EVENTS and ACTIVITES in 2011

(for previous events and activities in 2010, 2009 and 2008, please see ARCHIVE)

THE INSTITUTE IN THE EMPIRE

A road trip from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico. 2011 continues with our exploration of capitalism and dependence on oil.

Check out our blog for the thoughts/stories/reflections/videos/photos on the USA.

We contributed to Not If But When: Culture Beyond Oil a new publication which examines the relationship between art and oil with Anti-BP song by Neal, Gabriel and Sid.

We contributed to the Ashden Directory which brings together thinking around environmentalism and performing arts. Together with other artists we considered some new metaphors for sustainabiilty.

THE FAMILY CUT OUT

The Institute took part in the TUC March For The Alternative 26th March rally through London joining the Anarchist and Education Bloc starting at Malet Street moving swiftly on through London to the Strand. We found a Globalise Resistance flag on the way that Sid took quite a shine to. He is turning the world upside down (at least on its side!).

Short video Sid Globalise Resistance

Then we joined UKUNCUT's actions up and down Oxford Street's collection of taxdodgers including BHS (British Home Stores) see third image above. Together we closed down the shop and set up an impromtu performance space at the front entrance where many people were invited to 'take the floor'. Many thanks to Kevin Mollin who videoed it!

Short video The Institute @ BHS with UK Uncut

On June 18th we went to Artsadmin's Two Degrees for a really brilliant day of actions and otherwise hobnobbing with other rebel souls - very memorable! We were busy with a performance before running off, armed with pillows and flyaway footballs to Bash the Bankers at Liverpool Street station with UK Uncut's Call for Solidarity video. The kids loved the pillowfights! Here's Two Degres Festival Review by Vanessa Bartlett.

Photographs from the Family Cut Out performance. Thank you Kevin Biderman.

DISSEMINATION

In February Lena attended one of the organized events in the series Artists and Curators Talking curated by Sonya Dyer and organized by a-n and Axis. Hospitality event was hosted at East Street Arts and it was chaired by Nuno Sacramento, Director of Scottish Sculpture Workshop. Jeanne Van Heeswijk discussed the amazing Blue House project.

Podcast of the Hospitality discussion.

In November Lena talked about the Institute and 'The Family and it Discontents' at Chelsea Theatre, part of Being Seen, Being Heard Symposium at the Sacred Festival. Family performances and family residencies were discussed. Documentation available in Documents.

MOTHER & SON: 'that just sounds really sad'

photos by Arto Polus

In early June Lena and Neal went to Newcastle for Mother & Son: 'that just sounds really sad' - residency and performance event at 25SG from the 2nd to the 5th of June. During the four days Lena and Neal explored Newcastle, ate out, went to the cinema, did some drawings, had inspiring chats with Carole Luby, the organizer of 25SG and studied together for Neal's upcoming 11+ exam. The residency and the event which followed were an examination of failure, ambition and success through parenting and arts making. On Sunday afternoon, the audiences were presented with 11+ Mathematics exam whilst the mother layered the test taking experience by reading different text extracts ranging from Slavoj Zizek's writing on Lacan to contemporary short story writer Helen Simpson. All the extracts which were read addressed the issues of parenthood, ambition, 'doing it for the kids', success and determination.

Becoming British project (2010-2011)

photo: Branka Cvjeticanin

Distressed British flag (found by Michael Pinchbeck and Julian Hughes during their residency on an Everton Brow walk) on the washing line at the Institute.

On 31.01.2010 it was exactly 10 years since Lena entered the country with her hard won Indefinite Leave to Remain visa. Ten years on, we organized a celebration to launch Becoming British, a performance research investigation into what it means today to be British. A select group of guests were invited for this special occasion - representatives from Tuebrook Transnational, Lancaster University and a couple of brand new British citizens. On 31.01.2010 Lena also sent an email requesting her British friends and colleagues for help on her journey to Becoming British. Copy of the email is available in DOCUMENTS.

British friends and colleagues responded and advised how to become British.
After a month of studying, in July 2010 Lena passed ‘Life in the UK’ test.

In December 2010 Lena received Arts Council England funding for the project 'Becoming British'. She also officially became British in November. Lena has been testing her British friends, colleagues and students with ‘Life in the UK’ test. Some foreigners as well. Nobody passed so far. Investigation continues with some community workshops at the West Everton Community Council. Jennifer Verson is aboard the project. The performances Blood & Soil: we were always meant to meet took place at the WECC on 1 April. The piece is currently available for touring.

The Politics and Aesthetics Reading Group 2011

In 2010 the Institute joined forces with Lorena Rivero de Beer in starting up the Politics and Aesthetics Reading Group. 2010 saw the group meet 11 times. More information about 2010 activities is available in ARCHIVE.

The Politics and Aesthetics Reading Group responds to a desire to create a space that supports our effort to read philosophical/political theory outside academic environments and develop our critical thinking. The group is directed to people interested in exploring the complex relationship between art/aesthetics and politics.

First meeting in 2011 saw the group tackle Judith Halberstam's essay 'Shadow Feminisms: Queer Negativity/Radical Passivity'.

Then in February we went to Plas Caerdeon in Wales for a retreat weekend: walking, being silent, being interrupted, watching films, reading...

March: After the Retreat we read the first chapter of Derrida's The Politics of Friendship - providing a base for us all to question the tangled relationship between politics and friendship - including the friendships developing in the group.

April, we moved on to Radical Pedadgogy with Paulo Friere's Pedagogy of Freedom and Carmel's great Scouse dish.

May, we moved on to the environment wth Doreen Massey's essay Landscape/Space/Politics: An Essay.

A trip to allotment and consideration of 'Animals as Persons' through David Sztybel's text in June.

Then on to Freud's Mourning and Melancholia as well as Santa Sangre film in July.

Then on to Georges Bataille and the Accursed Share in September.

Zizek's Violence was read in October.

Back to Bataille for A Story of an Eye. in November.

Finally, Caitlin Moran's How to be A Woman completes the 2011 cycle together with the Xmas party.