Our initial proposed presentation.

(download)

Today we had to pitch our ideas to fellow Unit X'ers. It could've gone better, we felt. But I feel that we pitched as much as we knew, which wasn't a lot to be honest, so this has allowed us to come back together and figure out what needs to be done over Easter.

Creating a Movement

Since presenting our findings it has become clear that our vision for unit X is to create a movement in our generation - something that is long overdue. This need for something new and radical is obvious to me not only in the political mess we are in as a nation, but in the way we are continually harking back to and remaking old trends. We are channeling vintage trends pretty strongly right now, fair enough everything is inspired by something, but they were all new in their day, can we not come up with our own vision??

From the following video you can see its not hard to start a movement, it just takes one person to have the guts to do it in the first place.   

 

Good kraak of a party?

Today I decided to return to the Northern Quarter to obtain a clearer idea of the location values which are available for a concept for the process of the work produced during Unit X. So far, our initial ideas involve an idea of bringing people together in the same fashion the Hacienda has done in the past. So we're looking for a place that can house music, art and a token of the general public.

Untitled

As mentioned in a previous post, DRY bar was and subsequently still is (apparently) a location which houses low-key band nights. Yet again, the sentiment achieved throughout this was to bring the people of Manchester together, and there is some connection of bringing people together through the medium of music, which is an idea I believe as a group we should definitely consider 'DRY' bar as a location, slight chance they could say 'no' though.

Img-20120418-01076

A second location around the Northern Quarter worth considering would obviously be Stevenson Square. It would seem the most logical way to bring people together because it is the most central focal aspect of this area of Manchester, but problems that would face this location are noise pollution, and the fact whatever we decide to do would take up public space which would be very difficult to be granted permission from the council.

A possible solution to this idea would be the Kraak gallery located down an alleyway, who would've thought something like this would be found down what appears to be a somewhat pointless space. In that sense, I like that nobody wouldn't have known that this gallery is located here would think to go down there, so to produce the work to be showcase (if that is the overall plan) in this gallery would somehow raise awareness of the location for the future. An initial aim which we would like to follow through is bringing people together, all different types of people so to introduce this location to them may allow one to feel a part of something new and interesting to them. So therefore, project success.

(download)

 In the final sense, I'd definitely not want to walk down this alleyway at night, gallery there or not.

HACIENDA HYPE

March 16, 2012

HACIENDA HYPE

So the boys keep banging on about this "Haçienda" and shouting at me for not knowing what it is so i thought it was high time I looked into it.

 

(download)

The Hacienda was designed to be a slap in the face for established night clubs. The stark industrial design from Ben Kelly was utterly unlike anything club goers had seen before. The first experience was unforgettable.

You entered through large metal doors into a vast interior space supported on steel girders of black with yellow safety stripes. It was functional, hard, almost overwhelming, like a set from the yet to be released movie ALIEN. The music was rolling out and here we were , a thousand or more poor clubbers trapped in the hold of the mothership of an Intergalactic fleet.

via manchester.com

From my research I have gathered that 'FAC 51 - THE HACIENDA" was a club developed on the back of Factory record company in the 80s. It rose to fame very quickly being the place to hear what was worth hearing. It is associated with the rise of rave and acid house and was succesful right through the 80s, falling from grace a little with the incoming of ecstasy when one girl died on site!

All this sounds quite intense and perhaps a little intimidating... but I think what the boys are getting at is the vibe that the Hacienda exuded. It didn't matter who you were or what music you liked or how you dressed, you were welcomed in to dance, to play, to take part. It brought people together.

That's the sort of event that I want to create for this unit... even if i'm still not sure how.

Architectural walk around the NQ.

During this afternoon, which was absolutely baltic, on a walk around the Northern Quarter led by Peter Griffin, I was transfixed by the varying artistic features this area of Manchester has to offer. We met in Stevenson Square, which no matter how derelict (how I felt when seeing it) it appears, it can't be denied that this district was full of creative history and capabilities available to upcoming and aspiring artists and designers from past creatives.

After being lectured a brief history about Stevenson Square; we transported ourselves around the corner to Oldham St towards the Quarter's 'DRY' bar. 'DRY' bar is known for having low-key, low-budget, and low-known bands perform as their first gig which would be their starting point at stardom. What was notable about this street itself was the numerous pavement slabs which celebrated the musical successes with references to which Manchester has catapulted into today's world throughout the years.

Ignore the cigarette ends.

Img-20120307-00987

Pretty birdies on the side of a building. Seeing this made me very happy as it was a different approach to expanding on architecture. I also found this to be the best idea seen in the Northern Quarter, as I liked how it appeared to be a sculptural approach to graffiti art. Perhaps this could be the first idea I'd like to expand on in the development of Unit X? Some possible inspiration!

Another interesting feature in regard to the Northern Quarter as a whole is the street name signs, which I believely intricately seperates this area from typical 'Manchester' but maybe this could be seen as the typical 'Manchester' culture from the past. They were designed utilising blue and white tiling as a trial but have since fought against nature to stand as a recongisable feature of the Northern Quarter.

Img-20120307-00989

My favourite place in Manchester has always been Afflecks Palace, and even though I may have slightly caught frostbite during the walk, I seem to stop and admire the building itself. Having being introduced to Afflecks Palace 5 years ago when I was only 14, I have always loved that this building had provided a place where an 'alternative' culture could blossom. This building being the closest, housing clothing, posters, confectionary and even a piercing/tatooist, for me in this nature (I live a lovely 80 miles away in sunny North Wales), I appeared to have continously seen this building as my focal point and possibly even purpose for my numerous visits to Manchester before I came to study at the Manchester School of Art.

With numerous influences spanning from diversity of music, film and art, this cultured building, I felt had helped create a new generation which has soon developed into today's trend in fashion, interior tastes and creative design. In addition, I feel that Afflecks Palace was a beacon of a community for those with the similar yet unique interests that it holds, which brought people together and maybe, this could be an aim to fulfill in Unit X.