Archive for October, 2006
Hooray for the blackshirts (book)
Apparently, Plymouth used to be the fascist capital of the South West, with some 1,500 local people joining the British Union of Fascists party.
That’s according to author Todd Gray who will be talking about his new book, the snappily titled Blackshirts In Devon, at Plymouth’s In Other Words Bookshop tomorrow evening.
Anyone who’s read the WMN letters page recently may disagree that this subject is ‘a surprising and shocking aspect of Devon’s history’ but the tome’s unusual archival sources, including MI5 files and fascist newspapers, should be pretty interesting.
For more information contact Prudence de Villiers on
In more book news (oh yes!), Plymouth’s favourite local historian Chris Robinson releases his new tome on Friday. Called Then & Now, it boasts loads of pictures of Plymouth then and pictures of Plymouth now. Do. You. See?
We’re big fans of Robinson and, having had a sneak peak, can highly recommended the latest book - primarily because we’re gonna be buying copies for our entire family for crimbo.
Although, considering our family, the blackshirts book will probably be more warmly received.
Posted by Thin White Duke
October 31st, 2006
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In a spin at Red Propeller
Hullo, viewers - Thin White Duke here. This month saw the opening of a new gallery in Kingsbridge called Red Propeller. Some 150 movers and shakers turned up to the launch party and were apparently suitably impressed. We dug the super-glossy work by Louise Dear, while Mrs PRSD seemed more preoccupied with the statues of naked blokes. Go figure.
We had a chat with Red Propeller’s Sarah Anslow (who seemed chuffed with all the interest) and asked her to send us an email with her impressions of how the launch went and to provide some context and stuff. Culture Show, eat your
heart out.
Oh, and look out for pictures from Red Propeller in our gallery in the next few days (ie, when we get round to it). Here’s Sarah’s email:
“It has been quite a month in the increasingly hip, hop and happening Kingsbridge area of South Devon. Not only did Damon Albarn launch his new supergroup The Good, the Bad and the Queen at a secret gig at the Pig’s Nose Inn at East Prawle, but Pink Joe also made his shocking debut at the launch party of the sexy, new Red Propeller Gallery in Kingsbridge high street.
“Inspired by the great Renaissance Italian sculptors, Pink Joe is a life-size silicon sculpture created by the renowned South West sculptress Lucianne Lassalle.
“As part of the Red Propeller Gallery launch show, Lucianne certainly made an impact - exploring the juxtaposition of the traditional male torso with luminous pink rubber, digging deep into male vulnerability and male sexuality. What is it with her, is nothing sacred?!
“Other new work by Lucianne in this launch show, Sons Of Abraham and Salome And The Red Necklace, excavate down beneath the skin of social mores to reveal both the beauty of humanity and the cruel inhumanity of the creatures we call humankind.
“Also exhibiting is rising Brit Art star Louise Dear, hidden pearl of the South Hams, who has rarely exhibited in this area but regularly sells out in London and New York. She creates beautiful, sexy, multi-layered, distressed paintings giving them a depth of patina and history.
“Joining Lucianne Lassalle and Louise Dear is the extremely talented and brilliant artist James Stewart, who falls excitingly somewhere between David Hockney and Peter Blake with his highly stylised and often provocative images.
“In short, the exhibition will stir in you joy, sadness, lust or disgust but it won’t leave you cold. Get ready to be moved.
“Red Propeller aims to provide a platform for work not traditionally shown in the area, by pushing the boundaries and taking risks. It has already been hailed as a signiificant development in the cultural life of not only Kingsbridge but Devon as a whole, with even the most conservative declaring it’s ‘just what Devon has been waiting for’ and that ‘Kingsbridge has never rocked so hard’. “
October 30th, 2006
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Oh, the shame of Devon. None of it, let alone us paragons of environmental virtue (we wish) here in South Devon, has been able to muster up a finalist in this year’s RegenSW green awards.
Come on Devon, whatcha been up to?
Oh well, at least in the Debi awards (Devon Environmental Business Initiative), which are coming up, there’s a Devon pre-requisite.
Oh the shame.
Posted by Cptn
October 29th, 2006
Open up to art
Don’t be deluded. Just because Exeter Open Studios is only taking place over two days (Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5) doesn’t mean it isn’t part of the whole Nine Days of Art stable, which has seen events in Teignbridge, West Devon, and the South Hams.
And as with the rest of them, this is a great opportunity to put your arty hat on and go and see these artists in their studios, ateliers or anywhere else such an arty bunch crawl out from.
What would we recommend? Stout shoes, a packed lunch and plenty of cash as well as a strict time limit. But we’re going to take the opportunity to revisit the work of Carol Harvey in Artitude at the Clifford Fishwock Gallery, University of Plymouth.
Posted by Captn
October 29th, 2006
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Something For The Weekend #3
SAY HULLO TO: WHO ARE: Rob Stillwell (drums), Richard Upton (bass), Chris Watts (guitar, vocals) and Dave Ankers (guitar, vocals)
PEDDLING: Fantastic fratboy frug-rock - with added vocal harmonies. Coo.
FROM THEIR BASE IN: Plymouth
THEY SAY: “Harmonies make the sweetest of melodies all the sweeter!”
WE SAY: Don’t fight it - these guys are gonna be HUGE.
RANDOM LYRIC: “Guess I want much more than incredible.”
NEED TO KNOW: FSA don’t need any help from the PRSD - they’re playing In The City Unsigned in Manchester tomorrow.
DOWNLOAD: Best Of Both Worlds, Don’t Slip Don’t Let Go, You For Me Always
Send your Something For The Weekend suggestions to
October 28th, 2006
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Get Stitch
Who can turn their nose up at a new free magazine promoting art, culture and events in the Exeter area? Well we certainly can’t (how the heck else do you expect us to get any stories?) That’s why we’re waiting, with breath a-baited for the first edition of Stitch, a new, free magazine promoting art, culture and events in the Exeter area.
The first issue hits the streets on November 3 and will be available at all good pick-up spots around the city - or at least, from good ‘pick up free magazine’ spots around the city.
Posted by Cptn
October 28th, 2006
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Folk tales
Folk is this year’s ska, or the new black, take your pick, and with so much to protest about there’s little wonder. But leave those boats out of Liverpool behind and take a dip into non-purist folktronica with the final date of the Twisted Folk Tour at the Exeter Phoenix on October 29 at an eighter or a tenner. It’ll feature three artists, Tunng (surely firmly in cheek when they came up with that vowel-shy moniker), Jill Barber and Nancy Cunliffe. And hey, if you were the right sort of arran sweater you might even get invited to the end of tour party.
Posted by Cptn
October 27th, 2006
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Arthouse roundup: Oct 27-Nov 2
Follow the main cinema links for dates, times and matinee screenings.
Follow the title links for movie details, friendship and maybe more.
PLYMOUTH ARTS CENTRE
The Passenger (PG) Starring Jack Nicholson’s eyebrows, this is a little-seen gem from genius director (or at least he used to be - don’t get us started) Michelangelo ‘Call Me Mike’ Antonioni.
Echo Park (15) Teenage sexuality, age-old rituals and, erm, real-estate prices collide in this award-winning drama. Yes yes, we said ‘real-estate prices’.
TAVISTOCK WHARF
Nacho Libre (12A) Jack Black comedy which conjures fond memories of Saturday afternoons with Giant Haystacks on the telly. Hush, Duke - daddy’s trying to do the football pools. No mummy, don’t lock me in the shed again. Well, be quiet or I’ll chop off your dirty dinkle. No mummy, no.
DARTINGTON ARTS/THE BARN
Allegro (TBC) We’ve all been there. You’re a world famous pianist going home to Denmark to give a concert, when you discover your career choices have affected your capacity to love. Yup, it’s a shitter.
Snow Cake (15) Sigourney Weaver pretends to be autistic in this heartwarming drama. Of course, she’s an excellent driver, Charlie Babbitt.
Crossing The Bridge (12A) A look at the music scene in Istanbul. Um, we’ll stick with Girls Aloud, if that’s alright ‘by you’.
A Scanner Darkly (15) An animated Keanu Reeves (hey, there’s a first time for everything) gets, like, totally bummed out in this excellent screen version of Philip K. Dick’s paranoid wheeze. Uh, dude.
EXETER PICTUREHOUSE
History Boys (15) Teacher encourages lads to ditch full-time education and have lots of gay sex. Be warned though - by following that course of action you’ll inevitably end up working at Torchwood.
Me And You And Everyone We Know (15) Known around PRSD towers as Me And You And Everything But The Kitchen Sink, this is like every arthouse movie you’ve ever seen - but ever so slightly better.
A Good Year (12A) Probably has a scene where Russell Crowe chases a goose.
Posted by Thin White Duke
October 27th, 2006
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Falling for them
It’s not sleazy! It’s not sleazy! Thank goodness. Now you can watch In Praise of Fallen Women, a ‘humorous, poignant, innovative and irreverant’ history of all those in the sex trade, without worrying. And visually it promises much in terms of communication - with spoken word, projections and with someone doing British Sign Language, the story is sure to come across.
See it at the Exter Phoenix on October 30 at 8pm for £9 or £7 - it’s the only chance you’ll get in Devon.
Posted by Cptn
October 26th, 2006
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Rik, sure?
You wanna feel like a prince? You wanna get carted around from pillar to post and fancy an environmental alternative to a taxi – presuming of course you left the Hummer at home. Well, as long as you travel around Exeter you can.
More accurately, as long as you travel between the Piazza down to the double locks, you can, if you take a rickshaw, to be sure.
Apparently the service, which has been running throughout the summer will continue all year round. And bien sur you can order it to take you to other parts of the city, as long as you book a week in advance. They even suggest using it for an eco-style wedding carriage.
Call the rickshaw people on 078775 96845 or visit www.lily-peds.co.uk.
October 26th, 2006
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