Photo: Rachel Adams
SKINNER & HOLDEN NATA MORARU
Threshold Festival JOYCE EDWARDS
The Modern Lesbian
the natural light to great effect, adding a filter to Hutton’s portrait that gives it the kind of nostalrrrrr gic look Instagram(ateurs) try so hard to achieve. While there’s a lot of laughter in the faces of the The filter is fitting for Hutton, who – her bio re‘modern lesbians’ of Rachel Adams’ new exhibiveals – helped build the ‘largest physical archive tion The Modern Lesbian at Contact, the overof UK feminist music in the UK,’ now archived in arching story is one of gay women succeeding Birmingham Central Library. despite setbacks and prejudice. The chuckling Displayed like large polaroids, the portrait face of Claud Cunningham, Black Angel clubnight photographs are impressive in their aesthetic vaDJ and promoter, contrasts sadly with her bio riety. Rosie Garland (stage name Rosie Lugosi), a description, which details some of the difficulties local performance artist, screams out of her phoshe’s faced in trying to introduce contemporary tograph in colours so distinct her skin looks like a black music to the Manchester gay scene. realist painting. Women are shown driving, workAdams displays a talent for capturing the ing at their desks in their offices, and generally personality of her subjects through the use of just ‘being.’ There are trans-activists, librarians, different photographic styles. While Cunningham ‘gender terrorists’ and a dominatrix. The modern is shown in old-fashioned sepia, Jayne Compton lesbian still seems to be overrepresented in the – of Switchflicker Records and Club Brenda – social justice sectors, but an exhibition like this is shrouded in darkness with a background of can only be an inspiration for other lesbian and blurred 90s light. bisexual women. See what is possible. [Ana Hine] Women such as Catherine Meads, Reader Free in Health Technology Assessment at Brunel www.contactmcr.com University, and Caroline Hutton – both older www.themodernlesbian.co.uk women – are captured outside, and Adams uses Contact, Manchester, until 20 Apr
globalisation and population growth through an audio visual installation that features four planet-like circular projections incorporating Hidden between the wood warehouses of Jamaica appropriated imagery of subway commuters, Street and Greenland Street, Liverpool’s Baltic weather patterns, blood cells, neuronal pathways Triangle plays host to Threshold, back for its and miniature constructed landscapes. The acthird year for three days of grassroots multi-arts companying soundscape, titled Deltra Metropol, shenanigans. creates an eerie, recurrent echo made from a seOn arrival at Camp and Furnace, where the lection of found and recorded audio sources. In majority of Threshold’s events take place, you’re the Art Attic, there’s Loci (Double Binded), a specially commissioned installation from Liverpool invited into a dizzying atmosphere, with an Art Prize-winner Robyn Woolston sculpted from eclectic mix of pop-up installations, live stages, projections, a forest of handcrafted trees, and ad metres of layered red thread. Saturday evening sees art collective RAAP hoc art events waiting to be discovered around perform Ghost Hands, a live drawing/sound perevery corner. formance that uses analog telepresence. A group Social art project Draw the Line allows us made up of two illustrators, two musicians and to sit and doodle on the tables while we watch a technician, they directly influence each other bands and enjoy a pint or two – OK, three. A through improvisational sound and art, while the favourite hangout is the cleverly titled Listening audience watches their eerie drawings appear on Within Tent: a tiny caravan turned into a cocoon a projector screen. of fairy lights and cushions, where you can chill The Threshold Escapism afterparty finishes with an iPod playing songs by some of Threshold’s off the night with DJ sets from Milk, Waxxx and artists. everisland – making the cold, drunken 15-minute Down the hall, Shoot Gallery has an imwalk back into town more than worth it. [Helen pressive collection of exhibitions. Working in Stead] dialogue, Charles Holden, Maggie Lambert and Sam Skinner explore current issues such as Various venues, Liverpool
rrrrr
www.thresholdfestival.co.uk
Gallery /Urban art supply shop situated on the 2nd floor of Manchesters Afflecks Palace.
Workshops Commisions Spray Paints Paint Markers Contact Hayley on 07725519366 for any quotes. or email Dirtywork@live.co.uk 52
Review
ART
THE SKINNY