Good evening,
Here’s your Sunday read from The Old Post Office.
This newsletter is a Birmingham Open Studios special - as today is the deadline for registering to take part in the initiative.
Last week was a lovely one in the space: Friday morning we had a full house - with 8 people signed up to the accountability session, it really works! Friday after work we also had a jolly coworkers social at Attic brewery. It was lovely to see some of the coworking space kids playing together (/eating okra fries) too.
See you in the week? — Kerry & team TOPOKerry writes this newsletter, and the coworking space is a team effort.
A busy Friday morning at the coworking space. In case you weren’t aware, we do have a handful of screens and laptop stands you can borrow, first come first serve. (My screen is the big Dell.)
Save the date - Birmingham Open Studios
For the second year, the coworking space is a host venue for Birmingham Open Studios.
There are hundreds of artists taking part in the scheme all across the city, showing their work in places such as artist studios and cafes, through to shop windows and garden shed-studios. In many cases artists are displaying their work in their own living spaces which have been turned into art galleries for the occasion.
At the coworking space we’re open for the first weekend of the open studios trail - pop in between 11am-5pm on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September.
Our confirmed artists at TOPO are:-
Ayesha Bibi (Sketch Avenue) - After 25 years of practicing as an architectural interior designer, Ayesha has returned to her passion of using earth as her medium to create art
Debra Nelson - Debra is designer and illustrator, she creates colourful prints and products, her work often takes inspiration from travel, adventure and the environment
Izzy Kennedy - South-Birmingham based illustrator and ceramicist, drawing her way round Birmingham through street portraits and architectural prints
Kate Shipley - Kate is an illustrator and maker inspired by her love of nature. Her drawings and designs are printed onto quality papers and fabrics and are perfect as gifts or to brighten your home
Mirta Vargas Ceramics - Mirta’s work is inspired by Nature, and by the desert landscape and native heritage of her region in Northern Chile
sparklymouse - Louise Marie Jones is a born and bred Brummy creating hand embroidered illustrations under the moniker sparklymouse – working with an ambition to make life a bit more colourful in a world full of doom and gloom.
Birmingham Open Studios is a good opportunity to go to places you may not ordinarily get chance to visit. In Stirchley there are other participating venues/artists studios including Stirchley Printworks, Copperknobs (another one of our coworkers!) and Stirchley Art Room at Stirchley Library.
Crafternoon
On Sunday 28 July, join Kate, Rachel and myself for an afternoon of embroidery.
Please note, we aren't trained tutors - we're just a few friends who would like to explore a new craft together with a cup of tea. We'll all be learning alongside each other.
Tickets are £15pp and include all materials and refreshments. Tickets via eventbrite.
Local happenings
Volunteer-led Stirchley Open Cinema have teamed up with 90 Degrees Barbers in Stirchley to screen Medusa Deluxe (Cert 15. Dir: Thomas Hardiman, 2002). Tickets via tickettailor.
From one barber to another, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts have re-opened after a refurbishment. Barber Lates returns with an artist takeover Thursday 11 July, 6pm- 9pm. okcandice will be performing a sonic soundscape in response to Claudette Johnson: Darker Than Blue and queer film festival @cineqbrum will be screening short films. Tickets free, register online
‘New nomadic art gallery’ Bostin Art Gallery opened a new month-long exhibition at Moonraven / Black Box Theatre. Over thirty artists are taking part. Open on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, 10am-2pm until 28 July. More via instagram
I picked up a very nice looking flyer for Fizzle Birmingham when I was at Legacy Centre of Excellence the other day "freely improvised and experimental music in and around Birmingham" which I am certain will be of interest to a few coworkers
Phil told me about the Red Lion Folk Club in Kings Heath and its impressive history. "The Red Lion Folk Club, with its international reputation, remains the premier venue for folk music in the Midlands" Weekly on Wednesdays at 7.45 pm (doors open 7.15 pm). I walk past this place weekly (on Vicarage Road) and had no idea!
P.s. If you'd like to come and cowork you can book your desk via this link.