It's Christmas...

 

Get frosty with Leon & Dr John

Low- "Just like Christmas"

Trains, Planes & Automobiles

 Fruitcake anyone?

It's a wonderful life

Merry Christmas from all At "Towards the Point?"

 Not had enough? Check out our extended Christmas discussion in our free download

 

Towards the Pud? Download Here

Moving, Fractal and Gifting...

Beats, Dickens and the Pilot ACE

Beyond Dickens


Web Exclusive...
Mr Sandy has a go at art (practically, not critically)

Bob Dylan's Tempest

Alan Turing- Code Breaker

 
 Dave Allen explores the Future of the Festival

We catch up with the Smoke Fairies on their recent appearance at Southsea's Pie & Vinyl


 

Edvard Munch at the Tate

Fire & Acetate

 

 

"Towards the Point?" has now finished its current run and will back with a new series in September 2012 

"Ebb & Flow"

In the latest show we consider:

A Hundred Seas Rising Exhibition @ The Aspex Gallery, Gun Wharf, Portsmouth

The background/aim of the exhibition its links to Dickens 200th and world revolutions.

Suki Chan her Career highlights and the themes within her work.


The aesthetic experience of the exhibition:

- visually
- spatially
- sonically
- sequence/time/flow
- emotionally



“...creating surges of ideological thought that reverberate across the gallery space”

Symbolism, meaning and content:

- Links to Dickens life?

- A Tale Of Two Cities Influence.

- 100 Flowers Movement influence

Pro revolution? Anti revolution? Neutral?



Does the installation work?
- Provoke thought?
- Invite multiple visits?


Jon Hopkins & King Creosote "Diamond Mine" Album (Limited Edition Jubilee extended version)

The collaboration and its themes
The re-issue
The Nautical/sea theme
Short albums
Preview The Album 

The Death Of Donna Summer = The Death of Disco?

 

Origins & Location

The May Show: Origins and Location

Towards The Point? Is a new monthly arts & culture review programme for 93.7 Express FM, written & presented by James Sandy and Simon Mobbs.The show aims to dig out weird and wonderful cultural offerings from in and around Portsmouth. It sets out to provide listeners with a flickering compass for the stormy tides of "the arts". We take in a range of topics from art, film, literature, music, TV & radio and also give you a round-up of local events and activities.

In the May (2012) show:

Music: The First Rock & Roll Record Compilation on Famous Flames Recordings 
Guest Contribution: Dr Dave Allen discusses the roots and the development of Rock n Roll
Art: Quarantania exhibition at John Hansard Gallery, Southampton
Media World: The influence of location on creativity.

The First Rock & Roll Record

"Attitude, rhythm and a spoonful of the devil." Review of the CD collection. Standout tracks. Confusing tracks. Can you really pinpoint the first record in any genre? Discussion of the musical roots and origins of the term Rock n Roll.

www.famousflamesrecords.com

What is Rock n Roll?

Dr Dave Allen - Principal Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, Express FM presenter and music enthusiast discusses his lifelong love of Rock n Roll, the ongoing search for early and obscure influential records and the underlying difference between "Rock n Roll" and "Rock".

Quarantania @ John Hansard Gallery

A pimped up 4X4 vehicle covered in animal fur, a man upside down in a cage and an anaesthetised donkey.Three international artists with varied approaches - what ties the work together? What do these extraordinary conceptual artists want to say about society with their work?

 Taus Makhacheva: The Fast & The FuriousA female outsider successfully penetrating a macho subculture?

Eva Kotatkova: Sit Straight 

Highlighting the ironies and impracticalities evident within education systems? 

Neha Choksi: Leaf Fall

Is there a sad beauty to mankind methodically destroying nature?

Quarantania

John Hansard Gallery

University Of Southampton

24 April - 9 June 

Admission Free

www.hansardgallery.org.uk

The Influence of Location on Creativity 

Examining the BBC Salford shift and the new purpose built Media City island. Can Portsmouth & Southsea claim to be a "Little Brighton"? Can creative hubs be purpose built?

www.mediacityuk.co.uk

Time & Nostalgia


Towards The Point? Is a new monthly arts & culture review programme for 93.7 Express FM, written & presented by James Sandy and Simon Mobbs.The show aims to dig out weird and wonderful cultural offerings from in and around Portsmouth. It sets out to provide listeners with a flickering compass for the stormy tides of "the arts". We take in a range of topics from art, film, literature, music, TV & radio and also give you a round-up of local events and activities.


In the April (2012) show:
Music: Spiritualized showcase new material at The Wedgewood Rooms
Poetry: Julian Stannard Reading & Q&A session at The Tongues & Grooves Southsea Poetry Night
Literature: A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Spiritualized showcase new material at The Wedgewood Rooms

Spiritualized performing in Malmö, Sweden (Mathias Nielsen)

A unique sound - difficult to pigeonhole? Overview of performance - Still got it? On Form? The setlist - a satisfying mix of old as well as new material? New work from old bands- does everyone always expect the hits?

Sweet Heart Sweet Light by Spiritualized Double Six Records Realeased 16th April 2012

www.spiritualized.com

Spiritualized BBC 6 Music Live Session

Preview the New Album "Sweet heart Sweet Light" @ NPR Music

Julian Stannard Q&A Session

Tongues & Grooves Poetry Night

Julian Stannard performing by Rebecca Root

Julian Stannard is the author of three volumes of poetry. His work was represented in the Faber introductory anthology First Pressings and the Oxford Poets/Carcanet Anthology (2004) and he reviews for the Guardian and the PN Review. He was awarded the Troubadour Poetry prize in 2010. 

Tongues&Grooves is a monthly club that is now a nationally recognised venue for the performance of poetry and music. T&G regularly feature award winning poets alongside those beginning to establish a reputation.

www.tongues-and-grooves.org.uk

Julian Stannard Profile

A Visit From The Goon Squad

by Jennifer Egan

A selection of short stories or a multi genre novel? The main characters and their involvement with the US music industry. Proust and The Sporanos - an unlikely set of influences? The much discussed Powerpoint chapter - a gimmick or a worthwhile experiment? A highbrow book with crossover appeal? 

Jennifer Egan Official Website

The Powerpoint Chapter (Great Rock and Roll Pauses)

Mature Craftsmanship and Youthful Experimentation 

Towards The Point? Is a new monthly arts & culture review programme for 93.7 Express FM, written & presented by James Sandy and Simon Mobbs.The show aims to dig out weird and wonderful cultural offerings from in and around Portsmouth. It sets out to provide listeners with a flickering compass for the stormy tides of "the arts". We take in a range of topics from art, film, literature, music, TV & radio and also give you a round-up of local events and activities.

In the March Show:
 Art: Hooloovoo Exhibition by Cornelia Baltes @ Aspex Gallery
Music: Old Ideas Album by Leonard Cohen
Poetry: Stone Marquette by Maggie Sawkins
Literature: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes


Hooloovoo Exhibition by Cornelia Baltes @ Aspex Gallery

Cornelia Baltes - an artist on the up?

A youthful approach?

The exhibition from the perspective of "arty" Simon vs "non arty" James. Discussion of key works. High brow made fun.

 
Examples of visual wit, a variety of stylistic approaches, quirky presentation and lots and lots of artificially coloured tree stumps.

"The general source of my work is the observation of daily life. I point out small things that touch me and create work that combines simplicity with a sense of humour. My work begins with quick sketches, or photographs. I work on these only in so far as to help with the communication of the original idea- shying away from any unnecessary embellishment."

"The viewer catches an idea of beauty - hidden in simplicity - in a small gesture, in bright colour, through capturing the essence of an easy idea."

Open until 15th April 2012, Free admission, Daily 11am - 4pm

Cornelia Baltes

Aspex Gallery

  
Old Ideas: Leonard Cohen's New Album    

The relevance/meaning of the album title.
Is this the last from Len? Overview of Cohen's career. View of long term fan (James) and of newcomer to Cohen (Simon). His famous, much discussed voice. The content of the lyrics - a true poet? The concept of the elder statesman, similar artists and the notion of the comeback. 

"I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin." 

Old Ideas Track listing and Lyrics (Leonard Cohen Official Site)

Listen to "Darkness"

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Julian Barnes career overview - a literary elder statesman? Booker prize acceptance speech - bitter or jovial? The importance of book cover design and the "beautiful object". How does contrast youth and old age? 150 pages: too short? An under developed story? Questions that the book raises: How reliable are our memories? Does time help us forget difficult truths? 

"Julian Barnes' The Sense of an Ending has the markings of a classic of English Literature. It is exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading" 

Dame Stella Rimington, Chair of the 2011 Man Booker judges 

A Sense of an Ending Audio Book Snippet

Julian Barnes Man Booker Prize acceptance speech