Alex Fitch talks to curator Sarah Lightman and to gallery director Andrew Hewish about the Diary Drawing exhibition at the Centre for recent drawing in Islington, London. Alex and Sarah discuss the various styles of diary drawing in the exhibtion from the most literal examples, to blog entries and gag strips while Alex discusses with Andrew the history of the gallery and the necessity of having an exhibition space that concentrates on artists’ drawings in particular. Artists in the group show being discussed include Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag and Rebecca Swindell.


For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Alex Fitch talks to Virginie Sélavy about this year’s Sci-Fi Festival, held over the May Bank Holiday in London. This year’s festival sees premieres of award-winning Argentinian film La Antena, Marc Caro’s directorial debut Dante 01 and a variety of other intriguing cult films

For more info please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
Links: This year’s festival programme
Wikipedia page on Sci-Fi London
Listen to the interview that Alex conducted with Louis about last year’s festival

In association with:

An extended version of guest presenter Grant Rogers‘ (a former animator on such shows as Tales of Beatrix Potter and Dogtanian and now an educator at the Imperial War Museum) interview with Pat Mills about his critically acclaimed serial about the 1st World War – Charley’s War – which was serialised in the pulp war comic Battle Picture weekly in the late 1970s and is now being reprinted in lavish hardback volumes by Titan Books…

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Read Steven Beeny’s Rebellion 1920 (as advertised by Pat!)

Comics news:

On now at the Centre for Recent drawing in London:

Diary Drawing, an exhibition curated by Sarah Lightman. Diary Drawing brings together disparate types of visual journals and autobiographical graphic novels to examine drawing and diary making as process of thinking and acting, fundamental to human experience. Diary Drawing explores the application of line as a means of documenting, rendering and transcribing intimate and individual histories to a public audience. The exhibition features the work of Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag, Rebecca Swindell
Open: 9-23 May 2008 12- 6pm
More info at www.c4rd.org.uk

From Friday 16th May at La Galleria, 5b Pall Mall, London, Grant Rogers will be exhibiting Works on Wallpaper - drawings and mixed media works about the diversity of wildlife to be found on the world’s largest island, Australia, and the social diversity / Hotel chic to be found in the guest houses of Alice Springs, Yulara and Daintree.

From Saturday 17th May at The Railway Tavern, Station Rise, Tulse Hill, occasional Strip! contributor (and Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs illustrator) Mark Stafford will be exhibiting Pandemonium Carnivale; A series of unfortunate paintings…

Lilly made her name through music entrepreneurship and elegance, mixing with corporates and high falooting businesses (e.g. Annabell’s in Mayfair), basically any business that require musical and ambient direction. Lilly was one of the first people to conceive of an in-house music service, where fitting tunes were selected for play in hotels and other venues, as bespoke music libraries for the space. For those with no time or confidence to browse the web and trawl the record store, Lilly is your consultant (pictured: filming in Qatar).

Otherwise Lilly is a very down to earth person, working with award winning documentary film maker Kika Vliegenthart. Together they film subjects as far removed from each other as Hong Kong city lights and camels chewing quietly

See her website Muzai for samples of her wall projections Here

Find out more about the film festival mentioned: Tangiers To Tehran

The second half of Alex Fitch’s conversation with Barry Forshaw, contributor to Jack Kirby Collector magazine and Mark Evanier author of Jack Kirby - King of comics. The show, originally recorded and transmitted live on Resonance FM, on the eve of the release of the Iron Man movie, is looking at the work of Jack Kirby and the characters he drew and co-created. This half of the programme concentrates on the Marvel movies based on his work.

For more info please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
Listen to part one of the show

Comics news:

9-23 May 2008 12 - 6pm at the Centre for new drawing in London:

The Centre for Recent Drawing presents Diary Drawing, an exhibition curated by Sarah Lightman. Diary Drawing brings together disparate types of visual journals and autobiographical graphic novels to examine drawing and diary making as process of thinking and acting, fundamental to human experience. Diary Drawing explores the application of line as a means of documenting, rendering and transcribing intimate and individual histories to a public audience. The exhibition features the work of Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag, Rebecca Swindell

More info at www.c4rd.org.uk

Tomorrow 09/05/08 - Sunday 11/05/08

The Bristol International Comics Expo takes place at the British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall. Guests include Walt and Louise Simonson, Jim Starlin, Dave Gibbons, Alan Davis, Mark Buckingham, Mike Ploog and many others. More info at www.comicexpo.net

Including: 11/05/08 1.30pm: 2008 Gay Comics Panel - As gay comics seem to have increasing presence on bookshelves following 2007’s release of Fun Home and a great many Yaoi titles, host Alex Fitch talks to experts and comic creators about whether increasing gay representation is just a flash in the pan or signals genuine mainstream interest. The panel includes Paul Gravett (Great British Comics), David Shenton (Get Her!, The Shentons) and Yishan Li (Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 2).

Comics news:

Tonight, 08/05/08 6.15pm at the Centre for new drawing in London:

The Centre for Recent Drawing presents Diary Drawing, an exhibition curated by Sarah Lightman. Diary Drawing brings together disparate types of visual journals and autobiographical graphic novels to examine drawing and diary making as process of thinking and acting, fundamental to human experience. Diary Drawing explores the application of line as a means of documenting, rendering and transcribing intimate and individual histories to a public audience. The exhibition features the work of Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag, Rebecca Swindell
A panel discussion with Paul Gravett and exhibiting artists: 6.15-7pm 8th May, Private view 7-9pm, 8 May 2008, Open: 9-23 May 2008 12- 6pm
More info at www.c4rd.org.uk

Tomorrow 09/05/08 - Sunday 11/05/08

The Bristol International Comics Expo takes place at the British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall. Guests include Walt and Louise Simonson, Jim Starlin, Dave Gibbons, Alan Davis, Mark Buckingham, Mike Ploog and many others. More info at www.comicexpo.net

Including: 11/05/08 1.30pm: 2008 Gay Comics Panel - As gay comics seem to have increasing presence on bookshelves following 2007’s release of Fun Home and a great many Yaoi titles, host Alex Fitch talks to experts and comic creators about whether increasing gay representation is just a flash in the pan or signals genuine mainstream interest. The panel includes Paul Gravett (Great British Comics), David Shenton (Get Her!, The Shentons) and Yishan Li (Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 2).

Alex Fitch talks to Barry Forshaw, contributor to Jack Kirby Collector magazine and Mark Evanier author of Jack Kirby - King of comics. The show is looking at the work of Jack Kirby on the eve of the release of the Iron Man movie, a character he drew and co-created.

For more info please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
Listen to part 2 of this show

But, that’s not to say the presentation has suffered (although it has) and you’re still getting the same fresh musical flavas’ that are low in saturates and high in polyunsaturates.

Here is the tracklist:

1. Higgins Wins, 1982 by V/VM, Snooker Loopy (Screwed Back):
www.brainwashed.com/vvm

2. Snooker Loopy (Original) by V/VM, Snooker Loopy (Screwed Back):
www.brainwashed.com/vvm

3. Signal Dub by Testrack, Slow Bullets EP:
www.hippocamp.net

4. Geography by Thao Nguyen, Daytrotter Session:
www.daytrotter.com

5. The Ballad Of Dobson by Outa_Spaceman:
www.hootingyard.org

6. Mjuk Skog by Sagor & Swing:
www.hapna.com

7. Someday My Prince Will Come by Leah State:
www.jazzpromo.com

8. Pencil Toes by Spinmaster Plantpot:
www.myspace.com

9. Florida Silver Springs by The Impossible Shapes, Turn:
www.secretlycanadian.com

Please visit www.marvinsuicide.org for previous shows and more information. Plus I would love it if you were to send an e-mail to: marvin’AT’marvinsuicide.org (please replace ‘AT’ with @).

In the first of our podcasts recorded at this year’s Sci-Fi London Film Festival, guest presenter Graham Sleight talks to two nominees and the winner of this year’s Arthur C. Clarke awards. In case you don’t know who won, why not listen to the podcast and hear the opening of the envelope and the winner’s reaction! Authors interviewed include Stephen Baxter, Ken MacLeod and Richard Morgan, with commentary by web critic Paul Raven and one of last year’s nominees, Adam Roberts.

An extract from the presentation ceremony is introduced by Tom Hunter from the Clarke Awards and features a cameo by David (SFX) Bradley opening the auspicious envelope!
Edited and recorded by Alex Fitch.

Visit the home of this episode at Sci-Fi London
Links: Graham’s website
Official Clarke Awards website
Wikipedia entries on The Clarke Awards, Ken MacLeod, Stephen Baxter, Richard Morgan and Adam Roberts
Paul Raven’s website Futurismic
Listen to Alex Fitch’s interview with Graham Sleight about Eastercon
Listen to Graham’s interviews with Paul Cornell: on writing Doctor Who and Bernice Summerfield

In association with:

But Captain Cake had a jacket made of tin, and he made the bo’sun walk the plank till he fell into the churning sea. All the sailors rollicked with glee. So Captain Cake sat in his cabin reading a book about gourds. Then they landed on an island of bloodthirsty hordes. The purser chucked the voodoo pins at the leader of these folk, who put down his sword and began to choke. Captain Cake wanted to be the island king, but they already had a god with bright and fluttery wings, and the god made the captain bow down on the sand. So if you sail the hectic seas be sure to understand that leaking ships can run aground at the drop of a hat. If only Captain Cake had realised that.

• Neglected Crunches
• Second Letter From A Wooden Child
• Download News
• More About Captain Cake
• Quotation from The Tachypomp by Edward Page Mitchell
• Quotation from William G. Boykin

This episode was recorded on the 10th April 2008. A complete transcript of this episode can be found on Frank Key’s Hooting Yard website. Accompanying Hooting Yard On The Air, the two publications Unspeakable Desolation Pouring Down From The Stars and Befuddled By Cormorants are available for purchase.

What will holidays be like in a low carbon world? Will we feel the need to escape so much if we are living less stressful, more community-focussed, local lives that give us greater well-being? We speak to Laura Burgess, editor of a new directory called Ecoescape which brings together sustainable accomodation, eateries, and environmentally-focused places to visit in the UK. We also speak to artist Lottie Child who has been developing the practice of “street training” with people of all ages and exploring creative approaches for interacting with, and feeling at home in, our own localities.

http://www.ecoescape.org
http://malinky.org
http://www.bopsecrets.org/SI/2.derive.htm
http://www.greentraveller.co.uk
http://www.goodbeachguide.co.uk/index.php
http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/tourist-offices-uk.htm
http://www.transportdirect.info
http://www.green-business.co.uk/scotland.html
http://www.day12.com
http://leohickman.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/as-i-was-going-to-st-ives
http://flightpledge.org.uk

Alex Fitch talks to James Taylor, head researcher at the Imperial War Museum about the museum’s new exhibition For your eyes only: Ian Fleming and James Bond. The exhibition puts Fleming’s writing into a historic perspective, from his days working for Naval Intelligence to his later life living the life of Bond in far flung locations from Las Vegas to Jamaica. Alex & James talk about Fleming’s career and legacy plus the public’s fascination with the glam and the gadgets of the Bond movies, some of which are represented in the exhibition such as beloved mini-copter Little Nellie and props from Thunderball.

Links: IWM Fleming mini-site
Wikipedia entries on Ian Fleming and James Bond
Times Online feature on the exhibition

In association with:

Visit the home of this episode at archive.org

Links: Random House page on the Persepolis graphic novels
Review round up at www.complete-review.com
Wikipedia page on Marjane Satrapi
Print version of Virginie’s interview at Electric Sheep Magazine
Join the Panel Borders facebook group…

In comics news:
There’s an exhibition of art by London Underground comics creators at bookartbookshop near Old Street in London, until the 25th of April…

Also:
As part of the ICA and Paul Gravett’s continuing ComICA festival, there’s an event next Tuesday (29 April) at the ICA in London at 8pm…
A screening and performance from Pakito Bolino of France’s Le Dernier Cri publishing house. A series of short animated films created by 30 artists, Les Religions Sauvages “devours the rotting meat of our civilisation, regurgitating it in a relentless bombardment of imagery,” which will, according to its creators, “purge, cleanse and purify our jaded, pornographic imaginations.” Bolino will be joining UK artists in a live improvised sound performance to accompany a DVD projection of the film.

If you’d like to know more about this event please go to www.paulgravett.com or ww.ica.org.uk…

James DeCarteret talks to Bryan Talbot and Mark Stafford about their graphic novel Cherubs.

(Please note the remaining 20mins of the 5pm slot were filled with music when broadcast)

Visit the home of this episode at archive.org
Links: Bryan Talbot’s ‘official fanpage’, including more info on Cherubs
Read a review of Alice in Sunderland in comic strip form
Wikipedia pages on The Adventures of Luther Arkwright
and Bryan Talbot
Buy / sample The Adventures of Luther Arkwright web comic
Mark Stafford’s website Hocus Baloney
Listen to Alex Fitch’s previous interviews with Bryan on Luther Arwright + Alice in Sunderland and his experiences of being a convention guest

These songs need your help. Allowed to roam free they will make strange and interesting friends, where they can form new sounds and consume as much horlicks as they please.

1. Hark Back by Dot., Hark Back:
www.pinkpube.com

2. Murcielagos by Swat-Squad, Xancias EP:
www.pulsewith.net

3. Rubber by Audion, Suckfish:
www.ghostly.com

4. First Touch by Ataraxia Rebel Force, Big Shadow EP:
www.17sons.com

5. Afterhuettn (Stefan Tretau Remix) by Alessandro Crimi, Afterhuettn Remixes:
www.broque.de

6. Simpleton 04 by Dupont, Simpleton:
www.rohformat.de

7. A1 by Karl Lihagen, Untitled EP:
www.rohformat.de

Please visit www.marvinsuicide.org for previous shows and more information. Plus I would love it if you were to send an e-mail to: marvin’AT’marvinsuicide.org (please replace ‘AT’ with @).

Happily however, we do not linger on that here, instead we leap from Jew’s harp to percussive experiments to nu-fusion jazz: we’ve searched far and wide to bring you some of the best sounds in alternative Iranian modern music. Listen out for the distinct Iranian vocal technique employed by Mamak Khadem. Also listen out for the throat sound experiments with a Jew’s harp (Morteza Esmaili pictured) and the wonderful Sitar piece by Omid, (but he should have called it Se tar).

Thanks to all the artists, who gave permission for this podcast.

Guest presenter Oliver (Tales from the Flat) Lambden interviews various fans and small press creators who attended and boycotted the UK Web and Mini Comix thing including Jake Harold, David Baillie, Mike Rouse-Deane, Dan Lester, Laurence Powell, Sean Azzopardi, Oli Smith, Adam Cadwell and Anna Petterson (Marc Ellerby’s girlfriend!)…
Edited by Alex Fitch

Visit the home of this episode at archive.org

Links: Listen to Alex Fitch’s interview with Oli Smith and Oliver Lambden about London Underground Comics
Info on comics by… Oliver Lambden & Laurence Powell, Jake Harold, David Baillie, Mike Rouse-Deane, Dan Lester, Sean Azzopardi, Oli Smith, Adam Cadwell and Marc Ellerby
Small Press Info blog - bugpowder.com
London Underground Comics - distributor of small press titles @ Camden Market on Saturdays
Info on Caption, August’s small press festival in Oxford
Join the Panel Borders facebook group…

In comics news:
There’s an exhibition of art by London Underground comics creators at bookartbookshop near Old Street in London, until the 25th of April…

• Botany Lesson
• Buster And Radbod
• Letter From A Wooden Child
• Some Rare Editions Of The Bible : Number One
• Bring Forth, Devil, Your Elks
• Quotation from The Moonstone Mass And Others by Harriet Prescott Spofford

This episode was recorded on the 10th April 2008. A complete transcript of this episode can be found on Frank Key’s Hooting Yard website. Accompanying Hooting Yard On The Air, the two publications Unspeakable Desolation Pouring Down From The Stars and Befuddled By Cormorants are available for purchase.

No-one knew why.

Below you will find a tracklisting to this episode which includes links to the websites where all the songs were downloaded:

1. Dead Shark Eyes by Clark:
www.throttleclark.com

2. (This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chad (Lali Puna Mix) by DNTEL:
www.epitonic.com

3. Don’t Ask by Julie Doiron, Desormais:
www.jagjaguwar.com

4. Avalon by Alexandre Navarro, Ame:
www.archipel.cc

5. Baby Tigers by Groundchuck:
www.8bitrecs.com

6. I’m Not A Drummer by Dana Hilliot And His Friends, I Was A Rabbit And I Won LP:
www.another-record.com

7. Sprak Och Tankestrukturer by Eric Maimberg, Den Gatfulla Manniskan:
www.hapna.com

Please visit www.marvinsuicide.org for previous shows and more information. Plus I would love it if you were to send an e-mail to: marvin’AT’marvinsuicide.org (please replace ‘AT’ with @).

Could doing nothing be an easier and more pleasurable way of saving the planet? We discuss this contention with author and editor of The Idler, Tom Hodgkinson.

Making the transition to a low carbon economy necessitates a fresh look at the skills we have and the jobs that we do. What activities are going to be most valuable in a world without fossil fuels? How will we organise ourselves in a world that is less wasteful, more local, and more about self-sufficiency and community resilience?

What interested me in talking to Tom Hodgkinson was the fact that the ideas he had been exploring about freedom and a life of leisure matched increasingly closely to some of the visions that are emerging of what our low carbon future will look like. In a sense, Tom has been beavering away on the development of a philosophical justification and historical precedents for environmentally-friendly lifestyles.

Check out Tom’s books - “How to be Idle” and especially “How to be Free”.

Freedom Manifesto