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Issue no 3. April 2014 Brought to you by Lady Middlesex & F. Dashwood
Free Pick Me Up
Dilettante GAZETTE
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www.thedilettantesociety.co.uk Facebook.com/thedilettantesociety thedilettantesociety.wordpress.com thedilettantesociety@gmail.com
Mischief making. Curiosity creating. Catching eyes. Causing surprise. Art in the streets.Visual treats.
Dil·et·tante
An admirer or lover of the fine arts; popularly, an amateur; especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge, desultorily, or for amusement only.
Welcome to the third edition of The Dilettante Gazette, a local publication aiming to rouse your curiosity and creativity into the streets and soul of Nottingham and beyond. Spring is in the air and we have many a scheme up our sleeves for the future, so do join us on the information superhighway for Dilettante news, interesting links, and more on Nottingham's lesser known treasures.
a A salute out to everyone who came to our launch party, STOP PRETENDING ART IS HARD You helped make it a brilliantly enchanting night of creativity and merriment. Mischief was managed and much art made. Keep your eyes peeled for more of the same...
The first meeting of The Dilettante Society will be held at The Golden Fleece on Mansfield Road, 7-9pm on Tuesday 8th April. Expect a relaxed atmosphere, brilliant conversation with folk who share an interest in creativity, local history or our humble gazette and, of course, a drink or several. Join us and conspire.
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r Have you heard the one about... s
The answer to last month's riddle was, of course, the left lion. Like a benevolent Art Deco Aslan watching over the Market Square, the left lion was quickly adopted as a convenient meeting point for the fair folk of Nottingham. His brother on the right, however, did not attain such cultural significance. Local legend has it that the right lion would roar when a virgin passed by. Whether the result of childish pranks or stone turned sentient, when the statues were erected in the roaring 20's people tended to prefer their chastity, or lack of, to be kept private, and so the left lion was welcomed into the hearts of the people, and the his brother avoided where possible.
a Do-it-in-the-dark. Portrait no. 67, Richard, 2014.
r Do it this Month s
Admire the spring flowers, get caught in showers, stay up all hours and get yourself to: Artspace Sumac Centre, Forest Fields Wednesday 23rd April 7 - 8.30 pm
Let your creative side out playing with art materials in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere with lovely people. Street Art Open Launch Party Surface Gallery, Nottingham Friday 25th April, 6 – 9pm.
Exhibition celebrating the energy and diversity of contemporary alternative art, featuring DJ sets and a live performance from QMX dancers. The Dilettante Society Meeting The Golden Fleece, Mansfield Road. Tuesday 8th April 7-9pm
Join us and conspire!
r Whatever you make of it... s
Make a mess. Make a den out of sheets. Make somebody's day. Make a wish when you sneeze. Make up a manifesto to live by. Make friends with someone completely different from yourself. Make your past self proud. Make your body dance wildly at least once a week. Make believe its possible. Make it inevitable. Make elaborate gesticulations when describing things on the phone. Make a difference. Make things happen. Make yourself a good cuppa tea. Make sure you have your trousers on when you leave the house. Make it okay to make mistakes. Make up songs about your friends. Make merry. Make it up as you go along. Make something out of all those jam jars you've been saving. Make 'em wonder. Make Tuesdays Choosedays. Make good choices. Make a mix cd for a far away friend. Make and mend. Make your enemies confused. Make time for gin o'clock.
Excerpt from 'You Can Do Anything!' James Mangan (1936) 'Keep your eyes open. There are things happening all around you, all the time. The scene of events is interesting, illuminating, full of news and meaning. It's a great show – an impressive parade of things worth knowing. Admission is free – keep your eyes open'
Earn yourself some Dilettante points!
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1. Listen to Mischief by Ian Dury & the Blockheads. 2. Tell a known gossip a harmless tall tale and marvel at its evolution. 3. Give your house a name.
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r Mysteries & Hidden Histories s
You there!
There's no shortage of rebellious role models in Nottingham, legendary leaders who took a stand against injustice and championed the underdog. I'm referring, of course, to Ned Ludd, mythical leader and symbolic figurehead of the Nottingham frame breakers who began the Luddite movement of the early 19th century. These framework knitters sabotaged the new ‘wide frames’, which produced inferior quality goods and replaced skilled craftsmen with un-apprenticed, cheaper labourers, to protect their livelihoods. Sometimes referred to as King, Captain or General, there are various stories of how the name came to be used by the frame breakers in their proclamations and letters; whether such a man really existed remains a mystery. For an illuminating account of the harsh realities of life as as a Nottingham framework knitter and the conditions which lead to their protest, look out for 'Framed: a historical novel about the revolt of the Luddites'. This debut novel by local author Christy Fearn, is a gripping tale of intrigue and romance set against a backdrop of poverty and social injustice, with an appearance from a certain mad, bad and dangerous to know poet and Luddite sympathiser, Lord Byron himself. Framed is published by Open Books. Support local, independent retailers and pick up a copy from Five Leaves Bookshop, Long Row, Nottingham.
r Advice is Nice s This Sunday, Lady Middlesex suggests taking part in the little known, long standing tradition of The Bother Me None Club. Simply rally some fine acquaintances together in your favourite public house, gather your drinks and follow two simple rules: no bothering anyone and no being bothered by anything. If caught breaking these rules the botherer and botheree must at once buy a drink for each other and resume carefree drinking. The easiest way to discern if someone is eligible is to join is their response to an invitation; those who immediately grumble at the premise should be left at home.
r The Trials and Tribulations of s Gumbo Barley
Gumbo wor busy nosing through his nets aht ont lane. His mate Shonar Bangla wor at kitchen table drinkin some fancy pink wine out his best mash mug and ad been gassin' none stop abaht her new The Journal of exercise video. She wunt girrova tryin to gerrim to girrit a go wiy her, Doctor Percival Knightly and his mind ad wandered to his crop o daffs as irroften did at this Part 2 'The Image' time o year. Overt road he couldn't believe his eyes - ahtside la di dar The image is the most important part, number four it wor yella wi daffs right rahnd! He swore dahn there when one creates any form of art. weren't none there eaarlier. “That bloomin' waitrose!” he thundered. Be it sculpture, painting or sound, Shonar sensed he wor gerrin upset and finally stopped goin on abaht it's what you convey and want to be found. the leg warmers she'd just gorrim. “It int woth avin a scranny abaht, My creation will be, considered a piece - yewl gerrova it” she said, “Iyerd Spring is when you can put yer foot of architecture covered with grease. on three daisies, an I ant done that yet this year!” She worra good It will be beautiful, it will be grand, friend, Shonar, but a bit simple when it came to a lorra things. He just be it man or woman, finest in the land. wanted is daffs to serrof dancin when it wor windy anorl, but he'd aff But the time has come to make my choice, to work 'arder. He glanced at the clock and saw it wor nearly time fo my creation will have to have a voice. bed. Or worrit? Gumbo couldn't recall if he'd remembered to change Left to chance by the roll of a die, the clocks and then forgorren, or forgorren to change um an to influence chance I must not try. remembered. Bed with lambs, up wi the lark anyway. He'd wait til Even is woman and odd is man, Shonar ad gone and purris kippers undert grill forris supper. a five is rolled, my building began.
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“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up” - Pablo Picasso
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