One Thursday 3 openings

So what happens when you do not watch TV you go out and about to see whats going on in the world. Last night I went to 3 openings.

1. Golden Thread-the Art of regeneration I love the little books they do they have a ladybird feel to them. Ursual Burke took some pictures of the children on the estate in Bangor with a back ground, they remind me of the photos my grandmother has of "natives" when she went on her travels. On the left hand side of the book are little quotes for the kids, they could almost be poems, captured in time. Telling more about life in NI than you might think.

To give you an example I like this one.

"What job would you like to do when you get older?

'I wouldn't like to do a policeman......but I would like to be a normal person' "

Does the PSNI need to do a bit more PR? me thinks so.


2. Was Fiona Joyle at BPW I'm always amazed by the BPW gallery. Even though the space is small it just goes to show the power of Art when you get such a different feel in the gallery depending on the Art shown. This time Fiona's Art evokes clear architectural lines beautifully printed and its really nice to see them all together. You just do not get it when you just see one of them on their own. Tone on tone. Upstairs there are some more students work which helps you see what's coming out of the Art collage next.

3. Last but not least it was safe house gallery www.safehousearts.org Shankill meets the Falls a community photograph exhibition. What you are really struck by is that its very much the recent past. Gerry Adams has not gone into his Armani stage, the holiday home in Donegal is but a dream away, lots of bad hair cuts.Photos are from 1994 so its not that long ago so its good to see that things have changed. Yet so my things have not? Or is that only me thinking that?

I was talking with the guy from the Shankill who were involved in it, they wanted to know if we thought that they should do it again. I thought that Shankill meets Falls 2 would be a good name for an exhibition. Or a film for that matter and (as long as it was not advertised in the news) it might be a good idea ;-) They could go back to the same places and photo whats there now. If anything, certainly the murals have changed . Who get to decide what goes up next? Whos responsible for the next cultural stererotype to be painted on instead? That muttering is for another time.

Dont forget the GT have another opening tonight and the black box have their Black market on Sunday and the Artzyard gallery still have their exhibition on in Castleward if your in the need for a bit of fresh air. Remember it's good to live in NI. To get really local if your anywhere near Gilnahirk, the primary school has a fair 11-3pm organic strawberry plants catch my eye........yum, yum now is the time to plant them..