Boat Life - it's intense

I practically never leave the floating cinema at the moment as the programme is very intense. Despite a few hitches with a lot of floor mopping and sporadic downpours, we are generally having a fantastic time. I highly recommend our screening tomorrow night of the work from Fugitive Images - especially if you are local to Hackney.

I think the highlight so far for me has been A Smaller Sound, A Bigger Crowd by Ian Giles which took folk song and a fictional tale deep into the heart of Docklands. During the first performance we scooted past the biggest boat ever to moor in the dock and came into Middle Dock via a raised bridge in the road. I listened to the sound of Sam Lee's ballad and thought how beautiful it was to focus just on his voice and the story of the Docklands Bell, below the city workers looking down from the bar terrace above. On the other side of the dock we were serenaded by a small group of hand bell ringers - their modest sound managing to pierce and interrupt the dominant culture and noise of the literally towering surroundings.

You can see more images of Ian's work here.  

Posted Tuesday 19th July, 2011 at 11:27 am by Nina

Graffiti Tours reviewed

There's a nice blog here about the Graffiti Tours we held on our Floating Cinema at the weekend, based at the very impressive Folly for a Flyover near Hackney Wick.

When I got home after the tours, our cheese-maestro artist friend Fernando  - staying with us at Grizedale Arts for one of his cheese workshops - mused on how one the one hand our garden project What Will the Harvest Be? could be said to beautify the East London Olympic 'cliff edge' whilst the Graffiti Tours duly celebrate its decay!

Posted Monday 11th July, 2011 at 8:21 pm by Karen

We could show you where we've been but then we'll have to kill you

Today we had a very useful trial tour into the 2011 Olympic Park itself aboard the Floating Cinema - mainly to inspire and inform the speakers who will lead our days of tours from July 21st - 24th. Like the Royal family, we were accompanied by a flotilla of security men in high-vis and aviator shades.
After the tours we will add films of them to the website so you can to listen to Iain Sinclair, Michael Smith, Holly Burn and Susie Donkin & Jemima Burrill guide you up the canals and into the Park in entertaining, shocking and though-provoking ways.....

Posted Tuesday 5th July, 2011 at 6:33 pm by Karen

I declare the Floating Cinema launched

After a successful press launch at the nice Waterhouse Restaurant on Orsman Road, tonight (July 1st) by Lea Rowing Club, Springfield Marina, Stamford Hill we have our public launch from 7.30pm. Say hello of you come by!

More info on the event here

Posted Friday 1st July, 2011 at 2:04 pm by Karen

WWTHB? - The Movie

It's all go at Somewhere this week and not just in our own studio/homes ... editor Alice Powell has managed to tackle the mini mountain of video documentation I recorded during the first year of building Abbey Gardens and has made this very nice short film. It will feature in our last Floating Cinema tour in September 'The Green East' but here for you our Somewhere readers to enjoy now! 

Posted Tuesday 28th June, 2011 at 1:40 pm by Nina

Come and join us Somewhere on a London canal

Our project curators Up are advertising here for volunteers for our Floating Cinema - deadline June 25th, come on in the water's lovely!

Posted Tuesday 21st June, 2011 at 10:13 pm by Karen

Posters R Us

Check out these topnotch designs submitted for our Floating Cinema by Alternative Movie Posters!

Posted Tuesday 21st June, 2011 at 6:56 pm by Karen

Floating Cinema bobbing along nicely

Even from my studio far beyond the reach of any canal (but very near Coniston Water) I can enjoy much progress on our Floating Cinema project this summer...

We have just worked with the Live Art Development Agency to award a commission to young artist Ian Giles to create a new live performance aboard the FC boat on July 15 at the iconic Canary Wharf (see here on how to book free places). And what's more, his work will involve handbell ringing, what could be nicer?

Posted Wednesday 15th June, 2011 at 11:17 am by Karen

Alternative Movie Posters call out for Floating Cinema designs!

The very nice folk at AMP have published this call-out for our Floating Cinema this summer  - AMP is a gem of a site where designers can show off their skills by creating new posters for all kinds of films and uploading them for all to enjoy - we can't wait to see what comes in!

Posted Tuesday 7th June, 2011 at 10:02 am by Karen

I've no idea what it says but I like it

Here's a new review - we think :-) - of our film Bata-ville: We Are Not Afraid of the Future - from Hong Kong's Jet magazine.

Posted Monday 6th June, 2011 at 1:48 pm by Karen