Monthly archives: November, 2015

Nov 17 2015 0Commentby artmusoadmin

Artist Preview for Wateraid’s Sh!t Show

Posted in Arts

If you haven’t already got the date in your diary then mark down 19th November for World Toilet Day: Create your own poop emoji, #BeAThinker on Twitter, and get down to 103 Norfolk Street, New York, between 20-22 November to see some iconic artists supporting Wateraid to raise awareness as part of World Toilet Day 2015.

The Sh!t Show – artist preview

Jon Burgerman

SHITJONYou will probably recognise the distinctive art and doodles of British born talent Jon Burgerman: if not then you are in for a treat.  Currently living in NYC, Jon studied Fine Art in the UK before embarking on his career as an artist.  With an impressive list of collaborations with brands such as Coca Cola, Sky and Puma (to name a few) his quirky artwork has achieved international success and can be seen in galleries and installations to computer games and interiors.

Jon will be working with WaterAid at the Sh!t Show to build a giant ‘Poop World’, transforming his doodles to create fun free standing sculptures to highlight the importance of good sanitation.

If you would like to know more about Jon please visit his website: www.jonburgerman.com

 

Geo Law

SHITGEOSheffield’s own street artist and doodler Geo Law will be working on a 20’ wall completing a live mural throughout the course of the Show.

Born in Huddersfield in the UK, Geo specialises in graphic illustration and bespoke murals. Influenced by pop culture and his love of computer games his graphic style and playful characters pay homage to comic book heroes, Japanese anime and cartoons.

The mural will illustrate the dangers and difficulties of inadequate water and sanitation and highlight the positive change that occurs within those communities where Wateraid has worked.

If you would like to know more about Geo please visit his website.

www.getaloadageo.co.uk

 

Susanne Walström

SHITSUSANNEWith 25 years experience in editorial and advertising, Swedish born Susan Walström has become internationally renown for her beautiful photography. Her genuine interest in people and how they relate to their environment is apparent in her signature style, combining wit and humour with the subtleties and uniqueness of her subjects.

With a keen interest in environmental issues, Susanne will be exhibiting a collection of photographs taken in southern India, addressing the issues faced by women in particular due to a distinct lack of toilets and sanitation.

“More than 600 million people in India lack access to toilets. It is especially difficult for women. Instead of toilets they use the fields before sunrise or after sunset. The fields are riddled with snakes, sharp thorn bushes and wild dogs, and there is the very real risk of assault and rape by men preying on the women in their most vulnerable state. My pictures are taken in Tamil Nadu in southern India.”  Susanne Walström

If you would like to know more about Susanne please visit her website: www.walstrom.eu

 

For a full list of artists and for more information on the show visit our article here.


Nov 14 2015 by Sam Borrett
World Toilet Day Logo

World Toilet Day 2015

Posted in Social Conscience

­Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, hommes et femmes, caballeros y senoras, damen und herren.

If you’re looking for toilets then we’re here to point you in the right direction.

While some toilet door signs may be confusing – who knows which is which in Ireland (Fir and Mná) or what the WC toilet sign means (it stands for Water Closet) – a shocking 2.4 billion people on the planet do not have access to a proper toilet.

That’s roughly one in every three people.

November 19 marks the third World Toilet Day, established by the UN to raise awareness of the scale of the global problem in sanitation.

Without proper toilets, children can be exposed to human waste causing a number of diseases that prevent them being able to absorb nutrients in their food. This can have deadly consequences for children.

1000 children died each day in 2013 from preventable diseases caused by poor sanitation.

In communities where people go to the toilet in the open, diseases like diarrhoea are easily spread and in turn cause undernutrition.

Making sure people have equitable access to basic toilets, and changing behaviour to ensure these toilets are used, is vital to improving the nutritional health and development of children, and giving every child a fair chance at life.

The new international development targets launched earlier this year (the Sustainable Development Goals), call for universal access to toilets and proper sanitation for all by 2030; a highly ambitious target but one that could have significant benefits.

For example, every $1 spent on water and sanitation returns a saving of $4.3 in reduced health care costs – a good investment for aid donors and recipients alike.

Get Involved in World Toilet Day

UN-Water and UNICEF are leading the campaigns around World Toilet Day 2015 and have a number of ways you can get involved.

If you’re in New York then head over to the UN Building to see the inflatable toilet, and to have your picture taken in a photo booth in the UN lobby as part of the ‘be a thinker’ social media campaign, or make your way to Washington Square Park to experience the See Through Loo – a transparent toilet!

You can take part in #BeAThinker campaign by considering how people feel when they don’t have access to a toilet and have to go in the open, and the implications of this for children and women especially.

Simply pose as a ‘thinker’, take a selfie, and post on social with your thought and the hashtag #BeAThinker

Be A Thinker

For more information on World Toilet Day visit http://www.worldtoiletday.info/

 


Nov 11 2015 0Commentby artmusoadmin
The Shit Show

The Shit Show

Posted in Arts, Social Conscience

An exhibition not to be missed – if you give a shit about World Toilet Day that is.

November 19th is World Toilet Day – when charities like Wateraid and organisations such as UNICEF raise awareness of the 2.3 billion people (that’s one in every three people on the planet) who don’t have access to a proper toilet.

It seems remarkable that a third of the world’s population don’t have sanitation facilities given the standard of living we’re used to in the ‘West’.

Wateraid are hoping to pique interest with The Shit Show, a free, poop-themed interactive gallery featuring art from some of America’s most acclaimed artists and something of a fun approach to a serious issue.

Currently confirmed artists include: Yoni Alter, Jon Burgerman, Nick Chaffe, Jhowee Chiang, Madeleine diGangi, Alan Foreman, Jacob Fradkin, Andy Gilmore, Dave Krugman, Anna Laytham, Mick Marston, Roger Mason, Caroline Melisa, Al Murphy, Alvin Ong & Cheri Ong, Diana Park, Robert Petrie, Matthew Reid, Ashkahn Shahparnia, Chairman Ting, Jessica May Underwood, Libby Vanderploeg and Susanne Walström.

The event is free to the public and will be held between 20-22nd November from 11am to 6pm at 103 Norfolk Street at Delancy Street – so if you’re in New York then get yourself down there to experience the shit!

You’ll have the chance to take a deep dive into the issue by interacting with various installations and viewing Wateraid’s award winning film Across the Tracks. Artwork from The Shit Show will be available for sale to benefit WaterAid’s water and sanitation programs in 37 countries across the globe.

Find out more about Wateraid in your country by visiting http://www.wateraid.org


Nov 09 2015 0Commentby artmusoadmin
Music Box by Kathy Hinde

Manchester Enlightened this December

Posted in Arts

International artists meet local talent at the Enlighten Manchester Festival of Light and Sound Art nestled in the heart of the German Christmas Market at the Central Library and Bridgewater Hall this December 10th – 12th.

With over 15 installations plus performances and talks, the festival celebrates light, sound, and literature, as part of UNESCO’s International Year of Light.

Boasting a world premiere of The Bremen Town Musicians, a music and live animation work inspired by the bestselling author Philip Pullman’s new translation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, the festival features a number of internationally acclaimed and award-winning artists.

Light artist Paul Friedlander, audio visual artist Kathy Hinde, and light and sound artist Ulf Pedersen will all exhibit world premieres as they headline the event.

Luminous Birds by Kathy Hinde

Luminous Birds by Kathy Hinde

Local artists include Scotsman Poet of the Year Adelle Stripe, graphic designer Trevor Johnson, light artist Elisa Artesero and photographer Andrew Brooks. Neon artist Richard William Wheater is working with Manchester-based youth leadership project RECLAIM sharing young people’s vision of what the city could look like in the future.

Following a successful pilot last year the festival will launch a new relationship with the extraordinary Manchester Central Library as the main venue to bring together exciting local and international talent, skills and energy with an ambitious programme after dark. Light works will also be on show at The Bridgewater Hall from leading audio visual artist Kathy Hinde and Liverpool contemporary composer Matthew Fairclough.

Andy Brydon, Curated Place and festival director said: “Being able to deliver the first full outing of a light festival in Manchester as part of the UNESCO International Year of Light with Central Library and The Bridgewater Hall is the best way we could launch a relationship with these brilliant venues.

“We’re all looking towards developing the light festival as an annual event to inject some high quality public arts into Manchester’s Christmas Celebrations. This year we have some of the UK’s leading sound and light artists collaborating at the boundaries of their disciplines helping us develop the festival from a pilot to a major family event. Next year we’re hoping for more.”

 

1000 Birds by Kathy Hinde

1000 Birds by Kathy Hinde

Enlighten Manchester will take place on the following dates:

  • Thursday 10th December: 4.30-8.00 pm (with launch performance from Psappha and Enrica Sciandrone from 6pm)
  • Friday 10th December: 5.30-8.00 pm
  • Saturday 10th December: 5.30-8.00 pm

Locations: Manchester Central Library, Bridgewater Hall

Price: Free-£5, booking required for Manchester Central Library

For more information visit http://www.enlightenmanchester.co.uk/