- oil paintings
- scraperboard - which once the black surface has been scratched off , a white surface is revealed which is then painted with a fine brush giving an unusual and distinctive result.
- slate painting - these are Welsh slates painted using acrylic paints. These are mostly used to paint birds, but can be used for most animals.
THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH
The online Community News and Local History Magazine for Bloxwich & District - Edditid by a Bloxidge mon!
The Culture Supplement
This section of The Bloxidge Tallygraph is dedicated to reporting on and reviewing local cultural events, books, exhibitions and personalities, in additional to presenting local cultural work such as that of our Poet in Residence, Andrew Perrins.
The Culture Supplement is current undergoing expansion - watch this space!
Sections
We plan to build up a number of sections linked from here.
Poet in Residence - Andrew Perrins
Book Reviews
Local Music and Theatre
Express and Star artist at the Atrium
Blakenall Village Centre
Dateline: 18 November 2009
New Horizons is pleased to welcome local artist John Williams, whose artwork appears weekly in the Saturday edition of the Express and Star, to the Atrium Gallery at the Blakenall Village Centre.
John Williams was born in “The Green”, in Darlaston in 1933. He went to school in the area, The Green, Bentley and Slater Street schools in Darlaston. Eventually the family moved to Bentley from their back-to-back in the Green.
After his school days John worked in a timber firm until he joined the RAF, where he worked for several years as an engine mechanic on several types of Meteor jet aircraft.
On leaving the RAF he married a Short Heath girl, Dorothy, they moved to Willenhall in the early 60’s and lived behind a garage and shop since then.
He firstly went to evening class to study art and then went part-time to Goodall Street Art School in Walsall. He has been sketching the streets in Willenhall and Walsall since the early 70’s and quite a number have appeared in the Walsall Express and Star.
John has exhibited in London, Birmingham, Stafford and Walsall, this is John’s first one-man show for several years.
His artwork includes sculpture, which he has exhibited in the Atrium display cases, at the Blakenall Village Centre.
John began drawing at an early age, even though he was told he was red/green colour blind. Over recent years John’s eyesight has deteriorated with a condition called macular degeneration which has set him new problems to overcome when creating his work.
John is a member of a number of local arts groups; Walsall Society Artists, Darlaston Amateur Artists and Willenhall Artists Group. John has been with a member of the Walsall Society of Artists for over 35 years.
John’s exhibition will run at the Atrium Gallery from Friday 8th December until Saturday 23rd January 2010.
If you are interested in showing your work please contact Andy Bradley or Sally Gamston on 01922 712858.
Wednesbury artists brush with Blakenall
Wednesbury artists John Ashmore (left) and John Howell.
Picture and story: Andy Bradley, Walsall's New Deal
Dateline: 8 September 2008
Walsall’s New Deal welcomes the members of the Wednesbury Art Club to the Blakenall Village Centre’s Atrium Gallery; the Art Club’s exhibition features work by people of all ages who are interested in getting together to enjoy art, with a membership that spans the ages 15 to 91!
The Club aims to promote interest in all art forms and to supports its members with practical demonstrations that help them to develop their skills and ideas.
Formed in the late 1940s the Wednesbury Art Club has had its ups and downs. In the early 1950s the original Wednesbury Art Club was forced to disband due to insufficient members.
In 1989 the late Mr. Len Middleton M.B.E the president of the Wednesbury Society of Arts arranged a meeting with the aim of re-forming the disbanded group. The meeting was held in Wednesbury Town Hall, and this thriving art club has gone from strength to strength.
The Art Club meets fortnightly 7:00 – 9:00 pm on Monday evenings, the artists get together, and alternate practical evenings with demonstrations from local and regional artists on techniques.
The Club holds its Annual Exhibition at the Wednesbury Art Gallery at which the Art Club Trophy is awarded for the best submission, the Trophy is held for one year.
John Ashmore; Vice Chairman for the club said; “Our club is going from strength to strength, and we always welcome new members. The demonstration evenings, when leading professional artists demonstrate and explain their method of work, are open to visitors”.
For more information please contact John Howell on 01922 683304.
The Wednesbury Art Club exhibition runs from Friday 26th September until Saturday 1st November.
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Interview with the Author: MICHAEL BARNES
Dateline: 17 August 2008
On 11 August 2008 The Edditer, Stuart Williams, had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing newly-published local science fiction author, Michael Barnes, who lives in Blakenall, works in Dudley and travels in time!
The following interview will be followed by a review of his new book, Against Time, as soon as time permits!
Michael Barnes - picture by Stuart Williams Against Time - Arima Publishing
The Interview:
SW How did you come to be in the position that you are now? I understand from a local paper that you started out as a bookie, you became a teacher, you teach in Dudley but you live in Blakenall…
MB That’s very true, yes.
SW So how did you get into that situation?
MB Well, I went obviously to the local schools, Harden Junior School, Forest Comprehensive, left with high CSE’s, nothing really brilliant. Went to university after working in a bookmakers for five years, as the manager of a betting office, went to Wolverhampton University, attained a 2:1 Honours Degree in History, came out with some direction. I’d worked with children before, in a youth club capacity and so on, with football… and attained a job at Sutton School [Dudley]. I’ve been there for nearly nine years.
SW Right, so do you teach history then?
MB No, I’m actually Literacy Coordinator at the school. And a couple of years ago, my daughter, Kelly, who’s aged seven now, and who was five at the time, started writing little stories. The ‘Dawn Stories’ she calls them. She turned round to me and said “Dad, you’ve always said you wanted to write a book, why don’t you write one?” - and the rest, as they say, is history! I’ve always been interested in science fiction, and my father, being in National Service in 1952 always told about his stories in National Service. What he did, where he went, and so forth, so I thought this was a very good vehicle into which to put the fictional elements of a book.
SW So your interest in history, your father’s memories, some inspiration from your daughter, combined at this point to inspire you to have a go?
MB Absolutely.
SW So, how long did it take you to write the book?
MB The books took just under two years, it was a very stop-start thing to do, because obviously with working commitments, family commitments and so-forth, it would probably have taken me a lot less time, but because of my work commitments it took nearly two years to actually do. Generally yes, it came from my father’s interests in history, my interests in history, his experiences and my interest in science fiction, all amalgamated.
SW Have you had any training as a writer or has this all come from what you’ve read, that’s given you some idea of how stories work?
MB It’s basically that I’m very keen on science fiction, obviously, I do read quite a lot of novels, stories, H.G. Wells and so-forth… I’ve had no training to be a writer, it’s just from my own experience, things I’ve watched and so-forth.
SW Beginning writers always have trouble getting published, and it’s an interesting market, science fiction, there appears to be a lot of it out there but it’s mainly a top few names [getting published], how did you manage to get a book published?
MB Well, I obviously sent off my manuscript to quite a few publishers. I had two or three returns, and the rest of them didn’t return, some don’t like unsolicited manuscripts being sent. I had two returns saying the book was too short – it was good but it was too short – and then I had a very nice letter from a small publishing company called Arima Publishing, who offered me the opportunity of a small commission to publish ‘Against Time’. I was absolutely chuffed!
SW So you’ve not had to pay anything towards this yourself? Obviously they’ve seen merit in your story?
MB No, that’s right.
SW You’re obviously not expecting a bestseller out of this just yet, are you?
MB Not at all, not with a small publisher, no.
SW Are you aware whether they’ve got much of a track record in this sort of field?
MB They have released some science fiction, but they generalise in education and so-forth, they do quite a lot actually.
SW What would your advice be to other budding writers who want to get a book out?
MB Basically, keep at it! Get as much feedback from people as possible, both within and outside your family, on how you can keep improving your manuscript. I was lucky because, obviously, I had first hand experience – through my father – of what the story was about and so-on, and I think you need people from outside as well to look at your script, to see where you’re going, where you might improve the characterisation, dialogue. I just think an outsider looking at your work is a very good idea.
SW Would you say from your experience that you need an element of reality in a science fiction story?
MB Yes, you do. That’s why I thought my father’s experience in National Service was a very good grounding for the whole story. Also, try to put a lot of elements withing the science fiction which are original, that have never been used before. Although obviously time travel has been used before. In my book there are certain elements that have never been used before, such as that when he [the protagonist, Daniel] travels, in time, he can only stop there 24 hours, and he can’t go back to the same decade.
SW Can you give me a brief idea of what the story is about?
MB It’s about a mature student at university, who is studying history, funnily enough! And he’s going through some photographs his grandfather has given him. In the course of looking through these photographs, he notices something very strange in one of the photographs, about the age of his grandfather at the time the photograph is supposed to have been taken, and what his grandfather is wearing at the time is completely out of context. He challenges his granddad about this photograph, and his granddad finally tells him that he’s got an alien ‘orb’ with which he can go through time. He gives his grandson [Daniel] the orb, and obviously there are other circumstances as well.
SW How old is his grandson?
MB Approximately 25-26.
SW And he [the grandfather] is how old?
MB In his seventies. And then, as a backdrop to this, Daniel’s parents had died in a tragic road accident a few years before, and he’s thinking I’ve got a orb, shall I go back in time and try to save my parents? His granddad is against going back in time to change such events, he’s a religious person.
SW A religious time-traveller [the grandfather]? That’s interesting. Daniel’s granddad has just observed, he’s not meddled presumably? I suppose Daniel’s got the urge to meddle, which is probably the driving theme of the story?
MB Yes. And that’s where everything kicks off, really.
SW Which is probably where we ought to leave it, because we don’t want potential readers knowing what it’s all about!
MB Yes!
SW Well, that sounds extremely interesting and quite original, an excellent start particularly for a first book. I don’t think we need to know anything else other than how much is the book and where can we get it?
MB Thanks… The book costs £9.99 (£9.49 from Amazon.co.uk), you can order it from any good bookstore.
SW Excellent! Congratulations, and welcome to the author’s life!
MB Thank you very much!
END OF LINE
Publisher’s details for Against Time:
Paperback: 152 pages
Publisher: Arima Publishing (19 Jun 2008)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1845493109
ISBN-13: 978-1845493103
Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14 x 1.3 cm
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On 11 August 2008 The Edditer, Stuart Williams, had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing newly-published local science fiction author, Michael Barnes, who lives in Blakenall, works in Dudley and travels in time!
The following interview will be followed by a review of his new book, Against Time, as soon as time permits!
Michael Barnes - picture by Stuart Williams Against Time - Arima Publishing
The Interview:
SW How did you come to be in the position that you are now? I understand from a local paper that you started out as a bookie, you became a teacher, you teach in Dudley but you live in Blakenall…
MB That’s very true, yes.
SW So how did you get into that situation?
MB Well, I went obviously to the local schools, Harden Junior School, Forest Comprehensive, left with high CSE’s, nothing really brilliant. Went to university after working in a bookmakers for five years, as the manager of a betting office, went to Wolverhampton University, attained a 2:1 Honours Degree in History, came out with some direction. I’d worked with children before, in a youth club capacity and so on, with football… and attained a job at Sutton School [Dudley]. I’ve been there for nearly nine years.
SW Right, so do you teach history then?
MB No, I’m actually Literacy Coordinator at the school. And a couple of years ago, my daughter, Kelly, who’s aged seven now, and who was five at the time, started writing little stories. The ‘Dawn Stories’ she calls them. She turned round to me and said “Dad, you’ve always said you wanted to write a book, why don’t you write one?” - and the rest, as they say, is history! I’ve always been interested in science fiction, and my father, being in National Service in 1952 always told about his stories in National Service. What he did, where he went, and so forth, so I thought this was a very good vehicle into which to put the fictional elements of a book.
SW So your interest in history, your father’s memories, some inspiration from your daughter, combined at this point to inspire you to have a go?
MB Absolutely.
SW So, how long did it take you to write the book?
MB The books took just under two years, it was a very stop-start thing to do, because obviously with working commitments, family commitments and so-forth, it would probably have taken me a lot less time, but because of my work commitments it took nearly two years to actually do. Generally yes, it came from my father’s interests in history, my interests in history, his experiences and my interest in science fiction, all amalgamated.
SW Have you had any training as a writer or has this all come from what you’ve read, that’s given you some idea of how stories work?
MB It’s basically that I’m very keen on science fiction, obviously, I do read quite a lot of novels, stories, H.G. Wells and so-forth… I’ve had no training to be a writer, it’s just from my own experience, things I’ve watched and so-forth.
SW Beginning writers always have trouble getting published, and it’s an interesting market, science fiction, there appears to be a lot of it out there but it’s mainly a top few names [getting published], how did you manage to get a book published?
MB Well, I obviously sent off my manuscript to quite a few publishers. I had two or three returns, and the rest of them didn’t return, some don’t like unsolicited manuscripts being sent. I had two returns saying the book was too short – it was good but it was too short – and then I had a very nice letter from a small publishing company called Arima Publishing, who offered me the opportunity of a small commission to publish ‘Against Time’. I was absolutely chuffed!
SW So you’ve not had to pay anything towards this yourself? Obviously they’ve seen merit in your story?
MB No, that’s right.
SW You’re obviously not expecting a bestseller out of this just yet, are you?
MB Not at all, not with a small publisher, no.
SW Are you aware whether they’ve got much of a track record in this sort of field?
MB They have released some science fiction, but they generalise in education and so-forth, they do quite a lot actually.
SW What would your advice be to other budding writers who want to get a book out?
MB Basically, keep at it! Get as much feedback from people as possible, both within and outside your family, on how you can keep improving your manuscript. I was lucky because, obviously, I had first hand experience – through my father – of what the story was about and so-on, and I think you need people from outside as well to look at your script, to see where you’re going, where you might improve the characterisation, dialogue. I just think an outsider looking at your work is a very good idea.
SW Would you say from your experience that you need an element of reality in a science fiction story?
MB Yes, you do. That’s why I thought my father’s experience in National Service was a very good grounding for the whole story. Also, try to put a lot of elements withing the science fiction which are original, that have never been used before. Although obviously time travel has been used before. In my book there are certain elements that have never been used before, such as that when he [the protagonist, Daniel] travels, in time, he can only stop there 24 hours, and he can’t go back to the same decade.
SW Can you give me a brief idea of what the story is about?
MB It’s about a mature student at university, who is studying history, funnily enough! And he’s going through some photographs his grandfather has given him. In the course of looking through these photographs, he notices something very strange in one of the photographs, about the age of his grandfather at the time the photograph is supposed to have been taken, and what his grandfather is wearing at the time is completely out of context. He challenges his granddad about this photograph, and his granddad finally tells him that he’s got an alien ‘orb’ with which he can go through time. He gives his grandson [Daniel] the orb, and obviously there are other circumstances as well.
SW How old is his grandson?
MB Approximately 25-26.
SW And he [the grandfather] is how old?
MB In his seventies. And then, as a backdrop to this, Daniel’s parents had died in a tragic road accident a few years before, and he’s thinking I’ve got a orb, shall I go back in time and try to save my parents? His granddad is against going back in time to change such events, he’s a religious person.
SW A religious time-traveller [the grandfather]? That’s interesting. Daniel’s granddad has just observed, he’s not meddled presumably? I suppose Daniel’s got the urge to meddle, which is probably the driving theme of the story?
MB Yes. And that’s where everything kicks off, really.
SW Which is probably where we ought to leave it, because we don’t want potential readers knowing what it’s all about!
MB Yes!
SW Well, that sounds extremely interesting and quite original, an excellent start particularly for a first book. I don’t think we need to know anything else other than how much is the book and where can we get it?
MB Thanks… The book costs £9.99 (£9.49 from Amazon.co.uk), you can order it from any good bookstore.
SW Excellent! Congratulations, and welcome to the author’s life!
MB Thank you very much!
END OF LINE
Publisher’s details for Against Time:
Paperback: 152 pages
Publisher: Arima Publishing (19 Jun 2008)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1845493109
ISBN-13: 978-1845493103
Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14 x 1.3 cm
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David Spencer Exhibits at Blakenall Village Centre
David Spencer at Blakenall Village Centre - picture by Stuart Williams
Dateline: 11 August 2008
Artist David Spencer is exhibiting a range of his paintings at the Atrium Gallery in Blakenall Village Centre, Thames Road, Blakenall from 15 August until 20 September 2008. There is a preview night on 14 August.
Mr. Spencer lives near Cannock, Staffordshire. He produces wildlife and animal paintings using several techniques including:
The Atrium Gallery is the only community based art gallery in Walsall, showing work by local artists. Please support it.
For more on Blakenall Village Centre click on this link.
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Contact The Edditer
If you have any news on the cultural front in the Bloxwich area, or if you are a writer, poet, artist, photographer, musician, band etc from the Bloxwich area and are looking for more exposure, readers of The Bloxidge Tallygraph would love to hear about you!
Please do contact The Edditer, Stuart Williams, by email: the.edditer@thebloxidgetallygraph.com
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Please do contact The Edditer, Stuart Williams, by email: the.edditer@thebloxidgetallygraph.com
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