The Birmingham Weekender ft. Art Rave & The Influence Machine
Featuring huge-scale projections in the Cathedral grounds, a high wire artist set to tip-toe along Birmingham’s famous skyline and a rave amongst the famous artworks in the BMAG, The Birmingham Weekender’s programme is the ultimate must-see for one-off events. First to make the diary is Leon Trimble’s Art Rave with a DJ set alongside live performance art and the awesome I Want I Want! exhibition (more details here), creating the perfectly weird yet genius juxtaposition for such an event. On both the 22nd & 23rd Tony Oursler’s ‘The Influence Machine’ is set to take over the grounds of the Cathedral, creating the ultimate immersive experience. Then there’s the live street-art taken on by various artists in New Street who will be responding to The Barber’s incredible collection. By doing so they hope to give these artworks a new lease of life through bringing these older works into the modern day. Read our full preview here.

Portrait of The Artist: Kathe Kollwitz at Ikon Gallery
Not being a contemporary artist, the Ikon Gallery has shocked by opening its doors to the renowned print artist Kathe Kollwitz (1867-1945). And if you haven’t heard of the artist before, trust us when we say her work is nothing short of exquisite. Her prints and sketches mainly comprise of incredibly detailed and emotive portraits, which regularly explore the themes of death and grief. Unlike the Ikon’s usually conceptual take, Kollwitz’s work instead will confront the viewer instantly with her intensely dark spirit – allowing us a deeper entrance into the life of the German artist. In a world dominated by men, Kollwitz’s work is set to show the true power of female defiance, struggle and artistic integrity.
Also
Sofia Hulten, Here’s the Answer, What’s the Question? a selection of sculptures, installations and films in the most comprehensive exhibition to date of work by Berlin-based artist Sofia Hultén. Conveying an ongoing preoccupation with the nature of the material world and the way we navigate it. Hultén’s engaging thoughtfulness suggests that things do not have to be as they seem normally in everyday life.
Wed 13th Sep – Sun 26th Nov, Tues – Sun 11am-5pm, closed Mon. Free. 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS.
www.ikon-gallery.org

Faisal Hussain: Suspect Objects Suspect Subjects
Faisal Hussain’s poignant exhibition explores the themes which surround the victimisation of Muslims in the UK, whilst predominantly focusing on those in Birmingham. The exhibition reflects the ideas which surround fear, racism, observation, mental health etc, the list goes on. Suspect Objects Suspect Subjects hopes to put yourself in the shoes of those within the Muslim community, allowing the viewer to be made completely aware of the ongoing attacks on this community. Featuring advertisement, installation, painting and sculpture Hussain is pulling out all the stops in a bid to display various artistic mediums which help to fuel and add to the deep-seated prejudice which sadly plagues our society. This exhibition offers a truly modern reflection and further insight into the on-going discrimination and victimisation of minority groups in the present day. Highly recommended.
Fri 1st Sep – Mon 16th Oct, Mon – Fri 11am-6pm Sat 1pm-6pm, closed Sun. Free. Unit 4 Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, Birmingham B5 5RT.
www.centrala-space.org.uk

Mac Women & Protest season – Protest Pottery & Sally Payen exhibition
Autumn isn’t just about fallen leaves and home comforts as the mac opens its door to its ‘Women & Protest’ season inspiring creative activism through art. With a range of films and workshops the mac’s new events are inspired by Sally Payen’s ‘The Fence and The Shadow’ exhibition, opening Fri 22 Sep. Payen’s exhibition displays a series of paintings which reflect upon the anti-nuclear protests of the 1980s. Her show is heavily influenced by the women who were involved within the protest at the time due to her close proximity to the Greenham camps and the peaceful women’s protests. In response to this The mac is also hosting Protest Pottery workshop – inspired by controversial ceramics and their link to displaying historical and political events, as well as embroidery, sewing and screen-print classes. All are set to inspire activism among each other, whilst celebrating all things that are feminism. Who knew that needlework could be so provoking?
Wed 13th Sep – Sun 26th Nov, 9am-9.45pm every day. First floor gallery, Tues-Sun 11am-6pm. See website for specific workshop dates and times. Exhibition free. Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH.
www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Mozart vs the Machine at the mac
Described as a ‘collage opera’ Mozart vs The Machine promises to be an opera unlike any you’ve never seen before. Be rid of the stuffy and inaccessibly dreary operas of the past and say hello to the electronic-classical sound of the future. Performed as dialogue between the father of electronic music – Raymond Scott and the classical composer himself, The Mahogany Group brings to the stage a light-hearted combination of history’s greatest artists in a bid to shatter the binaries between time, music and art. Featuring video installations and works by the likes of Lewis Carroll, Bach and the rest, Mozart vs The Machine is set to be a whirlwind performance of music and art. It’s on at the mac for one night only and should definitely be booked early to secure a slot.
Tue 19th Sep, The mac, 7.30pm. Tickets £15 (12.50) concessions. 14+. Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH.www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Instructions For Humans at Birmingham Open Media
BOM’s radical new exhibition is set to discuss the ideas which surround the relationship between humans and machines. In an age where machines are becoming more and more a part of our daily life and are beginning to take over roles that we could never even consider, should we begin to worry? In an ode to Big Brother, BOM’s new exhibition will feature the works by three artists, who will be exploring the themes of surveillance and the unknown-eye that is behind the controlling of our machines. Pete Ashton, Kyle McDonald and Nye Thompson hope to reinvent art through the use of online technology. Be it through installation, online art or art which features audience participation, this show is set to display art in the modern age and its new innovations. Whether these innovations are positive or negative, BOM’s new exhibition hopes to expose these new art forms’ eerie and intrusive edge.
Wed 13th Sep – Sat 16th Dec, Wed – Sat 12pm-5pm. Free. 1 Dudley Street, Birmingham B5 4EG.
www.bom.org.uk