth riots, Birmingham tornado and the regeneration of the Bullring.

Check out the footage of Pogus talking to ‘The Stirrer’ about his photographic career and favourite works:

For more information on Muzik Kinda Sweet and images please, click here.

Monday 10th October 2011

MADE (Midlands Architecture and the Designed Environment), 7 Newhall Square, Birmingham, B3 1RU

FREE EVENT (Booking advised)

British photographer, Pogus Caesar, is releasing an intriguing and investigative new book ‘Sparkbrook Pride’ that has been specially commissioned by Be Birmingham – Neighbourhood Management Programme and published by Punch and OOM Gallery Archive. The book will feature black and white photographs of Sparkbrook residents all taken with Caesar’s trademark Canon Sureshot camera. The foreword for the book is specially written by poet, playwright and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah and the book’s introduction by Paris based photographer Nigel Dickinson.

During the autumn of 2010 Caesar regularly visited Sparkbrook and has produced a striking portfolio of images that document the diverse individuals who work and reside in the area. Long standing residents from the West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan, and India feature alongside the newer communities from Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan and Malawi are featured in the book.

“I love the ‘rawness’ of these photos, they have a sense of place, yet nothing is staged, and the only information Pogus gives us about those featured is how they define themselves, nothing more. We need no more. So people – it is down to us to piece together the rest of this multicultural puzzle“. Benjamin Zephaniah

Please book tickets through mac website here

Tickets are free but please book to avoid disappointment.

Featured image: Malawian: © 2010 Pogus Caesar/OOM Gallery Archive

Muzik Kinda Sweet was released in October 2010 and is available to buy online in our shop section.

The remarkable photographs selected from OOM Gallery Archive features evocative, nostalgic and largely unpublished images of musical legends like Stevie Wonder, Grace Jones and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

Read The Independent’s Arts Review, please click here.

Shot entirely in black and white on a Canon Sure Shot autofocus camera purchased in the 1980′s, the photographs offer a stark alternative to the digital performance photography of today. Most of Caesar’s photography is based around his home city of Birmingham, documenting a spectrum of well-known personalities and recording significant events including the; Handsworth riots, Birmingham tornado and the regeneration of the Bullring.

Check out the footage of Pogus talking to ‘The Stirrer’ about his photographic career and favourite works:

For more information on Muzik Kinda Sweet and images please, click here.

A free exhibition charting the history of Bhangra will be on display in the foyer area at Warwick Arts Centre from Tuesday 11th May to Sunday 6th June 2010. Soho Road to the Punjab is a rolling project, which collects the memories and memorabilia of UK Bhangra. The exhibition explores, explains and celebrates the development of British Asian Music into a world class export. For more information, click here or visit the Soho Road to the Punjab website.

The play opens from Tuesday 25th May 2010 at Warwick Arts Centre with the press night at Warwick Arts Centre taking place on Wednesday 26th May at 7.30pm where Coventry artists, The Balle! Shava! Bhangra Dancers and Masterclass Dhol Drummers come together to perform from 6.45pm – 7.30pm in the foyer area. This is a free performance open to all non ticket holders.

The dancers bring their own individual experiences and unique style in the art of Bhangra dancing. They have toured alongside mainstream acts in the Bhangra industry and starred in number one Asian music videos. Masterclass led by Juggy Rihal have also toured with the biggest names in the Asian music scene and international artists with their aim to represent the Asian culture on a worldwide platform.

Please click here to see pictures taken from the press night and below check out the footage of the The Balle! Shava! Bhangra dancers and MasterClass Dhol Drummers performing:

For any enquiries on the performance please contact:
Kully Singh on 07850594655
The Balle! Shava! Bhangra Dancers and MasterClass Dhol Drummers

For more information call Punch on 0121 224 7444.

FAITH47 was one of the key artists we worked with during BASS 2008.

http://cultureserve.net/blog/wp-content/Issue10/faith47.pdf

Mohammed Ali is a renowned graffitti artist will work with a group of internaional poets to present this exciting new piece turning the city walls into a story portrayed through spray cans and words. Poets include Amir Sulaiman from the USA and Dreadlock Alien (former Birmingham poet laureate).

Check out the trailer for the project below:

Pioneering typographer, sleeve designer and artist Swifty will be setting up shop at the Sauce Gallery in Birmingham’s Custard Factory from Saturday 12 December. Everything from originals and one off prints to T-shirts, skateboards and stickers will be for sale in The Swifty Pop Shop.

The Pop Shop,will feature Swifty’s Newsagents installation.This life size shop front was partly inspired by Peter Blake’s ‘Toy Shop’ and the artist’s fond memories of a local village newsagent in Lancashire .

The Shop will also be home to the A-Z of Swifty Show, including pieces based around everything from Action Man to Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout.

The Pop Shop will be open to the public at the Sauce Gallery, 5 The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth and has been extended to run until the end of March 2010!

Listen to a great interview UK vibe did with Swifty and check out some more of his images by clicking here.

Check out photos from the fantastic launch night and the final preperations below:

Below are photographs of Swifty at work putting together the billboard for the exhibition.

Below is a great video by Art Vinyl exploring the exhibition

Bhangra music is a genre that comes from the Indian subcontinent and sung in Punjabi. Bhangra: Birmingham and Beyond traces its birth in the UK to when migrant workers from the Indian subcontinent and East Africa arrived in the country in the 1960s, many settling in West Midlands areas such as Birmingham.

Join our Facebook page: Soho Road – Five Rivers to Five Boroughs to keep up to date with news on Soho Road going to New York.

For more information check out our Soho Road to the Punjab website or contact Ammo on 0121 224 7444.

Historically, these are photographic stills of selected film scenes with stars that have been used to grace large hand-painted billboards, posters, press and magazine adverts in India.

Drawing from Kamat Foto Flash’s large archives, this exhibition will chart the history of the action stills production process from its heyday in the 70s and 80s to their transformation into digital photography.

The exhibition pays homage to this neglected area of Indian film publicity whilst also offering an insight into the many and varied images that this form of media production has given rise to.

Bollywood Stills has so far toured across the UK and various venues including Contact Theatre, Manchester. Check out the photographs below:

For more information on the exhibition please contact Ammo on 0121 224 7444.