All events are free and take place in the
Barbican Library, unless stated otherwise.
Sisi Burn: A Celebration of Photos, 1993 - 2010
Exhibition
Barbican Music Library
18 August – 22 September 2010
This exhibition of celebrated music photographer Sisi Burn’s
work, spans the years 1993-2010. Sisi’s dramatic and poignant
images have appeared regularly in The Independent, BBC Music
Magazine, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The
Observer, Le Monde, El Pais and Newsweek, and have also graced the
front cover of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Yearbook.
Recent commissions have come from the French National Orchestra of
Lyon and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in Germany. Regular
photographer at the Royal Albert Hall for over 10 years during the
Prom season, Sisi specialises in capturing the essence of a
powerful stage performance, while in her collection of intimate
portraits she explores the passion and wit of some of the finest
musicians in the world.
The exhibition includes photographs of such
luminaries as Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Philip Glass, Steve Reich,
Talvin Singh, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Maxim Vengerov, Mitsuko
Uchida, Daniel Barenboim, Bobby McFerrin, Katia Labèque, Pierre
Boulez and many more. There are also examples of Sisi’s
reportage work, including her brilliant images of Gustavo Dudamel
and the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela.
Bill Newton: One Man Show
Exhibition
Library Foyer
2 September - 29 September 2010
This exhibition consists mainly of watercolours but includes
some oil paintings. It follows two previous highly successful
exhibitions at the Barbican in 1996 and 
1999 and uses the same well-tried formula which, although
depicting recognisable images, nevertheless tries to exploit and
celebrate the quality of the mediums - the very surface
texture.
If there is an underlying theme, it is the artist’s interest in
the effect of light as it affects colour, tone and the way it
produces shadows. The subject-matter, while having a strong
marine bias, is varied and reflects his travels in Venice, Tuscany,
Spain and France and, of course, England.
Lindsay Clarke
Talk
Wednesday 15 September 2010 at 7.30pm
Whitbread Fiction Prize winning author of The Chymical Wedding
will be talking about and reading from his latest novel entitled
The Water Theatre which is published by Alma Books in
September.
Clarke has trodden a fascinating path as a writer of award
winning literary fiction to creative writing tutor, through to
bestselling novels such as his Troy stories.
This return to literary fiction will undoubtedly be heralded and
considered for all the major prizes.
Tickets £5.00 (£3.50 concessions) available from the
Barbican Centre Box Office on 020 7638 8891 or online from the
Barbican
Centre
George - Don’t do that – An evening of Joyce Grenfell’s
best loved words
Wednesday 29 September 2010 at 6.30pm
The Keats House Poetry Ambassadors will be providing an hour of
the best of Joyce Grenfell’s monologues and poems. Not be
missed.
Refreshments will be served from 6.00pm
Tickets free in advance from Barbican Library on 020 7638
0569
Kim Schofield
Exhibition
Library Foyer
5 October - 30 October 2010
This exhibition, made in 2005, features glass pictures and
working drawings of the River Thames and its bridges.
The glass pictures and working drawings are brought together and
exhibited in one space, allowing the viewer to experience the two
very different stages of development, showing that both stages are
separate and individual artistic works.
Kim Schofield follows a tradition of artists who have looked at
the River Thames for their images. He brings originality and
freshness to the subject through his use of materials and
designs.
National Poetry Day reading with Mario Petrucci, Benjie Fraser and
Jane Draycott
Literature event
Library Foyer
Wednesday 6 October at 7.30pm
Don’t miss this creative line up of superb poets who will be
reading their latest verse to mark National Poetry Day the next
day. Mario Petrruci will be reading from and launching his latest
work i tulips, Benjie Fraser his latest work which often
concentrates on a the City of London and Jane Draycott material
from her recently published collection entitled Over.
Tickets £5.00 (£3.50 concessions) available from the Barbican
Centre Box Office on 020 7638 8891 or online from the
Barbican
Centre
Of Love and Hope
Book launch
Wednesday 20 October at 7.30pm
Book launch with Chris Tutton, Fiona Sampson, Myra
Schneider...
Join us for the launch of this extraordinary anthology in aid of
Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Care.
'Of Love and Hope' celebrates all aspects of life and love and
will feature Chris Tutton, Fiona Sampson, Myra Schneider, Mario
Petrucci, Mimi Khalvati, Jane Draycott, Susan Wicks, Clare Best and
others coming together tonight to provide an uplifting, fun and
poignant evening.
Many people's lives are affected by breast cancer and this is an
opportunity to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer
Care as every penny raised from the sale of this book will be
donated to these two tremendous and vital charities.
Refreshments will be served from 7.00pm
Tickets free in advance from Barbican Library on 020 7638
0569
The Reproduction Revolution Exposed!
Lierature event
Wednesday 27 October at 6.30pm
Carl Djerassi gave us sex without reproduction, Steptoe and
Edwards reproduction without sex, Lee offers to describe life, but
not as we know it (or perhaps not in the way we know it)!
"Sammy Lee has spent over 20 years of his career as a scientist
working in the field of IVF. He has seen the rich, the poor and the
famous and helped to provide them with much longed for babies. This
talk will highlight some of the important issues and moments in the
history of this field and be interspersed with anecdotes and
examples from Sammy's long association with the reproduction
revolution. He will touch on the so called "mistakes" and how they
have affected his profession and on controversial new techniques,
which threaten to change the way humanity looks on life."
Refreshments from 6.00pm
Tickets free in advance from Barbican Library 020 7638 0569
Barbican Library Autumn Fete 2010
Event
Friday 29 October at 4.00pm
Last year over 800 people came and enjoyed live music, tea and
cakes, a clothes swap shop, fun events/children’s activities and a
whole lotta fun including cocktails later in the day. If you
missed that – don’t miss out this year, put the date in your diary
and look out for more details later in the year.
Gilda Baron: Textile Artist
Exhibtion
Library Foyer
3 November – 29 November 2010
Gilda is an international Textile Artist, creating landscapes and
seascapes in her own unique and distinctive style. Her works are
recognised for their depth, originality and beauty, and burst out
of their frames with texture, colour and joy.
She is featured in magazines in the U.K., Germany, U.S.A., Canada,
Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and South Africa, and produces
projects for many of them.
Her book ‘The Art of Embroidered Flowers’, is selling around the
world and has been translated into Norwegian and Russian. She was
featured on SKY TV in Talking Threads, and has just completed a
DVD, “Inspired Textile Landscapes”.
Writing for TV and Radio
Literature event
Library Foyer
Wednesday 3 November 2010 at 6.30pm
Scriptwriters Martha Hillier and Dana Fainaru will provide you
with the inside view of what it takes to write the right material
to get broadcast on the TV and radio.
With joint expertise covering successful series such as Holby
City, Casualty and Eastenders you will come out from the talk
knowing that you can rely on advice which has been well backed up
by hard-won experience.
There will ample time allocated for questions from the
audience.
Tickets free in advance from Barbican Library on 020 7638 0569
When Black is RED
Literature event
Library Foyer
Wednesday 10 November 2010 at 7.30pm
RED published by Peepal Tree Press, is the first anthology of
contemporary Black British poetry for ten years. RED includes
80 poets including internationally renowned poets such as Linton
Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay; award winning poets, Bernardine
Evaristo, Daljit Nagra; Poetry Society's New Generation Poets,
Moniza Alvi and Patience Agbabi; Poets from throughout the
British Isles and those who now live abroad.
RED illustrates the diversity of Black British poetry – all confirm
that Black British poetry is a lively and defining force in Britain
today.
Listen to some of the new, emerging and vibrant poets, based
outside of London
reading from RED and their own work including, Maggie Harris,
Sifundo, Rommi Smith, Kaveri Woodward, Seni Seneviratne and
Kokumo.
"This exciting and troubling collection gets under the
skin.”
Michael Rosen
“…this fiery collection demands to be noticed…”
Margaret Busby
Tickets £5.00 (£3.50 concessions) available from the Barbican
Centre Box Office on 020 7638 8891 or online from the
Barbican
Centre
Sable 10th anniversary with Nawal El Saadawi
Wednesday 17 November 2010 at 7.30pm
SABLE LitMag celebrates 10 years of publishing exciting work by
writers of colour with a series of events. SABLE publishes
all genres – fiction, poetry, travelogue, memoir, essays …and
more…with a focus on emerging writers. The internationally renowned
writers who have appeared on its covers launched with LKJ,
and since then have included, Sonia Sanchez, Buchi Emecheta, Niyi
Osundare, Kamau Brathwaite, Chinua Achebe, Walter Mosley and Caryl
Phillips. Nawal el Saadawi will be headlining this event at the
Barbican.
Tickets £8.00 (£6.00 concessions) available from the Barbican
Centre Box Office on 020 7638 8891 or online from the
Barbican
Centre
John McLean – A Self Portrait
Talk
Wednesday 24 November at 6.30pm
John McLean is an abstract artist who lives locally in the
Barbican estate but is internationally known for his highly
colourful work which can be found in collections such as the Tate,
British Council, Arts Council, Glasgow Museum, Scottish National
Gallery of Modern Art and the Government Art Collection as well as
in numerous commercial buildings in the City of London.
This talk will provide an insight into his techniques and
approaches to art. A book of his work was published in 2009 by Lund
Humphries, written by Ian Collins.
Refreshments served from 6.00pm.
Tickets free in advance from Barbican Library on 020 7638 0569
Rintama Arts
Exhibition
Library Foyer
2 - 29 December 2010
This exhibition incorporates the work of Rintama Arts, a group of
female artists who came together while studying BA Fine Art at the
University of Hertfordshire in 2008. The work on display
explores a diverse range of imagery, with each member challenging
the expectations and values of contemporary art through her own
unique vision, using the medium of photography, printmaking,
drawing, paper installation or sculpture.
Christmas Charisma
Poetry event
Wednesday 8 December at 6.30pm
The Keats House Poetry Ambassadors have charisma in buckets and
will be dispensing a new seasonal offering of poetry, words and
carols.
Refreshments will be served from 6.00pm
Tickets free in advance from Barbican Library on 020 7638
0569