Digbeth First Friday
Birmingham’s alternative art scene continues to break all moulds with the monthly Digbeth First Friday exploring themes of philosophy and politics with yet another ground-breaking smorgasboard of events happening late into the night across Digbeth. Grand Union launch their new ‘Crisis Zine’, whilst Stryx plays host to ‘slice’ a platform for emerging artists with Suzanne van der Lingen’s ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ video works. Modern Clay and Division of Labour’s ‘Looking at Art, Looking at People’ reflects modern pottery through a political lens and other contributors include Chitty Cakes with a Live Mehndi Style Cake Decorating and celebrated local artist Lucy Mclauchlan’s magazine launch documenting her investigation along the highways and byways of of Birmingham.
Fri 7 Jul, various venues in Digbeth, 1pm-late. Free/minimal. www.digbethfirstfriday.com/

Eisodos at Centrala
Centrala’s new immersive experience explores the entering of an altered state between the mind and the subconscious through a juxtaposition of classical and electronic music alongside light installation projections exploring soundscapes and hallucinogenic optical effects. ‘Eisodos’ (‘entrance’ for those of us who don’t speak Greek) is an audio-visual collaboration between artists Parish Ch and Stelios Ilchouk, electronic duo EIF and classical musicians Thomas Payne and Magdalena Ardelli. A live performance will take place as part of Digbeth First Friday.
Fri 7 Jul – Fri 14 Jul, Upper Floor of Centrala Gallery, Unit 4 Minerva Works 158 Fazeley Street Birmingham B5 5RT. 7pm. Free www.centrala-space.org.uk

Developed in Birmingham: Thresholds by Mat Collishaw
A virtual reality trip back in time to the dawn of photography with artwork by Mat Collishaw heads up Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery new Developed in Birmingham series exploring the birth of photography in the city. Using the latest in VR technology, Thresholds re-stages one of the earliest exhibitions of photography in 1839, when British scientist William Henry Fox Talbot first presented his photographic prints to the public at King Edward’s School. A fully immersive portal to the past includes a digitally reconstructed room, bespoke vitrines, fixtures and mouldings; even the heat from a coal fire.
Until Sun 6 Aug, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH. Tel: 0121 348 8038. Hourly slots: Thu 10am – 4.30pm, Fri 10.30am – 4.30pm
Sat & Sun 10am – 4.30pm £4.50 (recommended for over 14s, young children and babies not admitted). www.eventbrite.com/mat-collishaw

BE FESTIVAL
A boundary smashing explosion of cutting edge theatre, circus, dance, comedy with a stunning (significantly free) visual arts programme. see our full feature here
Tue 4 Jul – Sat 8 Jul at various venues including The Birmingham REP.

Galerie Mayci launch & 100 Views of Birmingham exhibition
The Moseley cafe launches a bijou gallery showcasing high quality, affordable paintings and fine art prints, featuring the work of well known regional artists.
This inaugural exhibition opens with a private view on Fri 30 Jun presenting the covetable work of printmaker Mike Allison and his recent series, 100 Views of Birmingham. Inspired by Japanese printmaker, Ando Hiroshige’s, 100 famous views of Edo they offer a picturesque view of the details, landmarks and emotively captured corners of our own fair city.
Maison Mayci Moseley, 148 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8HS. Tel : 0121 449 4413. Mon – Sat: 8.30am – 5:30 pm. www.100views.co.uk

2017 Portrait Prize @ RBSA
With a precious £1,000 at stake, the RBSA is set to announce its 2017 winner of the prestigious portrait prize. This exhibition is very much worth a look to check out local talent or to gain inspiration. With work being submitted from all mediums (minus photography), this exhibition sets out to display exciting new innovations in portraiture – looking away from the stuffy and restrained art of the past, all while serving up works by a concoction of new and exciting artists.
Thu 27 Jul – Sat 19 Aug, Gallery 2, The RBSA, 4 Brook St, Birmingham B3 1SA. Free. Monday-Saturday 10.30am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm.www.rbsa.org.uk

+ Don’t miss…

Jenny Holzer at The mac
The feminist icon Jenny Holzer’s ground-breaking work is on display at the mac all this summer. The political artist explores themes of war, sex and money through conceptual art which features text, projection and stunning LED works. The show-stopping ‘Blue Purple Tint’ of 2007 is at the centre of the exhibition, whilst the rest of the collection acts a retrospective of the artist earlier works gaining inspiration from her famous text pieces.
Until Sun 10 Sep, First Floor Gallery – The mac, Cannon Hill Park, Queen’s Ride, Birmingham B12 9QH11am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday. www.macbirmingham.co.uk

The Singh Twins ‘Mersey Miniatures’ at Wolverhampton Art Gallery
An innovative art fans must-see this exquisite collection of work by the attention-grabbing Singh Twins runs until the end of the month. The Twins’ ‘Mersey Miniatures’ features a range of work inspired by the combination of their Indian heritage and the culture of their home town, Liverpool. These works mark a step in the Twins’ career away from their 2d pieces and into a more ‘atmospheric’ 3d, mixed media style.
Until Sun 23 Jul. Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU. Free. Monday-Saturday 10.30am-4.30pm, Sunday 11am-4pm. www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk