Friday 28 February 2014

Getting ready for Dandifest


Dandifest is on in Norwich from the 28th of April to the 10th of May at St. Margaret's church of art and the Norwich Arts centre.

DANDIFEST!
Art collective extraordinaire, The Norwich Dandies, are planning Dandifest! a two week happening, launching on Monday 28 April 2014, running through the May Bank Holiday, and ending on Saturday 10 May 2014. The Norwich Dandies, established in 2010, have worked separately on a vast array of projects, but always have the most fun when they work together. An impressive line-up of Guest Artists will be announced in the run-up to the launch.

Feedback from Helen Jones, after MindOut’s Wellbeing Day in Brighton. “The Norwich Dandies were a delight… They artfully created a corner of creative inspiration and got everyone involved… whatever their level of skill… they were generous, gentle, gorgeous and we can’t wait for them to come back...!”

Current Norwich Dandies are:

Eloise O'Hare, artist and campaigner, currently co-organising the Norwich Rising event, Drum For Justice, an international One Billion and Rising event on Valentine's Day, highlighting violence against women. Eloise also works for Hospital arts and is a leading campaigner in stopping junk mail to save trees.

Chrissy Sabberton, artist, performance artist, and campaigner, explores the way women are portrayed in the media, and wears a lot of pink.

Dugald Ferguson, artist and actor, is currently working in Berlin. His multi-media show Torrents of Rapture, received Arts Council England funding, and has been seen in London, Madrid, and Brighton, where it touched the hearts of millions.

Ann Nicholls, photographer, photojournalist, and campaigner, regularly photographs protests, campaigns, and celebrations. Her work often features in the media.

Vince Laws, founder of the Norwich Dandies, is a poet, artist, and campaigner. Channel 4 News broadcast live from Vince's last happening - a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of the Winter Olympics. He was Arts Council England funded for the B.Right.On Festival last year.

Between them the Norwich Dandies have worked with partners as diverse as: 76Crimes, Adult Literacy, Anglia TV, Anti Atos, Anti Domestic Violence, Anti Legal Aids Cuts, Area 10, Barbefellas, Barrington Farm, Baseline magazine, Battersea Arts Centre, BBC News, The Big Row, Bear Patrol, The Best of Norfolk Gala, Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, Big Gig, Brighton Dance Flash Mobs, Brighton Museum & Gallery, Brighton Pride, Camden Peoples Theatre, Centro Neimeyer, Channel 4 News, Chauncy Maples hospital ship Malawi, Chilli Film Festival, COAST, Cromer Crab and Lobster Festival, Cromer Library, Cromer Pier, Crude Apache, Disability Arts Online, Drum for Justice, EDP, Falmouth University, The Forum, Football Against Homophobia, Galley Beggar Press, Gscene magazine, Hackney Downs Studios, Hostry Art Awards, Houghton Hall Revisited, Hullabaloo Community Quire, Human Library, Inside Out and Proud, ITV News, Knitted Rainbow Scarf for City Hall, LGBT History Month, Leeway Women's Refuge, Lunch Positive, Matadero Arts Centre, Mind, MindOut, Mustard TV, NDPAC, NNF BETA Festival, N&N Hospital Arts, National Theatre of Spain, Norfolk Show Ground, Senator David Noris President of Ireland, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich Library, Norwich Pride, Norwich Puppet Theatre, Old Vic Tunnels, One Billion and Rising, The One Show, OUT140, Outline Magazine, Out Write, Outside In, Pleasance Theatre, Pride Live radio, Reels of Fire film, Stop Junk Mail, Strange Cargo, Sing With Pride, Shunt, Sodium Valporate Syndrome, Panorama, Peter Tatchell, Tate Modern, Time For Change, Trinity Buoy Wharf, Tullynally Castle, Words and Women magazine, The Women's Art Movement (WAM), Young Carers Association…

Norwich Dandy photographer, Ann Nicholls, as LookSeeClick Photography has documented many public celebrations and demonstrations including:
- We Are Norwich demonstration against English Defence League, November 2012 -Norwich
- Unite Against Fascism demonstration against English Defence League, October 2012 - Tower Hamlets
- Unite Against Fascism demonstration against English Defence League, February 2013- Cambridge
- Unite Against Fascism demonstration against English Defence League, 2013 - London
- Demonstration against supporters of Golden Dawn, January 2013 - London
- Rally of so-called 'Patriots', January 2014 - Lincoln
- Demonstration against privatisation of NHS, 2013 - Manchester
- Demonstration to mark the death of Margaret Thatcher, 2013 - Trafalgar Square, London
- Photo documentation of Occupy Norwich encampment, October 2011-February 2012
- Photo documentation of anti-ATOS demonstrations, Norwich - 2012-2013
- Photo documentation of actions organised by Norwich People's Assembly against austerity - 2012
- Norwich Rising V-Day events against violence against women - 2012 and 2013
- Celebration of Cultures event organised by Inclusion Mind (Norwich) - 2012
- Member of photography team for Norwich Pride - 2011, 2012, 2013
- No to Hate Crime Vigils, Norwich - 2012, 2013
- Norwich Trades Council May Day celebration - 2013
Ann's images have appeared in the Guardian, Eastern Daily Press, Disability Today and Socialist Worker.

Dandifest! will centre on St Margaret's Church of Art on St Benedict's Street, Norwich, with art, poetry, politics, live events, workshops, photography, and whatever else turns up between now and then.

Feedback from Oz Osborne, organiser of Norwich Forum’s Wellbeing Festival: “I'm delighted we booked you as you were an absolute highlight… I will recommend you to anyone I can in the future. You're all brilliant and I can't wait to work with you again!”

If you want to get involved, get in touch. Volunteer Dandies are always welcome.

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Drum for justice photos of event on 14th February 2014


The Drum for Justice sheets blowing around in the wind. In the morning of the event I wasn't sure if it was going to go a head. I had been up all night making costume for Boadicea and tying up loose ends. When morning came I a phone call came from a school teacher who was unsure about taking the children out in the rain and wind. So I am pleased I prepared myself for an early start as there was plenty of people in the morning wanting to mess up my timetable. Always be prepared and start much earlier then you intend to. There was no alternative arrangement for bad weather because last year we practised weekly in the snow and thought we could do this in any weather condition. 


My friend Rachel from Yarmouth art college came along to join in the fun.



Shelly Teddy even showed up and wasn't at all bothered about getting her fur wet.



Future radio came and set up the technical side for the sound system and Mary the signer also came along. 



All the school children from Catton Grove school dancing to Break the Chain.


Fire service came along which was great. I also invited the police to come along as they also have to deal with domestic violence. 



Bucket collectors from in the rain collecting for Leeway women's refuge charity.



Robert from Beepmode web design making a film 



More photos can be found on the One Billion and rising website


Here is a link to a video made by Beepmode web designs


Boadicea giving a speech and Mary signing to speech



Catton Grove school made some banners



Mr. Dods Hoola hoops that the children are playing with



Shelly Telly who also put lots of work into Norwich Rising is making a fridge magnet art piece


 Me and Shelly standing in front of the poster with V-day signs



Doing the One billion and rising sign in front of my poster



Doing the One billion and rising sign in front of my poster



Shelly, Eloise, Poppy and Maddi of Dogs chasing tail community music in front of the poster



Group school style photo in the rain



Group photo with Maddi and Eloise in the front 


Maddi and I in front of group photo


Maddi conducting the group


One billion and rising flag waving in background


Mr Dod hula hooping and dancing break the chain



Children and people drumming with pots and pans to break the chain to stop violence against women



Dancing and drumming



Action shot of Maddi waving her feather dusters conducting drum for justice drummer



The drummers were put in separate groups to get the layers of levels and types of drumming to make up the Morse code beat which spelled out Enough is enough!!!!!


Mr Punch helped organise the event and he says he was rising to stop abusers from abusing women.
Mr. Punch also made a pledge not to Punch anyone again.



Leeway charity collecting money and Mustard TV


Anna Mudecka African dance and drumming



Ladies drumming with pots and pans



Anna Mudeka dancing and everyone drumming



Anna Mudeka dancing



Here Anna Mudeka and her dance partner are jumping off the ground


Also helping collect money is Virgina monologues actors that are performing at the UEA on 26th and 27th of February 2014


Ann in the back round and the justice sheet with Future radio



Hitchin Dance and rise girls came to dance in Norwich



Firemen drumming there helmets





Ian Brownlie from CME was also leading the beat for all the beginners



Anam Cara Tribal dance group



People came in wheelchairs, fire service and Anam Cara dance group



Kids drumming on a big drum at the Drum for justice event



DGAS drum group came with there real drums.



Catton Grove kid with tray and utensil drum



Catton Grove kid with tray and utensil drum



Focus and concentration was very important to get the drumming right



Children hooping





Anam Cara tribal dance group



Drummers waiting for the Cue to begin



Chloe Smith drumming with a bucket



Mustard TV filming the action